Ah but Col, what you 'conveniently' left out is that I knew I mistyped the word and IMMEDIATELY posted again correcting it. Whereas you Col, continued blissfully on without realising that aboriginal is the adjective and aborigine is the noun. I brought up the fact that you don't even know how to use the words correctly because I often find that people who don't understand or don't wish to understand aboriginal culture, often misuse that word. That betrays a lack of basic education and awareness, and I note Col that it's you who have recently been telling us how intelligent you are, and how much better you are than others here, in various posts on this site. Col, you're not quite as smart as you think, and I guess the arrogance and sarcasm you often display in your posts comes from an inner insecurity. That's ok Col, you're allowed to be like that. But when you get aggressive and start with your whinging about others, then don't complain when someone like me points out your behaviour. Let's now see if you can take it on the chin like a man, or will we have more whinging from our Col? I'm taking bets, anyone wish to lay down their money?

And we have someone on the previous page putting forth the idea of "tents" being a possible solution to aboriginal housing. That says plenty about the person making the ludicrous claim.

The aboriginal population, especially in extremely remote locations where English is the second language, have been caught for hundreds of years between 2 radically different cultures. The perilous position many find themselves in is the result of this. The European cultures that came here had the guns, the laws and the numbers to dominate, and their descendants resent it when they see aboriginal people retaining their culture. They still look down upon aboriginal people, and consider them as little more than savages. They walk the streets of Alice Springs, see the public drunken and violent exchanges among some dysfunctional aboriginal people there , then feel justified that "whitey knows best". They compare the worst of aboriginal people with the best of whiteys, and then feel justified in their assumed superiority. Col would know all about that.

My comments to Col's mental agility were in hindsight inappropriate (badly phrased) and as such I am sorry.

I wasn't so much questioning his acumen but more that the arguments he tends to offer are faded second rate sepia reproductions of a never was "good old days"...days of polished children and wives all obedient subjects. As seen in Saturday afternoon matinee pictures news reels. The ones we endured waiting for the real action.

I do wish my critics were better able to read what I wrote as opposed to misbegotten interpretations they respond too.

Attack what I say by all means but wallowing in some inverse snobbery or pathetic bully boy name calling in lieu of a real Factually (not emotional biased hyperbole) based discussion. If that's their best ...just ignore me... please

Fractelle and Cornflower,
Can either,or both of you put names to any of these 'well managed' aboriginal communities that you speak of.

The only one I know of is a place called (wait for it) Utopia, which is west of Alice Springs and I think is a small grog free out station. Windale, near Newcastle, certainly lowered the incidence of child abuse but I do not know anything more about it.

If you know of those that are well managed then could you send the names to the Minister suggesting that she find how they do it. Or if you list them here I will ensure the minister gets them.

examinator,
You are decades too late in talking philosophies and ideologies. The need for housing is now. We have been constructing aboriginal housing for decades and if the governments do not know what is required by now, they never will.

By all means look to improve things, but the problem now is that the houses are not being built and the funds are sitting there idle. It is beyond time talking stopped and the work started.

Examinator:
"a. if they want what we go(t) they need to assimilate why?"

For better or worse our culture is heavily based around money. To have the material trappings of modernity you need to buy them. To have money you need to work, save, borrow, pay taxes etc. As I understand it, aboriginal culture didn't have the concept of money, savings, loans, taxes etc. If you want the material things you have to have the money. The alternative is either steal them (crime) or have them given to you (handout dependency). If you want to maximise your chance of getting work you need to be educated and gain skills that will be useful in the wider community because this is where practically all the jobs are.

Examinator:
"b. That they're wallowing and going no where...To me they both seem to have overtones of superiority."

The one's that I was referring to about "wallowing and going nowhere" are those in so called "dysfunctional communities" who have had opportunities put in front of them e.g. new houses, market gardens etc. and then proceded to destroy them. With that attitude they are certainly going nowhere. As for superiority, who is superior to whom is a pointless question. Although not a religious person I subscribe to the concept of "all men are created equal". In terms of attitude though, one of pragmatism is superior to one of playing the eternal victim.

You'll find that in many of those dysfunctional, remote communities English is not even the first language, and many of them talk virtually no English whatsoever. This is something that many people in cities and towns don't realise. The fact that some are dysfunctional is not caused by the language barrier. Finding a solution is not 'just' a matter of remote aboriginal people assimilating into white society, because for many that's a complete and total impossibility. They can't just go out and get a job. For these people, ie. the dysfunctional ones, their best hope is to once again become functional within their 'own' communities, and thus change their lives from dependence to self reliance, and to rediscover their heritage and culture that's been so corrupted by the white profiteers and manipulators over the past 200 years. Many city people have never even seen in person, let alone met, an aboriginal person from a remote community. There is no such thing as 'one' aboriginal culture, just as there is no such thing as 'one' white culture. Not all aboriginal people in remote communities are dysfunctional, and many of the functional ones are trying to hold onto their heritage to their credit. That heritage is not at odds with decent health care, housing and education . . . . . remote aboriginal people should not be under any obligation to become like us just because they need decent health care, education/training and housing. Many people in Australian society despise Aboriginal people, unless they are being seen to be making efforts to culturally become just like us.