The Necessity of Reparation for Historic Injustices
southernraw wrote:burleigh wrote:southernraw wrote:udo wrote:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-23/views-of-voice-to-parliament-in-i...
So reading every single one of these communities say that they would encourage change through the voice. Yet none of them are Burleighs 'proud Bunjalung man' mate, so it's probably not worth taking any notice of.
You need to do better than that
But its true isnt it buttercup.
You're basing your whole no argument, and pages of it, on the decision of a mate, whos in your circle of friends, so most likely shares your same government paranoia.
Come on. You've been so vocal, whats your thoughs on the article? And dont go blamimg the media for this one.
What do you genuinely think about what these people have to say.
I though we were going to be friends now? and you're wrong about my mate. Never assume. Just like the voice vote.
Carn burleigh i was being nice!!
Anyway read the article. Worth your time. Just anither piece of the puzzle of both sides i guess.
Have a good day.
udo wrote:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-23/views-of-voice-to-parliament-in-i...
Good article udo , thanks for that .
Did wazza pull out or did spud tell him he had no chance after he went off script with the no campaign ? https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mundine-to-quit-race-for-nsw-lib...
https://m.
Keep them coming JF that was awesome
^^ haha, agree, that was pretty sweet, JF
;)
https://m.
I reckon even if the yes vote wins, the status quo remains, the only voice to parliament that will get heard is the voices offering $$ and corporate jobs, Rio Tinto, Fox. etc
In a powerful win for rational thinking Kamahl didn’t know, so he made the rational choice to find out, now Kamahl is firmly in the Yes camp
Don’t know, be like Kamahl and find out … #VoteYesAustralia and stand up to fear and ignorance, that’s all the No camp has … fear and ignorance https://x.com/blakandblack/status/1705328474087444715?s=46&t=5RczxwAfzXe... what was his famous line again ? …….. “ why are people so unkind ? “
overthefalls wrote:indo-dreaming wrote:overthefalls wrote:AlfredWallace wrote:waveman wrote:https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/auditorgeneral-urged-...
Waveman. Hi. Whats your motive here ? AW
Punching down
The article is totally relevant to the conversation.
Saying its punching down to post it is purely just deflection, and just bully type tactics to silence those that you dont agree with.
In what way is it relevant, Indo? Is one of your arguments that Aboriginal organisations cannot be trusted because of the potential for corruption? I thought that stuff occurred right across the political spectrum, regardless of race. As for your accusation of bullying, that’s laughable and misdirected. Waveman’s motive in posting a link to that article was clearly to discredit organisations run by Aboriginal people. Does one corrupt Aboriginal organisation make them all untrustworthy? You’re clutching at straws there, I reckon.
This thread has over 100 pages, about half of the post here have nothing related to the Indigenous topic, insults, lame nonsense videos, and just other garbage, but you choose a post about issue's in the indigenous system to claim not relevant?.
Its completely relevant to the thread and even relevant to the voice as no doubt the voice will have similar issues.
Translation of your post, i dont want people to see this(even paywalled) because its not good for the yes vote.
Me, i want everyone to see this, cause its good for the No vote.
Reform wrote:burleigh wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/CxgUygzMivS/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Are you ok Burleigh? I mean Really?? So dark man.. Look the sun is shining, Aboriginal people have suffered long enough! What do you reckon?
Its time to turn this whole concept around.
You and I can be a part of the change.
Get with it mate! You're not on the right path! Neither is Indo, just poor form! Or are you getting sponsored? Or what? I just don't understand you guys.
Another day and just more insults from the Yes camp, and then you have gall to say we have poor form, and act all morally superior while supporting dividing our country on race.
southernraw wrote:Interestingly most of the younger crew around here are all for yes.
Most older crew are hard no's.
I wonder if crew who have kids of voting age would b willing to share on here if their kids are voting y or n.
2 intelligent, calm and empathetic young women at mine. Both have confirmed they're voting yes after listening to both sides of the argument and looking at what each means. I'm pretty proud of what they've grown into. I think the youth, well most of them, have got it all over the older crew as far as what's going to make Australia and the world a better place.
“ Me, i want everyone to see this, cause its good for the No vote.”
If your point is so important, then why isn’t it one of the reasons listed in the referendum booklet to vote no?
“ Me, i want everyone to see this, cause its good for the No vote.”
