Dear Individual,

Only the ignorant ones do that, the others all agree
with you? Oh dear. You really should be more
particular in that case about the company you keep. :-)
LOL!

Dear Individual,

So you think that Christine Milne is unsuitable
for politics. Interesting. Is that because her
views don't agree with yours?

For all that, Lexi, Individual has a point:

".... nothing more can be done to advance Indigenous rights without their own input, the ball is in their court."

Since it is now much less likely that any constitutional changes will be approved at a referendum, the current legal situation is probably as good as it's ever going to get. So the current range of opportunities and benefits might well be the parameters within which Indigenous people will operate for the foreseeable future.

Equal rights mean - as Noel Pearson keeps saying and writing - the equal right to take responsibility. Some of us assumed that from the beginning back in the seventies, that equal rights might mean hard work and effort, that as they were made available, the cop-out of victimhood - and the temptation to throw your hands in the air, lay on your back and take the money - was no longer justified.

Of course, those who have banked on 'no opportunity, whites are all b@stards, what's the point of trying?' and have resolutely turned their backs on effort, skills, education and putting in, relying on lifelong welfare, might now find themselves on the wrong side of history. Judging by university participation, a huge proportion of the Indigenous population are prepared to do the right thing and put in the effort to make equal rights work.

They're the silent heroes, not the dopes who scream "Those other fellas have got their embassy, why can't we have ours ?" Because, dear, it's your country, there is no other. This is the one that you have to make work. All of us together.

Yes, the ball is in the Indigenous people's court. The opportunities are there, they can't be denied. There don't have to be the obstacles that there used to be, even if the wallowers want to think so. As a very good friend often remarks, "Just add effort !"

Joe

Lexi,
Again point missed. Ms Milne's views are wrong technically & morally & that's why I think she's not suitable to be in politics.
Technically, she is wrong because she should by now be aware that the indigenous issue can't be solved by us.
Morally she is wrong by being so hypocritical as to try & make us believe that she believes the indigenous issue is still a genuine one..
So far as the company I keep I can only say I prefer the company of people who care & do their bit to help improve our seemingly lost society & yes they don't push each other for Australia Day awards. My circle of friends is not a mutual admiration society, they're doers.

Only just heard a statement that the indigenous incarceration rate is much higher than others.

When you have 10 indigenous & 4 commit an offence then the rate is 40% for incarceration.

When you have 10 non indigenous & 4 commit an offence then the rate is 40% for incarceration.
Can someone explain how one group has a higher rate than the other ?

You didn't say where you got your numbers indy.

Try here:

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/12/15/aboriginal-prison-rate-continues-to-rise-is-neoliberalism-at-play/