LM,

"how many 'Stolen Generations' cases have been brought to court, even though Indigenous people over a certain age would all have government files ? One. Bruce Trevorrow,"

Not quite true. Other cases (eg Gunner-Cabillo) have been bought to court but all have failed to demonstrate the existence of a stolen generation. In the above case, its was found that Gunner's mother had tried to kill him to hide her shame at having had a half-caste child and that he was taken for his own protection.

Even the case of Trevorrow isn't an example of finding a member of the stolen generation. He succeeded in his case because it was found that he was taken CONTRARY to government policy whereas the stolen generation claims are that there was government policy to separate the children from their parents. In Trevorrow's case, no such policy existed.

The Stolen Generation is a myth. That the nation has accepted is as fact in all contravention of the actual data says a lot about our anxiety to not question claims from the aboriginal lobby.

We now know a great deal about the history of
Indigenous-Settler relations. It is now
possible to explore the past by means of a
large number of materials held in archival
collections in our national and state libraries.
Of course learning and knowing brings burdens
which can be shirked by those living in ignorance
and denial. With knowledge the question is no
longer what we know - but what we are now to do,
and that is a much harder matter to deal with.
It will continue to perplex us for many years to
come.

Prof. Peter Read ANU School of history writes:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-02-15/37108

Dearest Foxy,

Those two boys were running from custody - they were not in custody. If they had been, they would still be alive. Weird: what sort of Sports Academy - on the banks of a river - doesn't teach its students to swim ?

As for deaths in custody, 28 % or so of all people currently in custody are Indigenous. In the last year or two, 23 % of deaths in custody have been of Indigenous people. Indigenous people ar safer in custody than outside of it.

Sorry, MHaze, you're right: other cases have been brought to court, but none have been successful. I suppose my puzzlement was that so few had been brought to court, out of the thousands of kids taken into care for neglect and abuse, who may now claim to be stolen 'for no reason'. Perhaps they've seen their files and re-considered.

AND the Trevorrow case was in contravention of the law at the time. I knew both his mother Thora and the social worker Marj Angus (who is buried at the 'Mission' cemetery) who acted so improperly, perhaps on the grounds that Bruce was definitely suffering neglect - and actually near death: he had to be whipped into the Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance. I suppose now, given the paranoid nature of so much ''discussion' around Indigenous issues, that I will be accused of suggesting that Bruce, a one-year-old baby, was whipped, probably by the social worker.

No, at the time, all Aboriginal people, at least in SA, had a file: my wife had one, and she was able to easily get access to it, as well as to her mother's. Some delightful surprises too :)

Joe

Foxy,

"With knowledge the question is no
longer what we know - but what we are now to do,
and that is a much harder matter to deal with..."

Simple really; treat all Australian subjects equally.

First Nation? What First Nation, there wasn't any.
The notion of Nationhood came with the First Fleet and the multiple warring tribes, that spoke no common language were incapable of forming the concept.

One wonders why the Aboriginal Australians, who want to be recognised as such, do not follow their ancestors in dress and such, their dances and ceremonies are much more interesting when viewed in their true cultural context.

The question comes to mind - do we treat everyone
equally in this country? Or are our Indigenous
people treated differently? Do the police in the
NT treat our Indigenous people the same as they treat
the white folks? Do hospitals provide Indigenous people
with the same sort of care as they do the white folks?
Are schools on the same level for Aboriginal kids?
And the questions keep coming.

Should all Aboriginals be treated as one homogeneous
group - or should they be treated on a case-by-case basis?

Many poor migrant families are financially supported until
they stand on their own feet. If a migrant can create a
life for themselves using government support why not an
Indigenous Australian who was born here?

What's the difference between the two groups and is it because
one is treated better than the other?
Are there growth opportunities equally for both?

Why is it taking so long for good changes to happen for our
Indigenous people?

individual you have just proven beyond any doubt your ignorance of the English language, you have continually failed to answer a simple question relating to why you made a certain comment that was totally not called for and would be considered juvenile.
Quote
what part of a comment made you make such a stupid assumption to reply with this comment Quote "have you ever been outside your suburb ?"

Then you even after having it explained to you in simple English come back with a load of gibberish thinking it is about threads going off track.

ttbn Best thing you do is sit on the side and don't say anything hoping it will go away, sorry that will not happen.

Loudmouth in case you missed it, maybe you realized you misinterpreted what was said (I have done that before) but do not want to admit your mistake.
Loudmouth Quote "You're making the naive mistake of thinking that on every issue, there is 'balance':"

At no stage have I stated anything like that.
Try reading this quote from ttbn.
Quote "People who are keen to display their findings by putting up references are only going to 'find’ references that support them. Fair enough, if they are that desperate to be 'right’. However, for every supporting reference they find, there will be one that says the opposite."