To Jayb and ttbn,
Best if you read my post again. I'm not asking anyone to apologise for anything. I'm asking people on both sides to admit the truth. Just as you have to admit to being an alcoholic if you want to join AA, so you should be prepared to admit to wrongs on both sides of the black and white divide. Only then can we hope to reconcile and move forward as one nation and one people.

Anyone ever heard of the -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Recognition Act 2013?

On February 13, 2013 PM Julia Gillard and Opposition
Leader Tony Abbott addressed Parliament in support
of this Bill to recognise our Indigenous People in
the Constitution.

PM Gillard said:

"We must never feel guilt for the things already done
in this nation's history, but we can and MUST feel
responsibility for the things that remain undone.

No gesture speaks more deeply to the healing of our
nation's fabric than amending our nation's founding
chapter.

We are bound to each other in this land and always will
be. Let us be bound in justice and dignity as well".

The Bill passed then - but now is no longer in force.

Why is that?

In an earlier more honest age, Samantha Cooper, if she is telling the truth, would have been referred to as a European, with a touch of the tar brush, & most like her would have kept that fact well hidden. It was a real disadvantage.

Today Samantha Cooper shouts it from the roof tops, because it is a very real advantage to have such heritage. She then makes the totally untrue claim that this heritage is a disadvantage, while depending on it for being noticed, & gaining access to many privileges & opportunities.

While ever those with a touch of aboriginal blood continue to trade so unscrupulously on it, there is no chance of any form of reconciliation, obviously the last Samantha Coopers of this world would want. Without the claim of aboriginality, they lose their main reason for existence, & access to publishing opportunity.

Samantha if you want to do something for aboriginal welfare, shut the hell up, you are simply generating ill will among most of us with these exaggerated, untruthful whining type pieces.

There are two cultures here some black some white, with those who have a foot in each camp trying to make the descendants of the early setters responsible for every atrocity and there were many on both sides and some committed by native policemen!

In recent days there have been some scenes that did not cover anyone with glory.

And in each current case there needs to be legal repercussions! And a fair trail that allows both sides of the story to be told.

Having a bad day the most lame excuse for completely over the top violence, except when dealing with a murderous ice addict?

Obviously this saintly child was completely innocent and wasn't bad mouthing a cop.

Was a well brought kid with impeccable manners, thanks to the care and love of his always sober, considerate, guiding, kind and gentle aboriginal parents!

I mean I could take my mixed race kids anywhere and always receive compliments about how well mannered and well behave they were!

Aboriginals do not bash their wives rape and bugger their kids!

Are model citizens in every respect who do not humbug, lie, cheat, steal. Would never dream of "borrowing" a motor vehicle then crash and smash it then set fire to it, leaving the disabled owner immobile?

It's time these peace loving nonviolent folk were given a fair shake!?

Then there'd be no need for the endless victim-hood and humbug we're constantly subjected to!

And nobody doing time in jail as a rite of passage!

Reconciliation? Really!? You sure!?
Alan B.

Thank you Samantha for your article, writing from your Indigenous experience. Sadly, reading several of the comments, the bigotry is still out there. From my observation bigots (and the self-righteous) lack the self-knowledge to acknowledge their condition. My encounters with such bigots reveals their very limited grasp of Australian white history, let alone Indigenous history. And I expect they don't intend to learn anything beyond their bigotry.

Dear Samantha,

I apologise for the red necked racists comments your fine article has received on OLO. One wants to know why you don't look like "Truganini", does he look like "Captain Cook"? Then there is the shock that you don't fit the stereotype, please admit you are a no good lay-about, so the racists here can feel that much better. Another of the regulars uses the disparaging remark referring to "a touch of the tar brush", the same bloke regularly exhibits a touch of the sun with his comments.
A very good and interesting article, and much appreciated by the decent folk on OLO.