Arry, it depends on what you mean by 'racially discriminatory'. Often it just translates to 'a policy position anywhere to the right of the far-left'. My impression is that this is your position, given that you equated Hunter's reference to widespread alcoholism within Aboriginal communities to Hitler's genocide of the Jews. Ironic given your complaints about name-calling, ignorance and personal attacks.

Remember, you aren't the first young person to come out of school brimming with idealistic leftism and an "I know better" attitude. It's quite a well worn script for those who don't follow a culturally leftist ideology.

If you want a definition of racial discrimination visit the human rights and equal opportunity commission's website. And no, sorry to disappoint, but it is not a belief of the 'far left' it is actually enshrined in law and was supported by the coalition government as well. In fact I think you'll find every major political party in this country is against racial discrimination. So let's stop with this 'left' distraction and get back to the main issue: why is it that nothing changes?

How is pointing out that outback Aborigines have serious alcohol problems in their communities 'racial discrimination'?

Should Hunter be jailed or just fined for his hate crime?

Nothing changes because it can't since we have painted ourselves into a corner.
Many Aborigines were badly treated by the early settlers and that shouldn't have happened, however we are so racked with guilt now that it is impossible to speak the truth. The truth is that the Aborigine culture is a stone age culture. Some can cope with our culture and some can't. We can't force development upon them and why should we? They could be given a choice. Either they live their traditional lifestyle alone, or they live our way with us and receive no special assistance.

Petrol sniffing is still a major problem as is anything they can get their hands on to sniff. When we were in the Kimberley a few months ago I heard a doctor speaking on the radio about the mental health problems in Aboriginal communities caused by alcohol/petrol sniffing/drug abuse.

She spoke about Aboriginal inter-generational mental health problems in particular Alcohol Foetus Syndrome and described the pathetic sight of a mentally retarded teenage Aboriginal girl, herself a product of AFS, nursing her newborn baby who was also AFS. Neither could communicate with each other because of the condition.

The doctor said AFS was in epidemic proportations amonst Aboriginals. You don't have to have a economics degree to work out how much a drain this has on the hospital system not to mention the number of people who will spend all their lives on disability pensions.

It is a sad situation and it seems the more money that gets thrown at the problem the worse it becomes. Tragically the Costello baby bonus was an added incentive for teenage pregnancies. Just about every girl of child bearing age was knocked up.

Well perhaps, Hunter, you could do something about the situation, go and volunteer etc. Turn that negative energy into a positive one.

I know a lot of positive stories about Aboriginal people as well, you are focusing on the negative ones, perhaps you should try and find some positive ones to balance your perspective. We must not fall into the trap into thinking the whole situation is a 'lost cause'. That is not a solution.

Having said that, I recognise there are serious problems and it always amazes me when people say things like, "I'm going to go to Africa to do some aid work" or "I'm going to give to an African charity" when there is clearly a need for that help right here at home...

Have you been to Africa? The black people there are GREAT. THey can't believe the condition of our aboriginals when you tell them the subsidy they get for being aboriginal is more than the African family income - before we even get to welfare such as dole and disability pension. If those village guys had that kind of start in life they would be very well off indeed.

arry only a fool takes advice from another fool.....so no thanks.

Having said that a few years back my wife and I were appointed to manage an Aboriginal community in the Kimberley. For reasons that will take too long to explain here we knocked back the position.

However one of the numerous reasons that helped us with the decision was when an old Benedictine priest who had lived at the community for many years took me aside and gave me this advice, he said, "I know you have good intentions but these people will break your heart".

Coming from a man of God who knew these people better than they knew themselves that was good enough for me.

Oh my God! i can't believe you just said that Chrisper! Don't you realise how racist you are being?!?! Far out this is beyond belief. I don't know whether to take your points seriously or just stare at what you have just written in shock. So you are saying that the African people are somehow better than the Aboriginal people? That is racism. Racism is the belief that one race is superior to another. Maybe you don't realise the gravity of your words.. I'm sorry but whoa.... and you know, the worst thing is there are many people who would have said exactly the same thing as you and would not even understand why it is wrong. Perhaps we really have learnt nothing from what happened to the Jews. This is just too sad.

And Hunter I find your comments insulting. How sad that instead of engaging with the ideas you would prefer to shut your ears and call names.

That's very sad that the priest said that to you, but as i have tried to say to you on numerous occasions, there are many different perspectives. Another priest may have encouraged you to do it.

And I'm sorry but why is there no one else in this forum who is speaking up on the problems with these posts?!?!?!?! Why am I the only one carrying the load?

Remember:
"The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing".

arry
The problem the German's had prior to WW2 was that the Jews were too smart and exploited the economy and politics.
As for comparing Aborigines to Africans that is racist in itself because its using the colour of their skin as the benchmark. Why should they be alike any more than Serbs and Swedes are alike?
I was born in Tanzania and have revisited in 2005 and 2007 and I have formed some friendships. The Tanzanians have a good work ethic. They find it easy to learn and adapt to new languages and concepts
Most people in Australia want Aborigines to have a good life but are enbittered by instances of the horrible crimes that a minority commit, such as the bashing of the helpless elderly.
However I think a lot of them just don't get what we're on about.

