individual,

From the Merriam Webster:

'egoic (adjective): - of or relating to a sense of separate self or individuality; relating to or dealing with states of consciousness confined to the limits of personal identity.'

Your point was?

Your point was ?
Poirot,
Just a simple enquiry because it did not show up in the 2012 computer dictionary.
You can remove your hand from your private area now.

For Aka
“you might find the 'working together' book useful - it is downloadable.”

What is the central message and assumptions of the book? Does it assume that today’s Aboriginal people are culturally different from non-Aboriginal culture and hence in need of ‘culturally specific programs’?

“Racism still permeates Australian society, in overt and covert ways. Racism continues on from the racist foundations of modern Australia. Racism contributes to the ongoing gap in life expectancy and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.”
Those are statements that will always win you a popularity contest. Again, are you able to offer any proof that the racism you refer to exists to the degree that you believe it might? And are you able to offer any proof that the racism you refer is a significant contributor to the ongoing gap in life expectancy and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians? I have been down this path many times before. Sadly, when trying to prove that the racism is as pervasive as they suggest, all they can do is quote somebody else (such as some prominent person form the social justice commission) who makes the grand (though vague) statement “Racism is a big problem in this country.” I recently read somewhere where somebody said “Racism is very real and it permeates the halls of our universities as the NTEU showed.” Sounds impressive but it is empty and only ever discourages Aboriginal people from focusing on what they can do in the present to improve their lives.

“The issue is not what the colonisers did to Indigenous Australians in the past, it is about getting history right and recognising these acts of barbarism in the name of colonisation, and being aware of how they continue to influence the present and future.”
So why do we need to recognise it? How does recognising it help Aboriginal people? Are you as keen for Aboriginal people to recognise how they treated their own before colonisation? Are you keen for people to know what life was like for woman in traditional Aboriginal communities?

For Aka
“Cruelty and exploitation was certainly part of the coloniser's culture - they jailed kids, put little kids down mines, exploited workers unashamedly. Barbarians really.”
Now tell us how this knowledge will help close the gap? Perhaps the motive behind such statements has nothing to do with closing the gap. I suspect another motive.

“Racism does not need to continue, but it will continue to fester until it is addressed fairly and its existence is not denied.”
Poor health and social well-being does not need to continue, but it will continue to fester until the underlying problems (remoteness, low self-esteem, education, etc.) are addressed and that these problems are not denied. And if you feel it is important that people to believe that racism exists to the degree that you believe it does, then offer some proof. And don’t just quote people who agree with you and say that it exists. Yes, I agree racism exists, but not to the degree that you (and the authors you have quoted to me) believe it exists. Nor do I believe it is the major barrier to achieving equality. If racism (and colonization) is such a big problem, can you please explain why there are many Aboriginal people who have worked hard and are well respected and are doing very well for themselves. I will quote to you the words of Uncle Jimmy Little (and it is rare for me to use the title ‘Uncle’ but I do for Uncle Jimmy) – “Racism has never been a problem for me. I know who I am, and if others don’t, then that’s their problem.”

For Aka
You quoted some authors. Do any of them give proof (or at least a reasonable argument) that racism significantly affects health, etc. For one of the authors you quoted I have read a lot of their work. It was extremely complex and convoluted. He/she tried to get readers to see evidence for racism for which the average person would never see it. For this author, racism, in their opinion was around every street corner. Aka, to just simply quote someone who agrees with me as evidence that racism is a huge problem, is like finding people who claim they have seen (or even just believe in) ghosts to prove that ghosts exist. It does not prove anything. Only a desperate person uses that sort of logic.

Often the ones screaming that racism is everywhere use the following as evidence: they always moan and groan as if a death in custody is evidence of racism without ever acknowledging that Aboriginal people on average are no more likely than non-Aboriginal people to die in custody; or they believe that the higher jail rates are evidence of racist police, and never that just maybe there are higher crime rates amongst this cohort of people. Is it possible that these are racist claims?

I am happy to read your work. Will I be misquoted, or taken out of context? Are your writings in this discussion an example of your academic skills

For Aka

“Spirituality is much more than you describe, it has far more depth and meaning than your parody implies. I feel quite sad that you have not yet experienced it.”
I agree that spirituality is more than just mumbling “I am one with mother earth.” But that is often as much ‘spirituality’ that I see amongst those who claim to be experts on Indigenous affairs simply because they have some Indigenous heritage (and sometimes that heritage is so minimal that it is a joke). If they realised what spirituality was (the recognition that we are all one) they would not be so upset evertime someone disagreed with them.

“To suggest that racism is just a hollow catch-cry shows Anthony's ignorance or assimilation.”
A nice opinion, but you fail to offer any justification for your claim. I could just as easily say something like “To suggest that racism is pervasive and a significant cause of disadvantage shows Aka’s ignorance or self-serving bias