In response I would simply re-assert the point I made in my original post,

"Aboriginals are the only people in our society without any actual opportunity to live the Aussie way of life".

This is a direct result of the fact that being born aboriginal in our country results, in zero or practically zero opportunity. This is racism in it's purest form. References to being lost causes etc that I see displayed on some of our posts are atypical of our attitude towards them. What hope do they have?.

Is this their (the aboriginals) fault that they feel discontent ?. I don't think it is. Is it their fault that their very cause, goals and points of view are fragmented, disjointed even directionless ?. I don't think it is. I believe it is our fault. If our history and past had been all but obliterated, we might feel a little dis-orientated as well.

As for Howard and historical reference books in schools, he did indeed spend million of tax money on this. He also made a point of justifying this, saying that the books in schools did not represent a balanced view of Australian history. The replacements he provided did promote the so called "black arm view". I believe this was a backward step.

A policy such as intervention for example is clearly in breach of International Human Rights Conventions because it is clearly discriminatory. Such a policy would have only been acceptable to a public already lathered up with in-correct beliefs by our leadership such as "how well off Aboriginals are compared ordinary poor people". The truth is that even the poor have opportunity our indigenous people do not.

As to massacres and war etc, I'm sure that if my home was being invaded, I would also make some attempt to defend it. Citing instances of massacres by either side, and their alternate bona-fides is not the point .

Today I receive text messages on Australia Day from 19 yr olds expressing views similar to my grandfather's in respect to the indigenous, refugee's etc.

cont..

cont...

The Howard years took us back about 50 yrs in our attitudes, but in the most damaging way, our youth, "instead of being the source of progressive thought in our society are the source of preservation of old world concepts. I say this purely in terms of politics.

For the record I am of anglo saxon/spanish heritage. Professionally I am a musician. Music is one area where there has been genuine opportunity for indigenous, because "it's not your heritage that means anything, it's the quality of your music". I believe we should learn from this.

OK took me a while to catch up.
It is us, whites we are the problem.
Well our great grand dads and mums.
Mine, convict stock, probable had ancestors in the Crusades too, beggars!
Had the Brits only waited a few more years! those Nice French would have come, we would be off the hook.
Those west Papuans, now being Murdered, would not mind if it had been us who colonized them.
Now it is clear, 200 years of white oppression and murder is that it.
About time we gave the place back, hang on,
What about me! Irish, Scottish, Welsh convict back ground, maybe some Aboriginal in there too?
one world one people?
Sorry try to forget that.
Us white we did it those poor shouting folk only wanting justice.
Bout time we forgot the past and asked why is it like this now.
OH forget, my fault only answer some have!
And we must stop being proud of our country adopt the first Australian term RIOT DAY

Dear Individual,

You should do your research regarding the Indigenous
People and which Australian Governments did them the
most harm before making sweeping generalisations
against the Labor Government. People might mistake
you for an ignorant man.

T 2, Aboriginals are the only people in our society without any actual opportunity to live the Aussie way of life".

Neve a truer word spoken..

Every day Australians don't enjoy the benefits of low interest loans.

We don't apply for jobs with a huge employ erg subsidy attached.

We don't get free medical, free phar etc.

Nor is it accepted that our kids can roam the streets, literally doing as they please.

Another dozy I that phrase, born an Aborigial.

What a joke!

The number of genuine full bloods born today would be minuscule.

Part of my outer family is of aboriginal decedent, about one sixteenth it think, and guess what, their kids received abb study, while mine got nothing.

Funny thing is, I helped pay for both.

How many indigenous persons would have achieved their degrees, had we not arrived.

What did you expect, to continue communicating via a stick on a piece of vine.

Your lot need to get a life or go live in the bush somewher WITHOUT all the support we work to provide.

A forty dollar slab or forty dollars worth of food, the choice has been theirs to make, yet they continue to blame us.

Even now when we say enough is enough, and quarantine their HAND OUTS they whinge.

A few words of advice for them, get a job, get a life and MOVE ON!

Alternatively, they can always MOVE OUT. Nothing stopping them.

The time for wasting these hard earned dollars on this mob is over. They simply don't appreciate it.

Just another injustice, one of their spokesman called Tony Abbott a grubby little man. What would have happened had he said, it's time these coons moved on.

One set of laws for us, another for them.

And they call us racist.

@ Thinker2

<< Aboriginals are the only people in our society without any actual opportunity to live the Aussie way of life">>

For someone who purports to talk on behalf of Aboriginals you seriously short change their achievements--here's a short list for your edification.

Academia:
Marcia Langton
http://tinyurl.com/8xzcsph

Political Leadership:
Warren Mundine
http://tinyurl.com/7p83nfr
Neville Bonner
http://tinyurl.com/7kr7pca

Business:
Noel Pearson
http://tinyurl.com/6rwwlmw
Numerous examples
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/indigenous-enterprise-deserves-to-be-celebrated/story-e6frg6zo-1225898190652

TV & Cinema:
Ernie Dingo
http://tinyurl.com/752vw5q
Jessica Mauboy
http://www.jessicamauboy.com.au/

Dance:
Bangarra Dance Group
http://tinyurl.com/83k2hn3

Sport:
-Rugby League
Preston Campbell
http://tinyurl.com/78sm7r9
-Soccer
David William
http://tinyurl.com/7qdnw7w
-Tennis
Evonne Cawley
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Ken+Rosewall/Evonne+Cawley/2011+Australian+Open+Launch/aEtKgaq7kxm

**And, even in PRETEND football!
Michael Long
http://tinyurl.com/7nro7e6

<<I am a musician. Music is one area where there has been genuine opportunity for indigenous, because "it's not your heritage that means anything, it's the quality of your music".>>

I do hope you're a better musician than you are a thinker.
Perhaps you need to extend your focus a bit further than the end of your instrument.