I also applaud Pearson.

Years ago whilst attending a conference, I was having a coffee with some indigenous women and they raised the issue of problems within their communities. In unanimous agreement they stated that their menfolk had been emasculated by whites, especially by the governmental bodies 'helping' them.

On reflection, this is a valid statement.

Mr Opinion says "Hasbeen, you and John Howard have two things in common: you both only have one degree and you are both losers". Well thank you Mr O, nice of you to confirm you are nothing more than a professional student.

Just how long have you spent ripping off the tax payer, as a student? How much do you actually intend to contribute to the public who have kept you for so long?

Having wasted our money obtaining multiple degrees, do you even consider getting out of the cloistered ivory tower atmosphere & doing some real work?

Then you tell us "But I don't really care reading anything produced by people with trade degrees like law". Thanks for displaying such breath taking arrogance. Prey tell, what useful subject have you ever studied. Most of us could see you were a twit, but it is nice to see it confirmed. And you call us losers, if you are an example, & damn sure I don't want to be a winner.

I suppose it is understandable that you are a fool, all that rarefied atmosphere must atrophy any brain after a while. I wonder if you could be saved by a few years holding a stop go sign at road works. Nah, that would take too much common sense for you.

Jay of Melbourne and Hasbeen,

You are exactly the sort of people anthropologists, sociologists and historians are looking at when they are trying to explain why things go wrong in a society.

Give them their land back. Wouldn't you want what was rightfully yours?

But it's like business isn't it. It's OK to lie and cheat if it's all in the name of making a profit. Better known as the "Better Business Ethic."

So stealing someone's land and hiding the facts from your descendents is OK as long as it goes under the guise of "Better Land Grabbers Ethics".

People who do not support Aboriginal land claims must have dark hearts.

Mr Opinion says, "I'm still waiting for John Howard to say he's sorry.

Why?

I would suggest the majority of folk are sorry for what happened, but, how can anyone say they are sorry, when theynhad no involvement in what happened?

In any case, some five years on from that very importsnt apology, what's changed?

From the article...."The flipside of the opening up of the doors of citizenship to our people, was the provision of welfare. What should have been provided was opportunities to engage in ... the mainstream economy."

Now there's a laugh!

We provide them with housing, which they trash and burn.

We provide them with cars, which many get abandoned simply because they have a flat battery, or simply run out of fuel.

I have never seen indigenous opportunities being offered like they are today, as all mining companies are welcoming them with open arms, but I hate to sound racist, but I would suggest many don't want the job, as they CAN'T DRINK EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Stop the cash, and you will go a Long way towards addressing the problems.

Give them their land back. Wouldn't you want what was rightfully yours?
Indigenous people all over the world have frequented the places which supported them & with which they were familiar. They had no system nor concept of ownership. They totally understandably & rightfully defended those areas. In times of conflict some of these were taken over by a neighbouring tribe but they did not "own" the land. Ownership was not in their vocabulary at least not on this continent. There is ample evidence that the australian indigenous were a rather warring lot & constantly taking from each other. It therefore comes at a real surprise to me that they so bitterly complain when someone stronger came along a gave them a big dose of their own medicine.
I do agree with their idea of compassion, show some when you can afford it & when you can't don't worry about it. Just go & read some indigenous legends, someone aleays cops the short end of the stick & they nearly always include some degree of violence.
Sit down money is something I'd like to abolish or at least get those to pay who are in favour of it but those who don't support it.