If your point is so important, then why isn’t it one of the reasons listed in the referendum booklet to vote no?
owgoodaquads wrote:southernraw wrote:Interestingly most of the younger crew around here are all for yes.
Most older crew are hard no's.
I wonder if crew who have kids of voting age would b willing to share on here if their kids are voting y or n.2 intelligent, calm and empathetic young women at mine. Both have confirmed they're voting yes after listening to both sides of the argument and looking at what each means. I'm pretty proud of what they've grown into. I think the youth, well most of them, have got it all over the older crew as far as what's going to make Australia and the world a better place.
. Couldn’t agree more.
indo-dreaming wrote:Reform wrote:burleigh wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/CxgUygzMivS/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Are you ok Burleigh? I mean Really?? So dark man.. Look the sun is shining, Aboriginal people have suffered long enough! What do you reckon?
Its time to turn this whole concept around.
You and I can be a part of the change.
Get with it mate! You're not on the right path! Neither is Indo, just poor form! Or are you getting sponsored? Or what? I just don't understand you guys.Another day and just more insults from the Yes camp, and then you have gall to say we have poor form, and act all morally superior while supporting dividing our country on race.
@lowinfo deflection champ bullshitter
“Translation of your post, i dont want people to see this(even paywalled) because its not good for the yes vote.”
No, most people will see it for what it is: a pathetic gotcha attempt.
indo-dreaming wrote:Reform wrote:burleigh wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/CxgUygzMivS/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Are you ok Burleigh? I mean Really?? So dark man.. Look the sun is shining, Aboriginal people have suffered long enough! What do you reckon?
Its time to turn this whole concept around.
You and I can be a part of the change.
Get with it mate! You're not on the right path! Neither is Indo, just poor form! Or are you getting sponsored? Or what? I just don't understand you guys.Another day and just more insults from the Yes camp, and then you have gall to say we have poor form, and act all morally superior while supporting dividing our country on race.
Exactly Indo. Who's really dividing the country. It's not the people voting no that's for sure.
Seems like Sam Newmans calls fell flat. And thats 90000 plus Collingwood bloody supporters of all things.
If theyre cheering the welcome to country, particularly after Newman's deranged comments, you'd have to think the no bombarded is just the very vocal minority.
Supafreak wrote:owgoodaquads wrote:southernraw wrote:Interestingly most of the younger crew around here are all for yes.
Most older crew are hard no's.
I wonder if crew who have kids of voting age would b willing to share on here if their kids are voting y or n.2 intelligent, calm and empathetic young women at mine. Both have confirmed they're voting yes after listening to both sides of the argument and looking at what each means. I'm pretty proud of what they've grown into. I think the youth, well most of them, have got it all over the older crew as far as what's going to make Australia and the world a better place.
. Couldn’t agree more.
+1
The local highschool had a Yes banner up yesterday as i drove past. The kids are proud to put their stake in the sand.
southernraw wrote:Seems like Sam Newmans calls fell flat. And thats 90000 plus Collingwood bloody supporters of all things.
If theyre cheering the welcome to country, particularly after Newman's deranged comments, you'd have to think the no bombarded is just the very vocal minority.
There’s a petition going around to get sammy kicked out of the AFL hall of fame . Is he really in it ?
Supafreak wrote:There’s a petition going around to get sammy kicked out of the AFL hall of fame . Is he really in it ?
He sure is, Supa. He was a gun full-forward back in the 70s. He was my idol! Nowadays, I reckon he’s a disgraceful human being.
overthefalls wrote:Supafreak wrote:There’s a petition going around to get sammy kicked out of the AFL hall of fame . Is he really in it ?
He sure is, Supa. He was a gun full-forward back in the 70s. He was my idol! Nowadays, I reckon he’s a disgraceful human being.
Didn’t he play with the great Graham’Polly‘ Farmer?
Jacinta Price claims to represent NT’s Indigenous communities but the data suggests otherwise. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/23/jacinta-price-clai... Any discussion about politics in the NT quickly turns to the dismay so many locals hold that Senator Price lays claim to representing people in remote Indigenous communities. There is unambiguous evidence that most do not vote for her.
This is not opinion – it is clear evidence from the data extracted from an analysis of booth-by-booth returns gathered over the last two elections by the Australian Electoral Commission remote polling teams that visit Aboriginal communities.