Why is it wrong to point out that Africans have done a far lot more with a far lot less than Aborigines? Again, you seem to be confusing a simple statement of fact with racial vilification.

Ok Harry, I will explain why. But I am not going to deconstruct every post and explain why because it is time consuming and I very much doubt that time is well spent as I have great doubt that you actually want to know.
If you really are interested, you need to work to develop this awareness for yourselves. I recommend watching jane elliot's 'blue eyes brown eyes' to begin to build your awareness of racial discrimination, generalisations and stereotypes.

Ok, here we go...

He stated:
"Have you been to Africa? The black people there are GREAT."
1. This is a generalisation, 'the black people there are great'. It implies all black people in africa are great which is obviously false.
2. It has an implicit message: 'the black people there are great', implication, the black people here are not. Thus he compares one race with another and implies one race is superior- 'great'- while the other is not. He goes on to further 'prove' this point:
"They can't believe the condition of our aboriginals when you tell them the subsidy they get for being aboriginals... If those village guys had that kind of start in life they would be very well off indeed".
1. Assumption 'if those village guys had that kind of start in life they would be very well off indeed'. This is an unproven, unsupported claim and impossible to prove as they have a completely different 'start' in life.
2. Generalisation; every African person would be very well off.
3. Another implicit message: 'these kinds of people (Africans) are better than those kind of people (Aboriginals) because these kinds of people would do 'better' than those kind of people under the same circumstance'. Again, an attempt to 'prove' that one race is superior to another, which makes it a racially discriminatory comment.

So that's why the statement is lacking in terms of quality argument and is also racially discriminatory. You can start deconstructing arguments for yourselves by just looking at the posts on this topic to see the stereotypes, generalisations and racially discriminatory comments present.

Finally, enjoy this poem:

We and They

FATHER, Mother, and Me
Sister and Auntie say
All the people like us are We,
And every one else is They.
And They live over the sea,
While We live over the way,
But - would you believe it? - They look upon We
As only a sort of They !
We eat pork and beef
With cow-horn-handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf,
Are horrified out of Their lives;
And They who live up a tree,
And feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn't it scandalous?) look upon We
As a simply disgusting They!

We shoot birds with a gun.
They stick lions with spears.
Their full-dress is un-.
We dress up to Our ears.
They like Their friends for tea.
We like Our friends to stay;
And, after all that, They look upon We
As an utterly ignorant They!

We eat kitcheny food.
We have doors that latch.
They drink milk or blood,
Under an open thatch.
We have Doctors to fee.
They have Wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!) They look upon We
As a quite impossible They!

All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
And every one else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!) looking on We
As only a sort of They !
-Rudyard Kipling, 1926

To me, it refers to the obvious and recognised cultural differences between Africans and Aborigines, as well as the effects on Aboriginal motivation and work ethic of decades of flawed social policy. Just because you are paranoid about racism doesn't mean that everyone who disagrees with you on race issues is a racist that's leading us towards a second holocaust, Arry.

If you wish to help Aborigines, you are going about it the wrong way. The situation Aborigines are in is a grim reality with hard, uncomfortable truths - you seem too sensitive to even tolerate other people looking at the issue in a politically incorrect fashion. Out in the real world, a lot of people call it as they see it, even if it is uncomfortable or unpalatable - with little care for the claustrophobic, isolated world of left-leaning social thought.

I'm sorry but your comments are so absurd I see no point in responding to them. I tried to educate you but you prefer to remain ignorant. As I expected, it was a waste of time. Hopefully someone who reads that post will actually learn something, but clearly Harry, that person will not be you. I hold nothing against you personally, it is just that your views on this issue show a lack of understanding, but I will tell you now that as every year passes people with your lack of understanding will become more and more of a minority in this country. This government and this country is moving toward reconciliation more and more each year. You can either get on board and try to understand what's going on, or close your ears and eyes to the future. Your views on this issue are becoming outdated and out of touch.

I think everyone here wants the best for Aborigines, you don't get to claim a monopoly on that. How can I take you seriously when you dismiss everyone else in this thread as being racist and wrong, and yet also claim you are open-minded and understanding. I fully understand what you are saying - and I still disagree with your position. Welcome to the real world, where diversity of opinion abounds, where people will disagree with you even if you don't like it.

If you thought you could waltz into a forum and recite a rebadged version of a Harmony Day pledge, bowl over all opposition within 2 posts and be revered for your 'wisdom' on tolerance - then you really are naive. You really do come across as someone lacking maturity and experience.

Since you are so understanding, do you understand what I'm saying?

No... Harry I don't understand what you are saying... what are you speaking? Japanese?

And no Harry, I did not expect you all to suddenly 'convert' to another perspective, but I live in hope

If that is naive, so be it

There's far more chance you'll come round to my way of thinking, imo. I was just like you, but after getting out into the real world I became far more pragmatic.

It'll happen to you one day