cont'd ...

It takes someone like O Sung Wu - with real
life experience to set the record straight for us.

Dear Bazz,

You never know if something will succeed until
you give it a try. And a voice to Parliament
is worth trying. So is a treaty. Other countries
have done it - what can't we? And it shouldn't
be based on the premise - well they're going to die
out in 100 years anyway!

Aussies are better than that!

Hi FOXY...

I hope you and yours are all well FOXY. When we speak of our indigenous people, we should endeavour to remember -

They bleed red just like us; they feel heat, cold, and pain just like us; they need nourishment, water and air just like us; they have traditions, a culture; and material needs, just like us; they have tribal affiliations, a family structure and kin, just like us. They have emotional needs, attachments, experience love and hate, just like us. Moreover, they fear death, myths, and superstition, just like some of us. And finally, most are terrified of the police, enforced incarceration (being locked up), and our strange (white) laws that they can't understand, just like a few of us.

I harboured considerable disdain for our blacks for some years until I began relieving in the bush. And sure, there's a chasm between our cultures, but it can be crossed if one is prepared to persevere in circumventing the obstacles.

And after much thought and from what I've seen over the years - Gaol is NOT the right medium to punish our indigenous people. Their own form of tribal justice can be very effective in some cases, if not draconian in our eyes, especially for the bushman.

Naturally, gaol is the only option for some crimes; nonetheless, it's entirely inappropriate for others.

"I (individual) know many Aborigines & Islanders who enjoy a standard of living that I can only dream of !"

You don't say, must be more of those "Concrete Jungle Bunnies" you speak of. To think you're been free loading on Australian welfare for the past 50 years, basically ever since you arrived from wherever you came, me thinks South Africa as the apartheid regime was crumbling, and there's a black fella with a higher standard of living than YOU, a white fella! Disgraceful! You wont believe this, but I seen a black fella the other day with a pair of shoes on his feet. Do you wear shoes?

Hi Foxy,

The redneck racists on this Forum will never be able to walk in the black mans shoes. The simple reason is they don't believe the black fella is deserving of shoes to walk in.

Dear O Sung Wu,

Beautifully stated. And so true.

You've certainly led a very full life.

I love reading your posts.

Dear Paul,

I have high hopes that with enough support from
our fellow Australians - things will change for
our Indigenous people if they are given a chance
to advise on laws made by the parliament that
affect them.

Hi Foxy,

Some info on Aboriginal incarceration rates in Australia from Creative Sprits. Makes for interesting reading.

http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/law/aboriginal-prison-rates