Price’s election to the Senate in 2022 came overwhelmingly thanks to support from suburban voters in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine, not voters in the bush. Her constituency is predominantly white.
southernraw wrote:Supafreak wrote:owgoodaquads wrote:southernraw wrote:Interestingly most of the younger crew around here are all for yes.
Most older crew are hard no's.
I wonder if crew who have kids of voting age would b willing to share on here if their kids are voting y or n.2 intelligent, calm and empathetic young women at mine. Both have confirmed they're voting yes after listening to both sides of the argument and looking at what each means. I'm pretty proud of what they've grown into. I think the youth, well most of them, have got it all over the older crew as far as what's going to make Australia and the world a better place.
. Couldn’t agree more.
+1
The local highschool had a Yes banner up yesterday as i drove past. The kids are proud to put their stake in the sand.
ah yeah nothing like a bit of mind control of the younger generations.
Supafreak wrote:Jacinta Price claims to represent NT’s Indigenous communities but the data suggests otherwise. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/23/jacinta-price-clai... Any discussion about politics in the NT quickly turns to the dismay so many locals hold that Senator Price lays claim to representing people in remote Indigenous communities. There is unambiguous evidence that most do not vote for her.
This is not opinion – it is clear evidence from the data extracted from an analysis of booth-by-booth returns gathered over the last two elections by the Australian Electoral Commission remote polling teams that visit Aboriginal communities.
Price’s election to the Senate in 2022 came overwhelmingly thanks to support from suburban voters in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine, not voters in the bush. Her constituency is predominantly white.
She’s not popular with the mob around here, especially after her recent comments.
Supafreak wrote:Jacinta Price claims to represent NT’s Indigenous communities but the data suggests otherwise. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/23/jacinta-price-clai... Any discussion about politics in the NT quickly turns to the dismay so many locals hold that Senator Price lays claim to representing people in remote Indigenous communities. There is unambiguous evidence that most do not vote for her.
This is not opinion – it is clear evidence from the data extracted from an analysis of booth-by-booth returns gathered over the last two elections by the Australian Electoral Commission remote polling teams that visit Aboriginal communities.
Price’s election to the Senate in 2022 came overwhelmingly thanks to support from suburban voters in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine, not voters in the bush. Her constituency is predominantly white.
As the shadow minister for indigenous affairs how on earth will she ever be welcomed on country at any time or place now or in the future? More like she’d be faced with a fuck off my country ceremony ….. yes, I know I’m an old fashioned person expecting Price to represent the people of her portfolio rather than the likes of Fox, the IPA and CPAC and/or their faceless elite backers
Grifter got to grift
From that above article …… In 2019 Price contested the House of Representatives for the CLP. In Yuendumu and Kintore, as one example, where about 500 people voted, she polled just 36 votes. In Utopia, Haasts Bluff and Papunya, where more than 600 voted, only 38 chose Price. In Hermannsburg, Areyonga and Ampilatwatja, from more than 600 votes, Price registered 46. The vote in other remote communities showed similar trends……….. Having found her niche conforming to the conservative version of an Indigenous leader, and being provided with an orchestrated campaign using platforms by boosters in the Institute of Public Affairs and the Murdoch media, Price has been fast-tracked into the shadow ministry in just the first year of her first term in parliament. It is spectacular leverage to achieve the levels of national prominence and recognition denied most politicians even after decades of service.
A remarkable achievement – especially for someone with apparently low support base among “her” people.
GuySmiley wrote:overthefalls wrote:Supafreak wrote:There’s a petition going around to get sammy kicked out of the AFL hall of fame . Is he really in it ?
He sure is, Supa. He was a gun full-forward back in the 70s. He was my idol! Nowadays, I reckon he’s a disgraceful human being.
Didn’t he play with the great Graham’Polly‘ Farmer?
I think Newman took over ruck duties after Farmer left Geelong in the late 60s. Farmer returned as coach of Geelong in the mid 70s when Newman was a Cats star. I reckon Farmer would be pretty disappointed with Newman’s attitude towards Aboriginal people.
^ interesting post Supa.
@burleigh, young people I know are happy and excited about it, from all walks of life. When you raise people up, we are all raised up.
I agree that insulting No voters achieves nothing, except solidifying their views. As we can see from indo's above post, anything is seen as an insult now.
