Hamlet,

How can you compare apples with oranges when your base line knowledge on the diversity and culture and history of Indigenous Australians (and Africans) is so obviously depleted?

In the interface between your knowledge of then comparison between Africans and Indigenous Australians lies a bundle of very old myths, stereotypes and pseudo understandings of the complexities of colonialism and its effects on Indigenous populations (past and present)

Or does being a white Australian suffice as being considered an authority on all things "Australian", indeed all things non-white?

Which African nations, people, and communities are you speaking about?

Furthermore you asserted in previous post: “students from Lebanese backgrounds. These students didn't want to be their either”

Well I for one would want more evidence (and reasons) than this that they didn’t want to be there or other evidence to support the reasons why the DID want to be there.
You seem intent on pathologising these kids as deviant without providing any sold evidence. Why?

But more to the point - if your latent intention is to purge yourself of some hate for Indigenous Australians, don’t use Others in to construct your arguments as rational comparisons, come out and say it out loud.

And before you fire back let it be known that I'm all for "informed" debate.

So come on, get with it

Rainier

If I am making you that angry I must be touching a sensitive nerve.

How about having a good look through these:

About Kenya

http://www.google.com.au/search?as_q=education+africa+school+fees&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

http://www.ungei.org/infobycountry/247_635.html

South Africa

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0202/p13s01-legn.html

Central Africa

http://allafrica.com/stories/200604050442.html

Overall, in most of the developing world it is school fees that are keeping children out of school. The parents know the value of education, and instill this in their children.

Here it is the opposite. In spite of Abstudy and the like, and 'free education' Aboriginal children IN SOME AREAS seem to need more incentive to attend school.

I used to work in the CES that covered the La Perouse area. That office had a substantial number of Aboriginal clients, most of whom had levels of education at least equal to the non-Aboriginals who lived in the area. In various offices I had a number of Aboriginal people from that area as collegues both at management level, and as employment officers. The families in that area knew the value of education. But as I have said before, the Aboriginal people from 'Larpa' didn't get along with the Aboriginals from Redfern.

It wasn't their Aboriginality that mattered, it was the relative attitude and energy.

2Deadly Wrote:

"You will never know what it is like for a black Australian to live in a racist white middle class Country"

And fortunately neither will the Aboriginal people of Australia. Whilst any kind of racism should never be tolerated, I would think that a quick look at the plight of the Native American Indians, the African Slave Trade and Racism in South Africa should make one think twice before saying that they are worst off.

"Where are you getting your info on TAFE courses, cheap car loans and cheap housing. Wow! I must move to your part of the country because I still pay full course fees, pay same interest rates for my car as well as renting without a discount. Those who have been given these 'benefit' are the same as others in the same income bracket....it is called EQUITY"

I get the information from my friends. As Jamie said to me "Alison, if they were throwing money at you, what would you do ?" The answer came about after I asked him "Don't you think that the Aboriginal people in the outback could use it more than you ?"

"By the way, the Scottish never stopped having the right to be Scottish regardless of English occupation so why should 500 original Aboriginal nations stop resisting illegal colonial occupation".

They fought for the right to be Scottish. At one time the English wouldn't accept Scottish money and if they did they gave them less than the English rate for it. And that was only 30 years ago. My father was/is Scottish and he played professional football (soccer) in England. Although more than deserving of a place in the Scottish national team to play at the world cup (read 50's here) he was ommitted from the team BECAUSE he chose to play soccer in England.

We are either all human beings pulling together to make this a better country/world - or we are divided. If you walk upright and bleed red, then you are a human being to me. All human beings deserve exactly the same benefits.

Alison.

Cynthia2 asked

"How many really want to return to the exact life-style their aboriginal ancestors lived pre 1788?"

I ask, how many white people want to return to the lifestyle of their ancestors pre 1788? This is an irrelevant question as it is not possible for anyone to turn the clock back like that. However in the 21st century there are different modern cultures. Even the English language is used differently. Many Aboriginal people use traditional Aboriginal grammer to string English words together. The English call this "broken" English, but it is not broken at all. just a different cultural usage of the words, and consistent, effective and appropriate communication within that culture.

Same thing with flush toilets, computers. T.V.s and cars etc., the white people never had any of these things in 1788. These modern inventions do not belong to one culture as their own. Black nations such as Africa, Vanuatu, Solomons, Fiji etc have all these modern things but have adapted them to their own cultural needs just as the British, Japanese, Germans and everyone else has.

It is a white superiority perspective to claim the modern world is the domain of white culture. Why can't the backward English assimilate into 21st century Aboriginal society? After all this is an Aboriginal country, haven't migrants a responsibility to assimilate if they come to live here?

Hamlet,

Sensitive? Ha! Well no, more like amazed that one can use so little evidence in relation to making some broad statements about Indigenous kids and education as if it were enough to justify an authoritative perspective.

Yes working in the CES (that's a long time ago!) may have given you some insights, but these anecdotal recollections can hardly be used to prop up many of your assertions.

Surely this forum (and this topic) deserves better?

Hamlet, if you are really interested in this topic goes and speaks to some Indigenous parents in your area. (and do some real research)
But perhaps being more informed will mean you'll have to abandon some of your pet myths about Koori's?

By the way, I'm Koori, a teacher. Nonetheless I know you have to keep up with the facts, theory and analysis. What's your excuse for not doing the same?

@King Canute

Africa is not a country.Lets not compare third world African and other nations ,with a more powerful Western Nation such as Australia.

I believe every situation is different to each other,although I have nothing against comparing rich nations and poor nations,the educated with un-educated the strong and the weak, used as examples.But we only create more problems when we compare people, then not treat them as Individuals.Then we lose interest in the plot because Everyone's different even people of the same background.
I do believe in equality and justice for all people.