Foxy,

From memory. Bolt's 'mistakes' were rather trivial and in fact, some of his statements were, if you like, 'more correct' than those of some of those he criticised.

Obviously, it was a slip of the pen when he wrote that Larissa Behrendt's father was white - her grandfather was a German book editor - but I recall that Paul Behrendt did not find out himself that his mother had been Aboriginal until he was in his forties (she had died when he was four or so and his father had put him and his siblings in homes, as was his prerogative as their father) - and when Larissa herself would have been a teenager.

That does seem to be moving slightly towards the Johnny-come-lately category. Luckily, they were both mentored by powerful people and could be assured of a fairly promising career path. Great for some. Larissa's English accountant mother must have been so proud.

Again from memory, Bolt got a date wrong, by a year or so, 1902 instead of 1903, somewhere in all that.

But as someone points out, why couldn't he have been sued for defamation, or libel ? If he had really broken any laws, that would still be a possibility - IF he has really broken any laws. I don't think he did, but I'll defer, out of self-preservation, to the judgment of the Court.

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

Why don't you go and Google what Judge Bloomberg's
decision was in the Bolt case . You just may learn
that his findings were - that Bolt had defamed the
people he wrote about - that they had a
legitimate case - and he quoted the appropriate
part of the Racial
Defamation Act in his judgement.

As for all the arguments about "freedom of speech"
concerning Mr Bolt. What a load of nonsense.
Mr Bolt is a champion of verbal abuse, nasty insinuation,
and downright mistruth.

Freedom of speech is probably one of the most misunderstood
of our right. You don't have the absolute right to say
whatever you want, whenever you want, to whoever you want on
any topic - not if it harms another person.

Most Australians recognise the value of laws as rules of
conduct that are established by elected governments and
followed by the community to maintain an orderly and
free society. Everyone in this country must obey laws
established by governments. Equally of course all
Australians are protected by the rule of law. Which means
that no one is "above the law," not politicians and certainly
not Mr Bolt.

Well, living as an outsider in indigenous communities for ther greater part of my life I can confidently say I know what racism is. I also have lived in white australian society & still converse with that society daily as well. If you want my honest opinion I find it impossible to say which I prefer. The stupidity of the white society or the racism of the indigenous.
So, I just keep on slogging away & take it as it comes.

Probably the most racist remark that I have ever heard was made by an Aboriginal friend to another Aboriginal at a seminar at Sydney Uni, which was part of a Continuing Education Course called
"Through Aboriginal Eyes".

My friend was the Guest Speaker and before things got started I introduced him to the other bloke.
The conversation started by my friend asking him
"Have you married back?"
"What do you mean?"
"Has your wife got more blood than you?"
"Well", somewhat taken aback, "no, she's paler than me".
"You should have married someone darker and got more blood into your kids".

I remember this conversation in such detail because I was astounded, embarrassed and feeling for the much upset recipient of those racist remarks.
I had a bit to say to my friend about his rude remarks later.

is Mise,
yeah, reminds of an indigenous woman disciplining a rather pale skinned child at the supermarket with the exact words "you stupid, you have white skin for nothing".
It was rather funny in some ways but very sobering nowadays in the wake of change over the past 20 years. The term Blackfellow has gone out the window in the cities but here in the country they're still & rightfully comfortable in their complexion. Just watching the SBS makes me wonder at these indigenous who are literally whiter than I am.

Thanks, Is Mise.

Many, many times on the Mission, I remember blokes arguing and soon enough someone would say, "Well, you're just Black." And the other bloke would answer back, "Well, you're just double Black." Sometimes brothers. And they were dead serious too, it usually led to a fight.

Joe