I'd be interested to hear what people think will happen on Sunday. After a No result, you would hope a bipartisan parliamentary initiated Voice would be suggested. Unlike ATSIC, obviously a Voice has no funding-control, can just say things i.e. 'we reckon regional centers need more of this' and it would be considered by the parliament of the day. No dramas really. And no damage to the precious constitution.
An interesting conservative suggestion I have heard, is that this referendum might have included a sunset clause - that after, say, 25 years, the body dissolves, the aim being to not need it in perpetuity. Would have been interesting.
Anyway, as I said to indo a million years ago 'you'll vote No, I'll vote Yes, and we'll make no difference together'.
overthefalls wrote:GuySmiley wrote:overthefalls wrote:Supafreak wrote:There’s a petition going around to get sammy kicked out of the AFL hall of fame . Is he really in it ?
He sure is, Supa. He was a gun full-forward back in the 70s. He was my idol! Nowadays, I reckon he’s a disgraceful human being.
Didn’t he play with the great Graham’Polly‘ Farmer?
I think Newman took over ruck duties after Farmer left Geelong in the late 60s. Farmer returned as coach of Geelong in the mid 70s when Newman was a Cats star. I reckon Farmer would be pretty disappointed with Newman’s attitude towards Aboriginal people.
Yes you’re correct with the history, I was told Polly was known as a gentleman in an era of thugs so he would probably only speak of disappointment but his heart would feel otherwise
Hiccups wrote:Excuse me? Did I wake up in the 1990's? It's been a pretty damn long time since it was common knowledge that "abo" is a highly unacceptable slur.
no i did not know, abo to me is short for aborigine i can think of some but would never say or condone, apologies for offence and i see your point of view.
speaking of racist slurs s. r.'s pome one awhile back is way up there.
oh and of course "KING BILLY" music video exhorting fnp ppl to baseball bat whiiitey is o.k.??
yes aw please post more, but swellnet be warned it may backfire cos it's illegal to post material exhorting violence and hate, personal and or race based.
saw david baddiel (british jewish comedian) on tele 2 nights ago he did a doco on racism mainly towards jews.
he made the point that on his website he gets posts like "what about the palastine ppl then!" and he finds that offensive because he does'nt live there he is british and why blame him because of his race or religion, he is atheist but lives by it's ethics etc. he calls it racism cos he is pilloried by past and present events AND his race.
this is exactly the same racist attitude of the voice23 and the architects of this reffo.
said it b4 and i say it again ...oh the irony and the hypocracy of the voice elites,
How was the rally?
GuySmiley wrote:indo-dreaming wrote:Reform wrote:burleigh wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/CxgUygzMivS/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Are you ok Burleigh? I mean Really?? So dark man.. Look the sun is shining, Aboriginal people have suffered long enough! What do you reckon?
Its time to turn this whole concept around.
You and I can be a part of the change.
Get with it mate! You're not on the right path! Neither is Indo, just poor form! Or are you getting sponsored? Or what? I just don't understand you guys.Another day and just more insults from the Yes camp, and then you have gall to say we have poor form, and act all morally superior while supporting dividing our country on race.
@lowinfo deflection champ bullshitter
See there we go again....some just cant help themselves.
Supafreak wrote:Jacinta Price claims to represent NT’s Indigenous communities but the data suggests otherwise. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/23/jacinta-price-clai... Any discussion about politics in the NT quickly turns to the dismay so many locals hold that Senator Price lays claim to representing people in remote Indigenous communities. There is unambiguous evidence that most do not vote for her.
This is not opinion – it is clear evidence from the data extracted from an analysis of booth-by-booth returns gathered over the last two elections by the Australian Electoral Commission remote polling teams that visit Aboriginal communities.
Price’s election to the Senate in 2022 came overwhelmingly thanks to support from suburban voters in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine, not voters in the bush. Her constituency is predominantly white.
This is just the same old same old hate on Jacinta story.
While she represents the electorate she was voted into, ive never heard her say she represents all Indigenous communities ?????
So the whole premise of the story is bull shit.
The main mantra of Jacinta is to take responsibility for your own actions and make change yourself, its not a very popular view because it's so much easier to buy into being a victim and blame your problems on others and expect others or even the government to magical change them,(a road to nowhere) so yeah she isnt always well liked.
overthefalls wrote:southernraw wrote:Seems like Sam Newmans calls fell flat. And thats 90000 plus Collingwood bloody supporters of all things.
