For anyone who has studied John Howard's statements over tghe past decade, it should not be a surprise that his latest spiel about reconciliation is indeed "symbolic" and no more than that.

The question is, what does Howard's symbolism here really stand for? As so often with John Howard, his wording is cunningly devised to look like one thing, but actually mean another. As Carol Johnson has identified - Howard's "reconciliation promise" is indeed a re-packaging of his continued agenda.

With the election in mind, this promise is designed to appeal to well-meaning "liberal" thinkers, while reassuring the nuclear lobby that the aboriginal land grab will go ahead.

Howard's next move - that his government will "ratify a Kyoto-like agreement" is designed to comfort those who worry about global warming - while in fact, it has no substance. This proposed "climate-change action" means that nothing will be done before 2012, and that even then, there will have to be special conditions for Australia. No doubt, as with the last Kyoto discussions, those conditions will again favour the mining and nuclear lobbies.

One thing that Howard is really good at is the hubris. But - is there some hope that Australians have at last woken up to his lies and clever half-truths?
Christina Macpherson www.antinuclearaustralia.com

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!...LEOPARDS DON'T CHANGE THEIR SPOTS.THIS SAME OLD LEOPARD SNARLED"WE WILL DECIDE WHO COMES TO OUR COUNTRY" LAST ELECTION, HE DIDN'T ASK IF THE ABORIGINALS WERE HAPPY FOR US WHITES TO COME TO THEIR COUNTRY, BRINGING DISEASE AND GROG AND BEING DISPOSSESSED OF THEIR GOD'S OWN COUNTRY.WHO ASKED THEM ?,IF THEY WANTED THE MINERALS DUG UP AND SOLD TO NUCLEAR NATIONS TO ENRICH J.H. AND HIS MATES.

Was feeling a bit guilty after pressing the off switch every time Howard comes on TV lately. Feel a bit better now that one or two of our group are feeling the same as me.

Don't vote Labour either, so looks like I'll have to join the bleeding hearts?

Cheers BB.

Nice piece Carol,

The first thing that struck me about Howard's reconcilation rabbit was not just the dishonestym but rather than he could with some certainty rely on many small 'L' liberals to believe him.

He dies not need them all, just those who would be easily persuaded enought to think he was genuine.

That he truly believes he can resolve this whole situation because of who he thinks he is illustrates how insane he really is.

He's lost the plot big time.

And they do exist, they want absolution, they want to feel that its being looked after.

He already knows its too little too late in terms of real outcomes under his watch. That he was able to legitimize this with support from key Indigenous leaders is both an indication of desperation and naivity.

Unfortunately, it's a good post. The finally sentences cover the timid ALP recent habit of (unconsciously?) reinforcing paradigms and observe the real ability of Howard to massage the Australian mindset, "pandering to the baser instincts". The public is meantime denied the oxygen of a decent education and decent media and newspapers to interpret what goes on. We need Ghandi; we get Shannahan!
Now, it is hard for the ALP to deal with paradigms because it can't employ them- too brainwashed! It has no "consciousness" motion. No critiques because it is only an effect of basically, a medieval scholastic system and Aristotelian outlook toward reality. It is lobotomised Howardism.
Like the Aztecs, we DO practice a form of (covert) human sacrifice. We are largely unaware and the thing remains part of an ideological subliminal language of social cohesion. So the reality with Labor as a component: its passivity and sole concern with implementing neoliberalism.
Now back to the "Apology" and Aborigines.
To apologise means you admit a wrong has been done and you care seriously enough to rectify the wrong, even at the cost of personal discomfiture.
E.g. if Indigenes are dysfunctional and this is because of two centuries of mistreatment, that means something needs to be done NOW and regardless of costs, if the wrong is truly greivous. Tax cuts, mineral and agricultural concessions and porkbarrelling would be required to remain in the backburner while the situation is rectified. It is relates to that one absolute that can't be bought: self respect!
But Howard won't apologise, because that would require action to help rather than harm indigenes unwittingly employed as symbols for reinforcement of racism, and greed and privilege that comes of their depiction as unworthy clowns.
And no apology really means rigorous adherence to the REAL policy in place since Wik and Marbo that continues expropriation as oppression, in the face of ever more overt suffering. As we rip down the rainforests of Tassie, so we murder the blacks and Iraqis in Iraq. ALL fall before the Machine of "Growth" and "Development" regardless of efficiency, efficacy, humanity or egality.

How apposite to our Glorious Leader are the following words on the current US government by the late David Halberstam, in his article "The History Boys" (Vanity Fair, August 2007)

"… the most dangerous time for any nation may be that moment in its history when things are going unusually well, because its leaders become carried away with hubris and a sense of entitlement cloaked as rectitude. The arrogance of power, Senator William Fulbright called it during the Vietnam years."

The author's observation about Howards electoral mobilisation of "a mainstream Australian identity that can feel good about itself.", pinpoints why he has been so successful. He has managed to counter-balance Keating, who pushed too fast and too aggressivly, in lots of areas.

This point underlies his belief that he can carry the latest debate, and bring middle Aust. with him. Not hubris, nor Ranier's assertion of insanity.

You've got to chuckle at the authors insistence on Howards hubris between all the "as I've stated elsewheres". Pot and kettle.

Howards first act as PM was to get the Army to truck water out to remote aborigine communities suffering thirst, to the howls of protest from the do nothing, soft cock wets. Some things never change.

Don't you love the way way that Howard is now the great hero of climate change, reconciliation and every other left issue that he has been fighting against for the last 11 years.

Next thing, he'll join a union and announce that he is gay.

Epilogue, by the look...
Up at Yuendumu a dozen penpushing parasites under army guard are parachuted in to tell the local community they are having the isolation component of their welfare rescinded ready for Jobstart conditions that ignore precisely their isolation and lack of familiarity with white city conditions. Conditions that send even white fellas hardened to them off on the grog or finally a suicide rope, one might add.
So Yuendemu people have to head off for the big smoke for, at best, an uncertain fate while Howard, Hockey, and genocidal Brough big-fella themselves as these people's friends for election purposes.
Consequently, there is a near riot.
Nothing makes me sick when it comes to this government.

Rainier

He'd enter into a gay union?

With thought, your earlier points are spot on and valid. I accept the criticism.