The Forum > Article Comments > Get over it! The hypocrisy over Anzac Cove > Comments
Get over it! The hypocrisy over Anzac Cove : Comments
By Stephen Hagan, published 7/4/2005Stephen Hagan asks why the graves at Anzac Cove are any different to Indigenous burial sites.
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Sorry, but I can’t agree with you about Government policy so please bear with me a bit longer.
Government’s treat many groups differently. They provide ramps for disabled. Some mean spirited people resent this. The resentment is the problem?
Secondly are you sure that Indigenous people are being treated so differently?
It is largely a myth that they get more money than the rest of us. Lots of money supposedly spent on them, has been for white profit. Lots of money was wasted because Govts didn’t provide support for organisations (like ATSIC) to operate effectively.
It seems obvious to me that Indigenous people (in general) are more disadvantaged than white people and it is in everyone’s interests to even the playing field by treating them ‘special’ if it seems useful.
But some more thought about what is needed. I think self-respect is important, respect for their culture from white society. This may be happening. I was surprised but very pleased when the Governor General suggested on Australia Day that we need to learn more about their culture.
Sorry is an indicator to some Indigenous people that the white government cares. They are not traditionally a cynical people. The failure to be able to say sorry demonstrates Howard’s emotional problems. He couldn’t apologise to Cornelia Rowe either, whereas Costello did.
And another thing to think about is that the idea of helping them all to achieve in our society is assimilation. It seems to me that we lose something very valuable by ignoring what their culture has to offer. I am not idealising it but a culture that was so stable for so long has to have some wisdom and insights into human happiness.
But if you are interested in Indigenous kids and their problems, I just heard about this wonderful website called ‘us mob’ Check out the story at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/lm/stories/s1341400.htm