I already include all peoples of all types in my life. Even all the women with serious Mental Problems around where I live (7 in all)

Inclusiveness is another Subject for discussion later. This is about whether we, as ordinary Australians, Academics excluded, can learn anything from the past 600000 years of Aboriginal Traditions & Culture.

Personally, I think not.

Paul et al,

"for the Forum haters to admit there is value in Aboriginal culture, then they would be admitting there is value in Aboriginal people."

The problem is that you all assume that anyone who doesn't swoon at all things aboriginal, must be racist. You'll never understand it, but in fact those who tailor their views based on race are indeed the racists. Its a benign form of racism but racism nonetheless.

By choosing to disbelieve or simply ignore things about aboriginal culture that are less than edifying indicates that you are embarrassed by those things and have decided to negate them in order to maintain a glowing view of that culture.

I've mentioned more times than I'd care to remember that aboriginal culture was extremely warlike with a very high proportion of their population dying in war each year. You (plural you) have never sought to challenge that truth, choosing instead to ignore it while maintaining the fantasy that the natives were peace-loving. Choosing to see a culture in ways that differ from the truth is (benign) racism.

I've talked of the aboriginal art and how unremarkable it is (except for the Bradshaw culture which was likely exterminated by that peace-loving culture). Again swooning over the rock art when it really is very so-so in comparison to other primitive cultures indicates a determination to elevate the culture while quietly ignoring its deficiencies. Again benign racism.

It was a culture that had and has little to offer others. Pretending to elevate them to the level of Europeans by pretending they were sedentary farmers, shows an understanding that the culture cannot stand alone on its real qualities.

Again, I've mentioned many times (again ignored by Paul et al) that wishing away the misogyny of aboriginal culture carries through to the present to the detriment of the current generation of aboriginal women, young girls and kids. Allowing that to continue in preference to addressing the truth of the culture, is the real racism.

mhaze, how can you be certain of your negative portrayal of aboriginal life pre 1788. Ever what it was, it was preferable to the mass extinction of the native population around Sydney Cove caused by Europeans, within 2 years of settlement.

Jayb, what is the significance of 1776? Are you a Septic Tank?

Hi Paul,

There's a wonderful Aboriginal Art 2022 Calendar
that is available for purchase from Australia Post
for $9.99.

I bought four copies as Christmas presents to send
overseas - to friends and relatives in London,
Germany, Los Angeles and Canada. I also bought several
for our family.

"Australian Indigenous artist Loretta Egan has provided
a colourful collection of traditional Aboriginal dot
paintings. Known as the oldest ongoing tradition of Art
in the world. It is practiced by numerous Indigenous
communities throughout Australia and perfectly exhibits
the cultural aspects of Australia's Indigenous Peoles."

"One of Loretta's paintings was presented to the Queen
on a visit to Perth. A year later, Loretta was approached
to do a special piece that would go on to be a part of an
Art Exhibition in London in which the guest of honour was
Her Majesty, the Queen of England..."

There's more at:

http://lorettaegansartwork.com

Foxy,
There is a public building in Sydney that has a display of Aboriginal art and among the dot paintings is one that was done with Taubman’s acryllic water based paint by the Europeans on the maintenance staff on a bit of scrap masonite, they hung it with the.others when they were putting them up and because no one, including Indigenous experts(?) noticed the forgery they were not game to remove it and it still hangs with the rest; the culprits have long since retired.

Remember the Indian bloke in. WA who got done for forging Aboriginal art and selling it?
Apparently he was quite good.

Is Mise,

There you go. The traditional Aboriginal dot
paintings have influenced others. Thanks for
confirming that. Unfortunately for them though
none of their works were presented to Royalty,
hung in Art Exhibitions, or sold out for
high amounts of money.