If theyre cheering the welcome to country, particularly after Newman's deranged comments, you'd have to think the no bombarded is just the very vocal minority.
hahaha that photo on the right is the full on wtc ceremony and there were boos in the crowd at that game, so next week there is no full on ceremony just a speach by a clothed fnp of anglo descent, no warpaint, danceing or smokeing ceremony and the whole crowd roared in approval, excellent thats the way to do it.
last nights game was the same and the crowd approved it.
sam newman's opinion was about the smokeing ceremony with all the b.s.; fair comment, abrupt, rude, inflamoratry, offensive(to some) but a lot of ppl agree with him.
“ ah yeah nothing like a bit of mind control of the younger generations. “
- go derek zoolander !
Oh….. this from page 80 :
- “ my vote is being guided from my very good friend and very intelligent Bundjalung man.”
Aaaaaaand … from page 84 :
“ I’m voting no simply because I do not trust the government. Nothing else “
So… who’s controlling your mind burley ? ;);)
Strange you can try call others out - or is it just that you can relate to it ;)
Kinda hypocritical…
You sound confused, and not …um …not intelligent enough to make up your own mind…
- either that or you have a penchant for bending the truth to suit ;)
- but is it really you or just how you are being ‘guided’… ? ;);)
https://m.
&pp=ygUWem9vbGFuZGVyIG1pbmQgY29udHJvbA%3D%3D overthefalls wrote:GuySmiley wrote:overthefalls wrote:Supafreak wrote:There’s a petition going around to get sammy kicked out of the AFL hall of fame . Is he really in it ?
He sure is, Supa. He was a gun full-forward back in the 70s. He was my idol! Nowadays, I reckon he’s a disgraceful human being.
Didn’t he play with the great Graham’Polly‘ Farmer?
I think Newman took over ruck duties after Farmer left Geelong in the late 60s. Farmer returned as coach of Geelong in the mid 70s when Newman was a Cats star. I reckon Farmer would be pretty disappointed with Newman’s attitude towards Aboriginal people.
According to Sam, he was the first to surf Bells. hehe.
Any truth to that rumour?? Or just put it on top of the pile of bullshit that he contributes.
I think it was on the Howie games...
Nice touch at the Gabba with the welcome to country having a bit of Aussie oi in it.
Well done champ!
The welcome to country at the Gabba just now was epic!!
“ This thread has over 100 pages, about half of the post here have nothing related to the Indigenous topic, insults, lame nonsense videos, and just other garbage, but you choose a post about issue's in the indigenous system to claim not relevant?. “
- id you are very brave to admit to the lame nonsense videos and other garbage you have posted here. Well done, more than a hundred pages of gumboot mentality ;)
But… sometimes… like with the voice, one must dig a little deeper ;)
- try and find out who you really represent… and what you really represent…
It may be ugly, who knows ;)
In the meantime… you can always explore and better understand the meaning and purpose of your place here and out in the wider world…
- and even consider what a guy is and what he represents in relation to the metaphorical symbolism of a buffalo ;)
No matter how smart you are… you can always learn ;);)
https://m.
https://m.
indo-dreaming wrote:Supafreak wrote:Jacinta Price claims to represent NT’s Indigenous communities but the data suggests otherwise. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/23/jacinta-price-clai... Any discussion about politics in the NT quickly turns to the dismay so many locals hold that Senator Price lays claim to representing people in remote Indigenous communities. There is unambiguous evidence that most do not vote for her.
This is not opinion – it is clear evidence from the data extracted from an analysis of booth-by-booth returns gathered over the last two elections by the Australian Electoral Commission remote polling teams that visit Aboriginal communities.
Price’s election to the Senate in 2022 came overwhelmingly thanks to support from suburban voters in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine, not voters in the bush. Her constituency is predominantly white.
This is just the same old same old hate on Jacinta story.
While she represents the electorate she was voted into, ive never heard her say she represents all Indigenous communities ?????
So the whole premise of the story is bull shit.
The main mantra of Jacinta is to take responsibility for your own actions and make change yourself, its not a very popular view because it's so much easier to buy into being a victim and blame your problems on others and expect others or even the government to magical change them,(a road to nowhere) so yeah she isnt always well liked.
Can you remind me again what her job is ? Shadow something something . I don’t think she’ll be in politics in 5 years time, just my opinion indo.
GuySmiley wrote:The welcome to country at the Gabba just now was epic!!
