To those people who lash out and say that others who do not support the reconciliation agenda are "racists", I would suggest that the differences have far more to do with physics than racism. That is, after centuries of development, most Westerners have a large body of experience in doing things in a certain way. Just like in physics, where momentum is the product and mass and velocity, when Western civilisation clashes with Aboriginal society, Aboriginals will always come off second best purely because they have so much less momentum. Such is life in the physical world.

That's not to say there aren't racists within Western culture, nor that Aboriginals have been treated justly by the clash.

Lizz, In Tamworth and other areas, the places I have seen aboriginal people employed are:

- council workers :)
- banking staff
- nurses
- reception staff in businesses
- farm workers
- shearers
- home care services
- law

There'd be others, but they dont come to mind quickly - these are just off the top of my head. I did once work with an aboriginal legal aid centre that of course was govt funded, but that said had very strict criteria with regards to funding and reporting on spending. Whilst this might fall into your category of "native industry", it doesnt belie the fact that those that were employed there were intelligent people who would have been quite capable of holding down a job in private practice.

What does all this mean? Well it means that those that write-off aboriginals as a stone-age race incapable of coping with modern society are uninformed and single-minded. A lot of the problems with schooling and learning come back to background. Parents who didnt have the chance to attend school themselves are generally going to see little benefit in sending their kids. What we need are dedicated and resourceful teachers who are prepared to go to the efforts rquired to capture the imaginations of the children and thus interest them in learning. There was one program in the NT which was basically a husband and wife volunteer team, who used horse riding skills as the bait to get kids to school. The elders approved as the kids would then be learning skills that were practical - the decent education was not important to them, but the kids got it anyway as a part of the package. Horse riding wouldnt work for all schools or communities, so each would need to be creative in capturing the attention of kids. Similar programs could be used in the "disadvantaged suburbs" to help drop truancy rates. It all just requires creativity and dedication.

Liz the Yank,

It is to be expected I suppose that Aboriginal Reconciliation is not a term ever on your social and political radar.

You had "Treaties" etc on your way to taking the best of Native Indian Land - we have had Mabo which was at least headed in the right direction.

This was quickly followed by the Howard's Government shamefull counter Wik Amendments crafted by the politically powerfull Land owning squatter class [The Nationals], to wind back hard won gains for Indigenous people.

The thought of Sharing Land and communicating with Tribal Aboriginals was simply beyond the abilities and conception of most of both the Liberals and the Nationals . It still is, as proven by John Howard's Preamble Statement.

Naturally young Aboriginal people do not like to be the butt of racist ignorant, uninformed comments or jokes and can feel alienated and uncomfortable to the point that they would prefer no jobs with whites than have to ignore racism ,for the sake of work cohesion.

A rounded Social Education,[not worrying about how we will beat Asians in Maths Competitions] with a degree of Aboriginal content would make us, unlike the US, more understanding of difference in the world and at home.

CJ Morgan “Hey Col - I'm really a fun guy when you get to know me :)”

Ah that explains why I think you are a “joke”.

“Perhaps Col could consider moving to Alabama or wherever it is that lizz posts from”

I did live in Texas for a few years (as well as many years in UK), and Lizz (of Massachusetts) I remember having a splendid time in Boston.

I would suggest to CJMorgan, travel broadens the mind. Relocating, settling into and living somewhere else is an enriching experience. You really should try it some day. Although you might find you need more skills than just “being fun” to be allowed entry.

Kartiya jim “if "I was PM" the learning of a working Aboriginal Language and Culture would be compulsory in early and late school years.”

That explains why you are not PM.

Politics is the art of the possible,

not the indulgence in the pointless and fanciful

I am tempted to suggest a lot more but will suffice in observing “working Aboriginal Language” sounds a bit like an oxymoron.

I would note a definition racist

“hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.”

Observing the obvious “differences” between races does not imply intolerance to them.

I would further comment on another definition

“a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.”

“Discrimination” through unequal land rights is exactly what many aborigines expect from our government.
This flies in the face of “equality”, just like “affirmative action strategies” rely on an unequal assessment of acceptability or competency when qualifying different individuals, based on their race.

RobP “Such is life in the physical world”

Agree, we do live in a physical world, where the best we can expect is equal access to opportunity.

However, if someone choose to live in a desert, well away from populated and serviced communities and centres, let them but let them also bear the outcome of such decisions alone, just as I alone bear the price of living in a city.

Col,

"However, if someone choose to live in a desert, well away from populated and serviced communities and centres, let them but let them also bear the outcome of such decisions alone, just as I alone bear the price of living in a city."

That's one way of looking at it. However, the corollary of my earlier statement is that it is precisely because Aboriginals have so much less "developmental momentum" than Westerners that they can't survive in the modern cities where they could attain a better standard of living. And, from their starting point in life, even the most eager Aboriginal on the road to Damascus, so to speak, would have no hope of integrating properly (or without being hit by the proverbial Mack truck).

I think a useful question is: how can our society give further opportunity to those Aboriginals that either do want to make a go of it or who can benefit from it. Of course, those that don't want to take the opportunity can continue to live in the desert.

Rob P

You say “Aboriginals have so much less "developmental momentum" than Westerners that they can't survive in the modern cities “

This is utter rubbish. I live in Townsville where we have the largest Aboriginal population in Australia. I went to school with lots of aboriginal and Islander kids.

Without fail, those children whose parents were professionals or had a trade did the best. Their progress through school was no different to anyone else’s. The kids whose parents didn’t work or were alcoholics or itinerant, and those in foster care, fared the worst.

Aboriginal children can perform just as well as anyone else if they have the basic support and environment children need. The problem is many are caught in a vicious cycle where the parents are uneducated and poor so the kids don’t get a good education and they don’t get work, they have kids and the cycle perpetuates. There is little point blaming anyone as this will not improve anything.

The best way to break this cycle is to make sure the kids are well looked after and properly educated. This requires some family stability which means real work for the breadwinners. It also means proper policing, healthcare, housing etc. These things CANNOT be provided in remote communities.

There is NO SCOPE for aboriginal communities to live between worlds anymore. It is a disease killing their society. Either they take part in the mainstream, or they shun it completely, although I don’t see how they could.

For far too long the left has been poisoning these communities through their misguided “rights” based policies which neglected any accompanying responsibilities. You CANNOT maintain a community on passive welfare and expect to see positive results. Self respect and indeed respect for others cannot survive long term handouts.

LiztheYank,

If all you know about a subject is what you read about it on the web you are off to a very bad start. To quote the well known saying “It’s better to stay quiet and have people think you’re a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.”