Rainer you sure are bitter! White people have done so much for the aboriginals and all they do is whine! If it had not been for white settlement in Australia, Australia would be just like Africa with people fighting civil wars over petty argument and could well be the poorest and most backward country in the world. But alas Rainer you were lucky you had those horrible white people help you out. Sure things could be a lot better for native people in Australia but they need to put in a bit of effort themselves. If they only had a bit of go in them and were willing to make the effort.

Amel what ethnic background are you? Just wondering.

EasyTimes - what you've expressed is, while not technically untrue, a very narrow perspective. Here's why.

1. You assume that the western way of life is inherently better for all people. This is because you assume our standards and values are universal, the best way for people to be. As an example of how this is wrong, I'd remind you that before this country was invaded, Aboriginals had no concept of ownership - everything was shared. We applied the concept of ownership onto them, and then persecuted them for failing to understand.

2. You say that Aboriginals 'need to put in a bit of effort themselves'. Some remote communities don't even have running water, or sealed roads. How can we expect them to even come close to keeping up with our imposed style of society, when many don't even have basic amenities?

3. You assume that a society without western values would be more backward. Although in some respects you may be right (like the practice of violent punishments for those who break tribal law in some tribes), I fail to see how a generally very sharing society thats entirely in touch with and one with nature could be perceived as backward.

And don't forget - there were massacres when this country was invaded. True Australian culture was blown to pieces. 200 years ago may sound like a long time, but think about it - that's only 4 or 5 generations, in some cases less.

Besides it doesn't matter who was/is originally at fault for the problems that exist today, whats important is that the problems exist, and regardless of fault, its pretty heartless to be against providing help because of your principles.

Easytimes,

Africa is a Continent made up of 52 plus nations. West Africa alone had 7 kingdoms. If it had not been European colonialism and greed Africa would probably be the riches continent.

Amel. You are entitled to hold you own beliefs but that doesn't make them right.

The myth that the indigneous are the good guys and victims and the white
males are the bad guys will continue to keep many people in poverty. No one denies that their were not some injustices done in the past but to lay the blame for todays drunkedness, violence, child abuse, reverse racism on the whites is very convenient. Its time the indigneous people had some true leaders (sorry to the few that exist) and address their own behaviour without looking for someone else to blame.

Amel "If it had not been European colonialism and greed Africa would probably be the riches continent."

If it had not been for European colonialism there would have been Arab colonialism, or is what is happening in Darfur a myth?

I recall cannibalism was rife throughout many parts of Africa before "European Colonialisation".

Tribal fealty and absolute Monarchs is the sort of social order which the Europeans evolved out of centuries ahead of Africa (European Monarchs are constitutional Monarchs only).

If we consider the European intervention in finding cures for a range of deadly diseases which blighted anyone living in Africa, we could see the benefits of European colonialisation.

One simple question

What is the life expectancy of Africans 20 years ago?
What was the life expectancy 200 years ago?
Since the de-colonisation of Africa, Why is life expectancy going backward today?