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The Forum > Article Comments > Peace and prosperity for Indigenous Australians > Comments

Peace and prosperity for Indigenous Australians : Comments

By Noel Pearson, published 28/10/2005

Noel Pearson argues Indigenous Australians need a reform agenda across a wide range of prerequisites for economic and social development.

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Several contributors to this thread have made comments along the lines of 'Noel Pearson should be more specific'.
Perhaps these contributors have not read his earlier publications produced in edited form on this forum.
"What Cape York Communities can do to help themselves" 15/6/2001.
"How the Commonwealth Government can help stop Aboriginal welfare dependency" 15/1/2000.

In both of those publications he did make specific proposals -- at least as specific as he can, in his position, without triggering rants of 'dictator'.
Easiest access to those past articles is by clicking-on his photo at top right of the current publication.

To kalalli,
I, and I suspect others, would appreciate being able to learn more about your notion of the application of Kibbutz style society within the aboriginal community.
What about taking the time to write this up and present it as a subject article?
Posted by Gadfly, Monday, 31 October 2005 10:10:46 AM
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Gadfly you are very good at Bolt’s method of putting words into others’ mouths. That is deception. The Liberals and business are trying to cut wages to ridiculous rates in his country to supposedly be competitive. Thus they apparently can’t afford to pay a living wage. I believe that education (not indoctrination) is the cornerstone of any democracy. That education must include the ability to reason (so that kids can work out that fashionable things like political incorrectness is undermining authority in relation to setting boundaries and is, indeed, a subtle form of anarchy), basic psychology (so they understand why it is so important to be politically correct in dealing with the other) as well as RWA . So we need WRRAP in our schools. There are too many people in our society that don’t have the ability to move beyond adolescent schemas.
I agree that people must “strive for aspirations”. However, I wonder would Gadfly and Boaz be so agreeable if those aspirations didn’t fit in with the general population’s ideals or cultural mores. It was wrong of you, gadfly, to suggest I thought otherwise.
Noel Pearson’s views are clearly pandering to specific culture of the right. Other posts help confirm this view : For instance: “Cajoling the powerful with their own rhetoric is a much cannier approach.”
Re:” ridiculous right” I was responding to your comment re: the “loony left” with : "the ridiculous right no doubt have the solution". Reap what you sow.
You say: ‘Reread what I wrote. Where do I say that the "right" have "the solution" ? I do not believe that either the political left or right have a solution - at least not until people like Noel Pearson are listened to.’ Are you serious? Why not seriously listen to other indigenous folk - like Rainer? Why do you choose someone clearly pandering to your ideals and those of the right?
Posted by rancitas, Monday, 31 October 2005 11:31:03 AM
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Gadfly: you say: “I spoke of ‘paternalism’ with criticism inter alia of ‘welfare’.” So what, I spoke of it in reference to stealing indigenous children-forcing them into missions. You have no right to the moral high-ground. Maybe, if we paid the indigenous folk the royalties and a portion of our GDP, they could live as they chose on their “portfolio earnings”. How much worse off would have the Indigenous folk been if they had no income to sustain them - no “welfare”?
Noel Pearson has taken on a huge task of trying to mix development with Indigenous culture. (I think there is no such word as development in the Indigenous language – this tells me how foreign Noel’s thinking is to Indigenous culture) . However, to my understanding indigenous religion is dynamic and it is that that, I think, will help the various Indigenous cultures across Australia survive.
Gadfly, you think I’m defeatist! Easier to say that than explain how an area of little population is going to sustain the goals that Noel posits. My concern is that should such a venture fail it will be more ammo for the racists. I am also concerned that Indigenous people will be pressured into something that is not an authentic expression of their community’s culture – just as, I think ,“welfare” is not.
Boaz: Don’t you think infidels like me have a history? Do you think Satan keeps my animated self stranded in the wastelands, the leftlands, with Sodom (based on another of Boaz”s nonsensical slags)? Your attitude fits your very narrow, sometimes irrational view of the world. You clearly think you are superior to others who disagree with the church (and you)? The treatment of indigenous children in missions is well documented. I also worked with a blackfella; we had some interesting yarns re: his “special” treatment as we cut the fat off sheep skins. I trimmed he loaded. Primary and secondary sources. Are you , Boaz, that Boltscammed that you still don’t think the “church” took their belief in the inferiority of Indigenous culture outside the boundaries of humane treatment
Posted by rancitas, Monday, 31 October 2005 11:43:49 AM
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Gadfly,

I sense that even if and others had read widely (as I have for a few years now) it would still not be enough for you.
Please don't assume that Indigenous people in this particular discussion are not informed, not well read or have the life experiences that in many cases are equal, if not superior to NP.

NP does enjoy media favouritism and this results (in my view) a very artificial, one dimensional understanding of the issues and political contexts by non-Indigenous peoples. The manufacturing of NP’s views has never really come under critical review by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. That you have not read them in the press does not mean they do not exist and are plentiful. They do are they are.

The dumbing down of Australian democracy over the last 10 years of conservative rule and Labor dysfunctional has had a dire impact on those who never enjoyed an equal space in public discourse and media coverage. 100 stories about what Pearson thinks about this or that is not the same as 100 media stories (properly investigated) about a variety of Indigenous issues and perspectives.

That NP may be your own intellectual portal into Indigenous affairs, history and politics does not mean it is ours.

Thanks Rancitas, finally someone who gets it!
Posted by Rainier, Monday, 31 October 2005 1:24:10 PM
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Rainier I always read your posts.

I do not often post on indigenous threads because as a caucasian Aussie I cannot speak for the original Australians. However, I enjoy reading your perspective and even though my background and experiences are probably different to yours I find myself agreeing with your posts most of the time both here and on other threads.

Don't let the naysayers ever get to you. There are plenty of us who support and applaud your opinions and reasoning.

Have you thought of submitting an article yourself?

(formerly Trinity)
Posted by Scout, Monday, 31 October 2005 2:13:54 PM
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To Rancitas.

Mate. How about a bit less of character assasination, and more scrutiny of points raised. On the 'Church' issue, you made a blanket statement which cast aspersions on ALL Churches, and I simply asked you to back it up with documented sources ..at least one. All you did was say 'its well documented'. Well looking more closely at that... I'm sure and know that there are documented cases of abuse, sexual and other by SOME people in SOME Church/missions, and thats why I challenged you. You tarred all with the same brush. I still await a source for your 'cuff on the back of the head' for an unenthusiastic Lords Prayer recital.
If I challenge statements of Muslims I give chapter and verse, its the least one can do.

Now, for you and Ranier, I am gobsmacked at what you are actually on about besides verbally destroying NP .... He raises some points, some of us have asked him to fill in the blanks, and now, I ask YOU guys to do the same..please. Give us some positive, constructive approach to advancing aboriginal interests, (and yes, if they DON'T fit 'my mould' whatever that is, I am happy to hear it,) but if you look at what I write, I am DEFENDING indigenous culture and land, so I fail to see where all this attack is coming from. Perhaps you guys are secretly right wing rednecks ? :)

So, lets look at Cape York, and indigenous interests, (which to me, dont neccessarily have to include the western concept of 'employment')
and work together here, to see if we can come up with something which we can all take away at least knowing we tried.

What are....Indigenous interests ? might be a good starting point.

Kallili, Ranier, NP.. all indigenous, who would know better than you guys ?
Posted by BOAZ_David, Monday, 31 October 2005 3:20:59 PM
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