Ernie dingo will be so proud
Supafreak wrote:How was the rally?
bit of a let down hardly anyone turned up! on the bright side no yes youngins with loudhailers abuseing us oldfarts or academics spitting in your face.
seriously supa i reckon the yes is a win.
thing is though your voteing for something that started off as 1 page, vehemently denied there were 26 pages attached then begrudgeingly admitted there were 26 pages but they were not part of "it".
multipe videos have emerged of langton, pearson, davis (fnp constitutional lawyer) reid(lawyer) over a 6 year span saying voice first, treaty second, reparations third.
AND all 26 pages implemented, albanese said "in it's entirety".
it has now dwindled to 18 and now only 15pages with nada explanation of what has been deleted.
so you are voteing for something with no detail, bearing in mind they have planned this for 16yrs or is it 20yrs? bit suss don't you think?
on top of that they have moved the goal posts 3 times since the reffo lead up...no 26 pages then change their mind, only 18 pages and now 15 pages.
AND worse of all have accepted monies ($100mil) from the business council of australia paid by foreign corporations to corrupt our democratic process.
for these reasons this reffo should be postponed, what do you reckon?
I just watched the welcome to country and it was pretty epic.
burleigh wrote:GuySmiley wrote:The welcome to country at the Gabba just now was epic!!
Ernie dingo will be so proud
I was about to rip into ya but then saw your last post.
Was sick. Amazing what happens when we're all willing to give a little.
Uni assignment i did a few years ago. This is my take on things. I'm sure this will ruffle many feathers. I hope so.
Love Blue Diamond x
The Necessity of Reparation for Historic Injustices
Introduction – Compensatory Justice
Disparities between the standards of living of humans on this planet have long been a part of our history on this planet. From the wealthy nations of the West to the developing and undeveloped nations on this globe, the diversity in the quality of life when viewed from a moral standpoint are without a doubt grossly unfair.
In this paper I will look at why historic injustices do require some form of reparation. I take a strong stance that we are more obliged to solve current injustices than to provide reparation for every act of injustice in the past. In doing this I will first investigate the historic injustice of the Aboriginal people of Australia and I will look at the argument that they are entitled to some form of reparation and why.
I will incoroporate some interesting views from Jeremy Waldron, Robert Nozick and others which will help me slowly build to my conclusion that reparation should be in the form of Non Indigenous Australians surrendering some of our priveleges as a form of reparation.
Historic Injustices to Indigenous Australians:
Australia the continent was well inhabited for many years long before white settlement. It is commonly known that in 1788 Australia was colonised as a country under the rule of the British Empire, with total contempt for the fact that it was already inhabited by a native indigenous race of people.
The way the original inhabitants have been treated, including forced assimilation, execution, stolen families and not even allowed to be recognised as citizens for a large part of white Australia’s history are also well known facts. (Poole, 1999,pp114-142)
There exists now a situation where there is a large divide between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal Australian’s that can be traced back to the moment Australia was invaded by English settlers and the brutal and unfair treatment that has followed.
So at this point now, in 2013 what is the just and fair way to make amends for past actions?
I would argue that a moderate to large amount of reparation is overdue for this nation of people, the Aboriginal people. But there are many challenges to this view point especially that of how much reparation, and what sort of compensation.
Past injustices or present suffering?
One of the questions raised in an issue like this is whether it is better to provide compensation or reparation for past deeds, which have already been done in a previous generation and cannot be changed, or whether it is better to now provide assistance to those who are suffering in their current situations and consider that as a form of moral duty.
To understand this we need to delve a little deeper into this issue and hear some differing viewpoints.
Firstly we need to understand what the best way to provide reparation. How do we judge what is the best way of giving back and how much? Jeremy Waldron states “The historic record has a fragility that consists, …in the sheer contingency of what happened in the past” (Waldron,1992,p5 )
This is saying that we can’t trace every single injustice back to the original act therefore reparation for every act would be almost impossible because it would ultimately be guess work.
In this statement he has an objection from Robert Nozick who believes it is in fact possible to address this problem by “changing the present so that it resembles how the past would have looked had the injustice not taken place” (McKenzie, 2013)
This would be a way to ultimately provide maximum reparation, but is it the correct approach? I believe this is a fairly radical approach, although it does have some merits in the fact it would be working in a positive way for indigenous people, I don’t think it is entirely the right way to deal with these issues but it is on the right track.
