I had never heard of the Coniston massacre, and it certainly sounds tragic. However, I don't see the reasoning behind comparing it to the horrors of Gallipoli?

Thousands of young men died fighting for their countries, and having to kill others to make our country safe from invaders.
I don't call that murder, I call it war.

Comparing this murderer to the deaths at Gallipoli is a bit offensive to me. He may well have been a racist thug even before he went to war and may have become even more mentally unbalanced after he returned home.

An inquiry into the killings may well help put the minds of descendents to rest, but I wouldn't imagine there would be many survivors around to tell the true story after all this time

As a matter of interest I went looking for more info on Aboriginal deaths during early white settlement in Australia.
The following website shows some even worse massacres of these poor people than that at Coniston.

http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/aboriginal-history-timeline-early-white.html

Most Aboriginal people in the last 2 centuries died horrible deaths from the diseases brought over from other countries, than were killed here by white settlers though.

Loudmouth, to quote you grom an earlier post this week " my dear, we have to get away from this 'tu quoque - you too' game: I've argued with people who play it all of my life: one raises a criticism of (a), someone else points out a similar act of corruption/incompetence/bastardry on the part of (b), as if that answers that. Well, it does, in the sense that if you shouldn't dedicate yourself to (b), then why the hell should you dedicate yourself to (a) either, if both are equally corrupt/incompetent/a pack of b@stards ? A pox on both of them.

suzeonline, how exactly did Galipoli "make our country safe from invaders" ? You say you can't see the reasoning behind comparing the Coniston massacre and Galipoli. Galipoli was Australians being part of an invading force in Turkey (a bit of a similarity there) under the command of the British (another common detail), but Coniston was on Australian soil - Australians were murdered. Can you now see the relevance?

Sad Event? absolutely it was.

There's a saying "Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it"

Hence my 'rant'.

There are 2 ways of committing Genocide.

a) With guns, gas chambers and mass graves

b) By destroying peoples identity.

Separate agenda Hazza? No mate... the SAME agenda...protecting people from either physical or identity annihilation.

The Conniston event- What is to be made of it?

"Confusion, and entrenched cultural ideas, along with Greed lead to tragic loss of life among Aboriginals"

Nothing will bring those deceased back...BUT.. learning from it, and applying the lessons might SAVE others (us)from a similar fate!

That fate might be destruction of identity.... if you lose that, you lose it all...including the will to live. It can be a quick bullet or a slow psychological death, take your pick.

Pericles in good form suggests that to remember things of auld is to carry a huge grudge. *hmmmmm*.. I guess the Celts who lived in Britanny (French coast) who had been expelled/driven out by the Anglo Saxons, and then joined William the Conquerer to re-take England were just 'carrying a grudge' ? Every day of their LIVES reminded them of what the Anglo Saxons had done to them...

It's not about 'grudge' its about JUSTICE!

The Irish are wierd. They don't just 'remember' in their own areas they RAM the battle up the noses of the Catholics by deliberately marching through their areas. That is pure arrogance "Ner ner we won" and spite and unneccessary.

A very welcome article.

Diverging slightly from the central thesis it is certain our view of Gallipoli is manufactured. No doubt great acts of heroism occurred but it was in effect, a massacre, the celebration of which relies upon the same dynamics we just inflicted upon Iraqi soldiers, women, children, civilians.

Why is it not taught that of all the armies of all nations in all the world in WWI, Aussies were the greatest deserters, the most cowardly, the most ill disciplined, the least reliable, the most prone to commit crime - some unspeakably horrific - on other soil?

Why can we not face our cringing, selfish, barbaric, racist underbelly?

Why?

Here is an example of how laws have changed regarding such actions as occurred in Coniston (though that was not 'genocide' as it was localized)

Canadian Criminal Code

Section 318: Advocating Genocide

The criminal act of "advocating genocide" is defined as supporting or arguing for the killing of members of an "identifiable group" — persons distinguished by their colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. The intention or motivation would be the destruction of members of the targeted group.

Would THIS be a crime in Canada?

http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/041.smt.html#041.6985

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them.

I'd say YES it should be! BUT... how has MC/PC infected and diseased the Canadian Authorities ?

They will put a white man on trial for advocating 'White supremacy'
But will not even act against a Muslim saying, in public the following:

Al-Hayiti has written that Allah has taught that "If the Jews, Christians, and [Zoroastrians] refuse to answer the call of Islam, and will not pay the jizyah [tax], then it is obligatory for Muslims to fight them if they are able." Christianity, in particular, is denounced as a "religion of lies,"

...and some of you have the GAUL to even suggest that such things are not important or relevant to such historic incidents as Coniston?

Conniston pales into insignificance when you look at what's happening right now..today... to innocent Christians and others. (Anyone seen the recent events of Iraq ? bombing/killing Christians because they are Christians ?)
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/11/2010111081934395118.html