Ho Hum says "Perhaps we should all re-read and study the work of Marshall McLuhan" and is skewered by d'Helm "I think the girls should read Marshall McLuhan for themselves and make up their own minds". I don't think On Line Opinion has witnessed a better example than this of a contributor being hoist on their own petard. Well said d'Helm.

Further problems of course ensue even if these girls do become practised in our English, when they learn standard English history.

We found this in earlier days in the Dalwallinu district, when we copped it properly from a certain full-blood Aboriginal parent who like Yagan before him learnt to understand our language and history somewhat better than some of us whites.

As my young wife mentioned at the time, why are these Aboriginal children given only the white view of Westralian history, especially when we find one full blood parent intelligent enough to become so hateful over it?

Cheers BB, WA.

Bushbred thinks if young Aboriginals learn to read there is a problem because they may not conform to Bushbred's preconceived notion of what they should learn from their reading. It's hard to think of a better example of the patronizing "lets keep the Indians on the reservation" mindset.

Perhaps if the girls didn't have Helen Hughes studying them like her own lab rats, taking notes, staring at them endlessly like an old deranged carpet snake, they may have felt more relaxed, enjoyed the moments, and understood the contexts?

It reminds me of my own childhood where I became an anthropological oddity and project of well intentioned, but stupid white people (like Hughes).

None of them whom I eventually learnt to speak and write English.

Just a thought...

Can't quite make out what you are getting at, Sillstone? What I related was a part of history, an Aboriginal father giving white families the rounds of the kitchen about his kids having to accept a whitey's account of a history which surely belongs to the Aboriginals as well us whites.

Have you ever lived in a district like early Dalwallinu which took in Paynes Find where both Yamadgees and Wongis existed.

Many of these married in with white families, one good looking Lubra married a Carlhausen, great grandson of a German family who worked for Gutstav Liebe, the former German architect and builder, said at the time to be also the biggest single wheatgrower in the world.

I only hope your argument is not taking possibly a superior racist point of view. So please rather than accusations, explain yourself clearly.

Perhaps if the girls didn't have Helen Hughes studying them like her own lab rats, taking notes, staring at them endlessly like an old deranged carpet snake, they may have felt more relaxed, enjoyed the moments, and understood the contexts?
Rainier,
well stated fact.