Dear Foxy,

«With all due respect. I don't think that the Indigenous are
saying that we don't belong here of that this is "my country".»

Some actually do say that, just as some "White"/"British" Australians are saying practically the same now (in relation to newer immigrants).
Fortunately both are minorities.
I listen to neither.

«What they are saying is... That they were the First Nations people here.»

This attribution is not nice or respectful, this is not what aboriginal people would call themselves: nationalism is a western/white disease and aboriginals were never infected by it before the white people came.

«The "Welcome to Country" ceremonies are a very important way
of giving our Indigenous people back their place in society.»

As an example of a society, indigenous people were never excluded to begin with from my orchestra, which in fact was first established by indigenous people - at the time it was established, nearly all members were born in Australia, while presently I would estimate it at around half of the musicians. Note that I make no distinction, nor does my orchestra, between aboriginal and English/European Australians - as far as I am concerned, both are equally natives. Instead, we consider people only according to their personality and musical talent.

---

Dear Fester,

«It is about why a ritual has been coercively introduced into our lives without either a legal or a democratic basis.»

I wouldn't go that far as to call it "coercive".
Nobody ordered us to do it.
Nobody threatened us with jail or even fines if we didn't (or alternately that they would break into our homes at night and bash our skulls if we didn't).
As I noted, we are no longer doing it.
Yes, there used to be an unfounded atmosphere of suspicion and fear of some potential retribution should we fail to do it, but here we are, we are not doing it and the sky did not fall!

Yuyutsu,

Thank you for sharing your viewpoints.

I'm glad to read that your music group is so
tolerant and inclusive.

Hi Yuyutsu,

Coercion tends to have very subtle beginnings. Do you know why your group started having wtc, why you continued using it and why you stopped using it? You mentioned that your new president was brave for announcing that you wouldn't do wtc any more. Why was he brave for doing that? Why were you happy when you no longer had to do wtc?

We don't have a photo with us Yuyutsu, so how do you know who is giving a salute and who has their arms crossed? Better to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself I think.

Hi Fester,

Do you stand in public when the National Anthem is played? Would you stand on ceremony if Charlie Windsor entered the room?

Those banging on about the supposed expenditure of $2 million on "welcome to country" are doing so as they are nothing but racist in my book. Back in 1977 the government spent $8 million to ditch 'Good Save The Queen" in favour of Advance Australia Fair" as a national song. 'Advance Australia Fair' had been declared the Australian National Anthem in 1974 by Whitlam, and then reversed by Fraser who reinstated 'God Save The Queen' as the national anthem in 1976. Then in 1984 Hawke reversed that, back to 'Advance Australia Fair'
BTW 'Advance Australia Fair' was written by a Scotsman Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878.

Hi Paul,

I've taken to thinking that only people with good intentions come here. I remember the portrait of the Queen being exchanged for a portrait of Gough when I was a school kid. I even complained about the audacity of it to Senator Flo at a shopping centre. And Malcolm running the republican gig to me was more about his thoughts of President Malcolm than anything else.

We're more defined by the foibles of our humanity than by the stereotyping of identity politics. At least that is what a belief in equality suggests to me.

For me this discussion has raised the question of how aoc/wtc have become so prevalent. It's as if it just appeared like magic. I even read a comment from a fellow claiming that his employment would be terminated if he did not read aoc at the start of each shift. Could that possibly be true for something that apparently has no legal basis?

Hi Fester,

What you have said is anecdotal and I can't dispute it, if Elizabeth Windsors photo was replace by one of Gough Whitlam, where and by whom I don't know. As for the welcome to country, I'm willing to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, and I believe they have a unique place in its history. Having said that, the reality of history sits comfortably with me, I see myself as Australian, and the equal all other Australians, be they of Aboriginal or of any other descendances. Those who want to bucket on Aboriginals seem to me to have a fear that they are not legitimate Australians, and want to hide from the uncomfortable reality. All Australians should be inclusive, not exclusive.

BTW; You didn't answer my questions. If Mr Windsor was to enter I would welcome him with the same cordiality that I welcome all people, I see him as my equal, not my superior.