ALTRAV,

I don't mind your having the last word.

In fact I'm delighted when you finally reach it.

Foxy,

AHA, I knew it.
I had to laugh.
I knew you could not stand just walking away.
I love it, you're so predictable, thankfully in a nice way, and ALWAYS entertaining.
I concede to a better man.
The soap box is all yours.
Please carry on.

.

@ Foxy (ladies first), ALTRAV, Loudmouth & Yuyutsu,

.

We have been living in this country now, with our Aboriginal compatriots, for nearly a quarter of a millennium.

As I see it, the balance of integration for the first quarter is heavily tipped in favour of our Aboriginal compatriots. My sentiment is that far more Aboriginal people have integrated our European culture, proportionally, than we have integrated theirs. Maybe Loudmouth has some more information on that.

Despite all my foolish escapades of yesteryear, I can’t say I have ever had any real regrets, but I do think it’s a pity I never acquired any Aboriginal culture. I think it should be a compulsory subject like reading, writing and mathematics in our primary schools, with a little practical experience in the bush thrown in.

We’d be stupid to let it die out and lost forever. We can never be fully Australian if we don’t acquire some Aboriginal culture. We can only be some sort of second-class, sub-European culture with a rugged, uncouth accent and largely rough, unsophisticated manners.

It certainly wouldn’t do any harm to valorise our first peoples, show respect to them and encourage them to retrieve and revive whatever they still can of their traditional culture and share it with our children as well as theirs.

It might even have an overall positive effect on both of us.

Integration is not just a one-way trip. It works both ways.

Anything would be better than just filling up our jails with those that can’t make it and don't know what to do with themselves – on both sides of the divide.

.

BP,

I can only say that there are those of us, me included, who really don't care to know anything about a particular culture or people, over any other.
If individual people wish to do so, of course they are welcome to, nobody's going to stop them, but to expect the educations system to introduce aborigine studies 101, I think is a bridge too far.
The kids currently are having enough trouble learning the few basic subjects they are faced with, and they are all useful in life and work, today.
Learning about the the blacks should be treated as an after school thing just like football and other socially driven endeavours.
I for one direct people to the fact that Australia was never a one people country, like some countries, heck even the blacks came from parts North and therefore cannot claim being of Australian origin.
Today we are the most culturally diverse country in the world, and this may bode well for us in the future in dealing with International issues.
As it stands today, I will not sanction the empowerment of a people who are unworthy of such a position.
Should they conduct themselves in a humble and inclusive manner, I might be inclined to heal, but this aggressive and divisive attitude the blacks bare towards all who are not black, demonstrates they are not to be facilitated as they are unable to function in a position of power or control over their own affairs.
Not that I agree with the current system where the white man is gouging the funding earmarked for the blacks either, but somewhere we will eventually find a way of either getting the blacks off welfare, off their arse and onto self determination, one day.
BTW, I'm offended at your dig as if it is the white mans fault so many blacks are in jail.
We are not the ones "filling the jails with blacks", they are, so take that back.
If you don't want so many blacks in jail, then you find a way to stop them from continually committing crimes.

Dear Banjo,

I don't know why I was included in your list in being asked about aboriginal culture and imprisonment. I was silent on the matter because I know very little about it.

I suppose it would be nice to study about the aboriginal culture(s), but I was disturbed when you mentioned the word "compulsory": I don't believe in compulsion and no one has a right to force other people's children to learn anything (including reading, writing and mathematics). A child who is being compelled to study about aboriginal culture is likely to grow up hating aboriginals (same for mathematics). There are plenty of other children who would voluntarily choose and enjoy the subject.

As for jails filling with aboriginals, it is a tragedy, but I don't know what can be done, it is essentially a medical problem and requires a medical solution. The name of the problem is alcohol. When white people invaded, they brought this scourge with them and as the aboriginal had no genetic immunity to it, they fall down like flies. When one drinks alcohol (and substitutes), and the more they drink, one loses control of their intellect over their mind, thus they are prone to poverty, ill-health, shorter lives and also crime. Being irresponsible, one is dangerous to others and needs to be restrained, but I wish we could have more humane facilities to minimise as much as possible the suffering of those restrained. The legal "justice" system is certainly inadequate: my view is that it should be scrapped anyway for everyone as justice should be left to God, but matters like this should especially be considered as an illness rather than as crime.

Dear Banjo,

Thank You for your post. As always - very insightful.

This land's First Peoples have felt the sting of
exclusion and discrimination. It is the challenge
of a nation to rise above its past.

The First Peoples do not have special rights, but
inherent rights. It diminishes no one to
acknowledge and protect that unique status. In this
way we ensure allegiance. In this way we narrow
our differences and strengthen our bonds.

A nation is not just a set of laws. Above all, it is a
story: a never-ending story of us. It is the story of
a land steeped in time, awaiting people from many
other lands, who in time will call themselves Australians.
It begins with the first footsteps taken tens of
millenia ago, and continues in the newest-born child of
this land. It will live on in those still to come.

Anyway enough said. Once again Thank You for your
comments. They are greatly appreciated.