Dear o sung wu,

I live in a wonderful place called Australia. I can voice my opinions. I have enough financial resources so I don't have to worry about where my next meal is coming from or where I will sleep. I have access to the wisdom of other people, books and the net. My wonderful wife shares my life.

However, there is a dark and ugly past in this wonderful country, and many people who live here and elsewhere are still suffering. Their suffering is partly due to that dark and ugly past. Some of the suffering is due to events in the present such as many of the deaths in custody. I could say, "I'm all right, Jack!" and ignore the suffering that is going on. I cannot feel at ease while others are suffering. Next month I will be 97. The average life expectancy for Indigenous Australians is estimated to be 71.6 years for males (80.2 years non-Indigenous) and 75.6 years for females (83.4 years non-Indigenous). I have no reason to think that the shorter life span for indigenous Australians is due to anything other than the conditions they live in which is different from the conditions that most other Australians live in. I appreciate my long life, and I hope others will live longer in good health.

With respect DAVID F. I think I have a pretty good handle on the existing problems and well-being of our indigenous folk. I was a relieving Sergeant in the bush for some time and encountered many instances of indigenous victimisation, exploitation, as well as excessive largesse all provided by the generous Oz tax-payers

Many of the prevailing problems that I witnessed were down to the aboriginals themselves. Eg. Excessive consumption of alcohol, substance abuse (some would blow every cent they had to obtain any substance you can imagine), including, petrol, methylated spirits, paint thinners (both fatal) and in one instance, a de-commissioned but still fully charged, CTC Fire extinguisher - Apparently in an attempt to siphon-off any remnants of CTC (Carbon Tetra Chloride), a highly poisonous substance for any human being to inhale, commencing with uncontrollable lacrimation and the inability to catch your breath. Personally, I'd rather have a good dose of CS or CR incapacitant gas, rather than even a mere whiff of CTC!

And as a copper, we would invariably be the 'bunny on the spot' to pick-up the shattered pieces, the deaths, and try to make sense of it all. And at least attempt to reduce the impact of substance abuse and the burgeoning crime of domestic violence occasioned to the perpetrator's friends & family. So please DAVID F, don't lecture me on the privations, juxtaposed to the generous welfare benefits available to our indigenous Australians.

Dear o sung wu,

I appreciate your experience and knowledge, and I wasn't lecturing you. I was just telling you how I felt and what I know. I think nobody's problems are entirely due to themselves but stem from their background, where they find themselves in society. William Faulkner, an American writer from Mississippi said, "The past isn't even past". He is from Mississippi, a state that was deeply involved in the Civil War. Many people in that state are still fighting that war in their minds. From what I read of history there was a war between the early settlers of Australia and the Aborigines. The result of that war was that many more Aborigines were killed than settlers. One American Indian said, "When the white man came we had the land, and they had the Bible. Now, they have the land, and we have the Bible." I think a similar thing happened in Australia. You have a good view of what things are like now. My view of the past is questionable since historians grind their own axes. However, I sympathize with the Aborigines and with you. Both of you are dealing with the results of that past.

Foxy,
Just one small point, King Charles did not succeed his mother as head of the Commonwealth, he followed her; there is no succession as the head of the Commonwealth is chosen by the various nations that comprise that body.
Charles had already been chosen before his mother died.

It's fortunate that the police are slowly correcting their approach towards Aboriginal people, the "blame the darkie" syndrome is slowly being expelled from professorial policing. The ancient history lessons on "copper" behaviour from 50 years ago, from our resident old constable are interesting, but hardly relevant to today. Although from time to time the old school copper attitude towards Aboriginal people raises its ugly head, and it usually results in the shooting death of an innocent unarmed Aboriginal, or their unexplained death in a police cell.

Is Mise,

Charles did succeed his mother as Head of the Commonwealth.
I did not say that he inherited the position. There's a
difference. In 2018 following the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting Commonwealth leaders declared that Charles
would be the next Head of the Commonwealth.