Oh well, back to topic:

Above, Doog touted more land for Indigenous groups. My dear wife came from a community which has twelve thousand acres of beautiful land, bits (like most farms) that aren't that useful or workable, but some areas with topsoil a metre deep (it's right on Lake Alexandrina, after all). What are the people there doing with it ? Vegetable gardens ? NO. Dairy farms ? NO. Chook farms, pigs, orchards, fish farms ? NO. What then ?

200 head of cattle. One person could run that. As well as his own private herd, down in the back paddocks. Not that I'm asserting that's being done.

We lived in another community up the Murray which controlled about eight thousand acres. Unlimited water licence. No rates (it's Aboriginal land, which can't be sold, therefore can't berated). Owned, not being paid off, like most farms. A government-funded employment scheme. So what are they doing with it ? Any of it ? Even one acre ?

Nothing.

So tell me about giving people more land back. Would I ever march again for 'Land Rights' ? Maybe not. Put it in a Referendum ? Not bloody likely.

It may not seem like it, but I'm dedicated totally to the Indigenous Cause. We made Flags for that purpose back in the seventies, and I'm proud of it. But I'll never defend lies, fabrications, mis-truths, rumours, or empty claims, not for a minute. Give me something genuine and solid, and I'll be there. And there are a hell of a lot of people like me, people who want desperately to contribute, but are sick of the corruption, lies and bullsh!t.

Joe

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

Well now you've done it.

You've gone and melted my heart.

I want to give you a big hug!

Any time, Foxy dear :) When's your husband away ?

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

My husband understands the fact that I
am very tactile, especially with people
who I feel could use and need a hug.
I do that all the time in the Dementia
Wing of the Nursing Home in which I work
as a part-time volunteer.

Hu Joe,

Please don't take this as an insult, if what you say is true, and I don't have any reason to doubt it << We made Flags for that purpose back in the seventies, and I'm proud of it.>>

What is it that has turned you 180 degrees, and made you so cynical and often so negative towards Aboriginal people. I understand this bit;
<< But I'll never defend lies, fabrications, mis-truths, rumours, or empty claims, not for a minute. Give me something genuine and solid, and I'll be there>>

I too agree there is some of the former, lies greed etc within the complexity that is Aboriginal Australia, but on the other hand there is much of the latter, the genuine efforts of some. While there is every reason to rile against the wrongs. there is no reason to be totally negative towards the positive as well.

Hi Paul,

It's called experience. Ask Big Nana :)

I don't understand your comment about being cynical. What is cynical about not wanting to defend lies, fabrications, etc. ? Why should one do that ? I would have thought that a cynic, or a person without principles, would defend whatever passes for 'the Indigenous Cause' which included lies, fabrications, etc.?

And I DID write: " ..... Give me something genuine and solid, and I'll be there." What's so wrong about that ?

I'll repeat, for your benefit, look at it closely and compare your own stance:

".... I'll never defend lies, fabrications, mis-truths, rumours, or empty claims, not for a minute. Give me something genuine and solid, and I'll be there."

I don't know what you're referring to with this: " .... there is no reason to be totally negative towards the positive as well."

How can you have anything positive which is based on lies, fabrications, etc.? [See above] I'll certainly be bloody negative about any lies, fabrications, etc. that I come across - what the hell good do they do to the Indigenous Cause ? How on earth can lies help a just cause ? I'll always be positive about the truth as it benefits Indigenous people, such as the forty thousand Indigenous university graduates, and the likelihood that there could be a hundred thousand, one in every four adults, by 2030. I look forward to reading 'positive' comments about that from both the 'Left' and the Indigenous 'leaders, at some distant time in the future.

Paul, I'm getting older every year, like all of us: that 'Cause' better lift its game soon, otherwise when I hit eighty, I'm retiring.

Joe