Reconciliation can't be seen as a single issue or
agenda.

There are so many dimensions involved from historical
acceptance, race relations, to institutional integrity
and unity, onto equality and equity. These dimensions don't
exist in isolation but are inter-related. The contemporary
definition of Reconciliation must weave all of these
dimensions together.

For example greater historical acceptance of the wrongs
and being included in our nation's founding document
would bind us all together. It would possibly lead
to improved race relations which in turn would lead to
greater equality and equity.

Reconciliation must transcend Australian political theatre
and promote a sense of national unity - so spoke Patrick
Dodson.

Some other wise person also said - "In a just and
equitable Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children will have the same life chances as
non-Indigenous children, and the length and quality of a
person's life will not be determined by their racial
background".

Dear Samantha - Thank You for your article. Ignore the
racists - they're a minority - and will die out - and
end up on the dung heap of history - where they belong.

No again, Bernie. What happened in the past stays in the past. Everyone gets the same deal in modern Australia. This poor black fella nonsense has been going on for years without any change. Same old moaning and complaining about whitey, with nothing gained because there is nothing to be gained.

Academics have concocted a totally false image of aboriginal culture that has come to dominate all discourse and seen millions of dollars being put into indigenous studies centres, research, courses, colleges and propping up living museums in totally uneconomic, isolated camps misnamed 'communities'. The elites of the aboriginal industry have assumed for themselves a pseudo culture that carries with it all the pomp and circumstance of a nation - one that never existed.

A common culture of all aboriginal people has been invented, as has an unreal society of liberty and fraternity among the nomadic tribes and family groups of the original inhabitants. The truth is regular warfare, raiding, porous borders, brutality and the abandonment of the unwanted.

These historical facts have not prevented the fabrication of an ancient Utopia, the aim of which is not to reflect past truths, but to set up for apartheid in the future

Hi Foxy, you wrote "Some other wise person also said - "In a just and
equitable Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will have the same life chances as non-Indigenous children, and the length and quality of a person's life will not be determined by their racial
background"." My understanding of Australia is that it is a country where equality of opportunity is one of the highest in the world. If true, then it is up to individual Australians to take advantage of those opportunities to achieve the outcomes they hope for. Clearly, this is not happening in Australia, in part because we don't have a two-way acceptance of the concept of reconciliation.

To ttbn, I fear your problem is that you've been too influenced by academics. They certainly have painted a false picture of Aboriginal culture which is why I believe it's so important for Aboriginal people to fully understand the realities of their historical culture which was anything but utopian, hence my call for both sides to agree to a two-way reconciliation process.

I agree with Bernie Masters on this matter.

No one should forget their past, but it has to be honest rather than blinkered recall.

Having said that, i dont see how reconciliation will change much for a while yet.

If a group is over-represented in a low income group, there will always be tension (and hatred) by many.

There will also be those who are simply racists that will never give ground, and will choose to deny the past.

Dear Bernie,

I agree it does have to be a two way street.

However if only one hand is clapping - it's
not going to achieve what it's trying to achieve.
It takes both hands - in order to work.

And, as we've seen to date - no matter what good
people have tried - until our leaders in
Parliament actually amend our nation's founding
charter - justice and dignity will remain outside
the domain of our Indigenous people.

white Australia must admit to the wrongs of the past in their dealings with and treatment of Aboriginal people,
Bernie Masters,
How many more times does this need to be done ? Why, we've even got a whole industry devoted to that ! For all the love in the World I can't think of what else can be done ?