Waldron argues that it is based on too many unknowns. “The status of counterfactual reasoning about the exercising of human reasoning of human freedom is unclear”(Waldron 1993,p10)
Which leaves the question somewhat open about the sort of reparation that is required, but provides one clear answer to the key question. Both agree that yes, reparation to some extent is required. But how much and in what form?
Another philosopher who leans more towards Waldron’s views is Kymlicka. He is somewhat more straightforward in his assessment that property rights in particular for Aboriginals would create “massive unfairness” and also he maintains the argument “Aboriginal rights must be grounded in concerns about equality and contemporary disadvantage. (McKenzie, 2013) I agree with both these views but I don’t think they provide any active solutions.
The Solution?
So if its not handing back all of Australia’s land to the original inhabitants that is the most appropriate way to deal with past injustices, then what is?
I look at the current country I grew up in, as a white Australian. I ask myself why I never had Aboriginal friends growing up, no understanding of Aboriginal culture and why my basic understanding of Indigenous Australians is mostly 200 years old. I look at our flag, a symbol of a nation that stole a country from its original inhabitants, with no recognition of the Indigenous people at all on it. I see that Australia considered Indigenous people as less than people until only 40 years ago and I see the way that Indigenous Australians live a completely separate life to the way of life I know as an Australian. I see that the only indigenous politician I am aware of is a former Olympian and it is because of this fact of her sporting status that I know this. I see no collective power or representation of Indigenous Australians and I see non Indigenous Australians,( a culture built on a history of stealing a land and mistreating its people) still taking, taking as much out of this land as they can, with little to no regard of sharing or giving to the original inhabitants. I see a government that says lots of words about ‘closing the gap’ and bringing the living standards of non- indigenous and indigenous Australians closer together, but apart from nice words, there is no conviction, no follow through, just assimilation , and all that still remains are injustices.
As stated by Sparrow, “Continuity gives rise to responsibility on part of present generations of Australians for our history”.(McKenzie,2013). Although deeds happened in the past beyond our control, what we do now to either ignore, or rectify these issues will reflect on us in history. So if we choose to do nothing, we are contributing to the history of the mistreatment of non- indigenous Australians. And this is simply unacceptable in my opinion.
Conclusion
So what is fair? I believe that the way forward is a surrendering of some of our privileges as non- indigenous Australians. The simple fact is it was morally wrong without a doubt what has happened in the past. And it is also morally wrong without a doubt to ignore these facts and not offer some form of reparation in the present. But how much?
I think that going back to Robert Nozick’s argument is a start. I think Nozick is wrong to make the present resemble the past in every aspect. But I do think that it would be reasonable to restore some aspects of the way things should be. The things that happened in the past were out of our control and we can’t go back to changing the way things were. But we could change the way things are.
For some examples. Why not give at least 50% of political power to indigenous people? It surely would be a fair thing to do considering this is their country. Media control. 50 percent. Industry. Realestate. The list goes on. Why do we not acknowledge the indigenous people on our flag, or better still use their flag? Why is Australia still a part of the Commonwealth when it serves little purpose to any of us and serves as a constant reminder to Indigenous Australians that they are still controlled by the original invaders. These to me are fairly simple reparations that would have minimal impact on Australia as a whole. Perhaps, it would alter the way we live but I think it is our responsibility, morally to forfeit some of our privileges for the greater good. Basically a little bit goes a long way.
In closing, it is a fact that a huge injustice occurred to the Indigenous population and suffering continues to this day. There is no easy solution to such a burden of pain. I believe the only solutions are for the non- Indigenous population to take responsibility and sacrifice our own way of life to bring about an overall equality. Sacrifice is not an easy word. But it all comes down to right and wrong. We are in a position to give, in this current generation. What are we so scared to lose, that was never ours in the first place??
Bibliography
McKenzie,C.”Prof” (2013), Lecture, Historic Injustices and Indigenous Rights, Macquarie University
Poole, R. (1999). Nation and Identity.Routledge, London, pp.114-142
Waldron,J. (1992). ‘Superseding Historic Injustice’. Ethics, 103 (1), 4-28
References
Poole, R. (1999). Nation and Identity.Routledge, London, pp.114-142
Waldron,J. (1992). ‘Superseding Historic Injustice’. Ethics, 103 (1), 4-28