On both sides of the fence there's actually a combination of race AND SOCIAL prejudice in existence. Of the two, thanks to the levels of understanding and education we enjoy as a modern society, race prejudice is really not all that problematic to work on and resolve - after all, pretty much ANY white aussies who deride Aborigines via racial slurs would if honest agree that they know it's wrong - as I would like to think most Aborigines would agree the same sort of thing from their "side".

What's happening is that underlying social issues exist that are not so easy to deal with but nonetheless desperately NEED to be dealt with - but as long as the whole lot keeps being chucked in the "Racism" basket nothing constructive is or ever will be achieved in those areas - so the divide will continue in perpetuity as Racism.

None of this is easy - white aussies need to face up to the fact that they're "copping" out by expressing their unhappiness with Aboriginal societal and individual standards by generalising to race - and Aborigines need to realise that their big problem in broader Aussie society is actually SOCIAL prejudice and work on that rather than going with the same sort of racial copout.

Why bother.

a) It is ethno centric - Indigenous have to become successful in the capitalist system to be considered successful. There is no room for Indigenous culture or traditional lifestyles when measuring success from unemployment numbers. This is the very base of the issue. We measure with ethnic-centric eyes, uni degrees? employment levels? So we want them urbanised, is that it? Ok so we move them into urban areas and send them off to uni and work..ah Cultural Genocide !

b) Idle gossip - Oh so and so called so and so this name, oh golly gosh.

c) Woeful stereotyping regional Australia against urban.In fact regional Australia has both extremes due to closer contact. So you will also find those most at ease and most appreciate of Indigenous culture because they may actually know a little about it. I had a friend from Sydney visit and we took a bus to Cairns. When we alighted she remarked we were the only non-Aboriginals on the bus. Yet I never saw one. Gosh Sydneysiders do not even know that they look like!

c) Negative - All we ever hear is negative stories regarding Indigenous people then complain when people adopt negative sterotypes or attitudes. One creates them then gets all huffy when people take their negative messages literally.

Lifespan has nothing to do with it. I heard it was very young, like 21 or so. However white people did not live so long then either and I bet here in Australia they went backwards before forwards adapting to harsh conditions as they did. The issue is now and of course some issues are because of remote location. Again do we move them?. Some health issue pre-disposed so do we get them to intermarry to gain some medical immunit? Are we withholding services that any Australian in a remote community would expect? If not then move on to next health related subject to pin point any discrimination in health services. We are stuck in a loop because we get the newbies starting from scratch every 20 years or so.

It should be no surprise that racism continues to exist or that it can be found more openly expressed in some areas than others.
Far too many of us have limited experiences with Aboriginal peoples and for a large number that experience is almost completely limited to unpleasant and often criminal contact.
Because the drunk in the public park, the shoplifter on security footage, the loud and abusive person on the street and/or the beggar at the bus station are all more likely to make an impression than the person going to work, raising their kids and living a normal life all too often the images that many europeans have of indigenous people are negative.
I had an aboriginal foster brother while I was going up, but I also was threatened by Aboriginal kids down at the river. My son's best friend in school is Aboriginal - I hope that all of his impressions are positive - but my daughter has also been threatened by Aboriginal children.
When we all know as many good aboriginal people and have as many positive experiences with aboriginal people as negative - maybe then things will change.

Positive experiences are hard to come by J S Mill, one fault is that many think it requires interaction with Indigenous Australians. Indigenous are not renowned for sharing their culture, in fact can be stubbornly protective of it. You simply cannot turn up to a community and be welcome with open arms, you really should be invited. Ellen DeGeneres the other day came under attack for playing a didgeridoo and Google felt the wrath of copyright when they requested use of the Aboriginal flag for a Google doodle.

If you read the Flag thread the author mentions his appreciation of Indigenous culture is by immersing himself in the prescence of a natural landmark. So it is not respect of their culture in a paternal way but respecting what they respect. A huge difference. So no real reason to gatecrash their homes. You do not need to read copious quantities of junk academic transcripts to gain cultural insight. You only need to see with the same eyes.

The whole narrative we have had for generations now destroys their self esteem. The only real solution is not for them to comply with our standards but for us to comply with theirs. Does not mean dot painting class, simply getting back to nature in the real sense of the word. It is a no lose proposition and the only way we can go forward together.

Won't happen though, the only eyes we have for nature are from the balcony of a 5 star resort or from the eye opening of a "environmental protest koala suit" on hire in Yuppyville.

So if you want a child to have positive Indigenous experience then simply share the landscape with them, teach them respect and love for it and the respect of Indigenous Australians then comes so easy because it becomes shared values, so very very easy. No red nappies required.

BigAl,

Above I asked you to provide references for the points you criticized me on. I have had no reply. Again I will ask you to provide references for your claims that Aboringines had 1) ".... developed some of the world's most complex society structures, .......and land management techniques." and 2) "Aboringinal life expectancy was estimated at around 70-80 years."

Thanks.

Another point which I would like to highlight in this article refers to the figures the author presents. Often politically correct authors present figures in this manner to confuse the less educated into believing their views. What I am talking about is he attempts to counter the argument, that a higher proportion of the indigenous population are involved in non-domestic violence ( 1.9% versus 0.7% non indigenous) by stating that 91% (262 of 288 incidents ) are commited by non-indigenous people. This might fool the mathematically challenged including my mum. Wow 91%, that's huge, white people must be to blame. I see this type of argument put forward so often it has become a joke. Yet a large percentage of the population are convinced by it. A little further examination will explain how very misleading this is. In the following few paragraphs the author states ( or lets slip ) that in the area of concern only 3.6% of the population are indigenous. Thus 9%( 26 of 288 incidents) are committed by only 3.6% of the population ( the indigenous population). A point the author conveniently leaves out of his article. Obviously you would expect ( other things being equal) 3.6% of the population would be responsible for 3.6% of incidents( crimes). A little further calculation demonstrates the indigenous population are 250% ( yes 250%) more likely to be responsible for these incidents( CRIME). So the figures he presents actually demonstrates non-indigenous are under represented in crime whilst indigenous are over represented. With a little extra maths we can calculate that if the population was purely indigenous there would be 722 crimes versus 271 if the population was all non-indigenous.

look up meaning of the word "racism" somewhere authoritative.
CJMorgan,
you mean authoritative as in reading books like so many "experts" in anything indigenous ? Of course living in communities for 30 years how could anyone possibly know anything about the people who live there. I know even more about the "experts' who visit frequently & cause nothing but more & more discontent. These consultants are generally ignorant & highly hypocritical & to top it off they're highly irresponsible. I have never pointed the finger at the everyday indigenous but I am pointing it at those pretend ones, you know the ones I mean, you just don't want to concede that people can see through the facade.