I am wondering why we trivialise indigenous racism in Australia?

[i-need-a-martini]

Adam Goodes has copped it twice this week - once from a kid and then by an adult who should know better.

I feel so ashamed of this country at this moment. I am sick of hearing a sentence start with "I am not racist but..." before the person launches into a race based attack on indigenous people (or Asians. Or Muslims).

What I have found the most interesting about the Goodes incident is how many people made excuses that made him look like the antagonist. Almost as if making racist remarks about indigenous people is no big deal. Treating him as if his feelings, his views (and everything about him) is unimportant. And I am staggered at how many people know so little about the history of racism a history that so many generations of indigenous people have had to go through.

And now Eddie Mcquire has shown us that racist comments against indigenous people is lurking just on the tips of our tongues waiting to be blurted out without refrain. 

I can't help but agree with this: One of the most savage responses to McGuire came from Magpies backman Harry O'Brien, who admonished his president, declaring he was ''extremely disappointed''. ''In my opinion race relations in this country is systematically a national disgrace,'' he said. 
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/eddie-offers-to-stand-aside-20130529-2nc63.html

I agree with that last line - it is a national disgrace.

[izabsmiling]

You are either part of the bigger game plan and conform, or you go and do your own thing, if you choose to do your own thing then you are on your own and no point in sooking that your treated as an out cast or different. 

conforming in 2013 means anti discrimination and racial vilification Laws doesn't it ?

If caught out on those.....no point sooking ?

[*crikey*mate*]

Hawk, I would like to address the perspective of education. At least I will have a crack at it.

I was born into an English speaking family. I grew up in an environment where English was the first language spoken. So from birth I was exposed to and learned not only English, but also behaviours that are accepted/expected as "normal" in main stream suburban society. Whilst my father did not receive the same education as I did, he still grew up in much the same way, if you know what I mean.

Now, an Indigenous person, especially those who live in a remote area, may not be born into or grow up in a family where English is the first language, and the "mainstream expected" cultural behaviours are often very different.

Now, introduce the education system as it has been in Australia up until this year. A system, designed by people in suits, who have probably grown up in the suburbs and led a relatively "normal" life as it were by main stream society's values. Think of the age/generation of the people designing these curriculums and the values, beliefs, agency and class of these people.

They designed a curriculum that was targeted towards mainstream suburban kids, without even consulting the Indigenous leaders to ask them what they needed or what they thought was required, they just designed a curriculum and expected EVERYBODY to adapt, regardless of cultural capital or ability.

So from the start, a lot of Indigenous kids are disadvantaged in education, they are already behind their same aged peers, because they have to adapt to the curriculum that a completely different and basically foreign culture has told them that in order to be valued they must accept.

Some of these kids can speak up to four different languages on entering school, and have learned survival skills that would have most "suburban parents" wrapping their kids in cotton wool over, yet none of these skills and abilities are valued "by the suits" or "mainstream society" so theses kids, who have dirt floored classrooms and get a teacher who speaks English maybe 3 days a week, are determined to be academically deficient.

Tom Calma, is an exceptional person to google and read his explanations.

[*crikey*mate*]

"If some can over come these perceived obstacles then why cant most do the same, what is holding them back from success?"

The environment that they grow up in. Their access to early intervention or help.

but just like all cultures, there will always be some that excel, and some who either don't want to, don't know how to or don't have the ability to access the resources that are available.

Why are some people Olympic Champions? Why are some people Concert Pianists, Why are some people Scientists? Why are some people Labor supporters?

It's all to do with the environment in which one grows up in and then lives in. the opportunities that are presented, the opportunities that are wasted, a person's own intrinsic abilities.

yada yada yada

[*crikey*mate*]

Try to be more open and look outside into the real world that is.

It is what it is and no amount of whining is going to change it to suit individuals

You are either part of the bigger game plan and conform, or you go and do your own thing, if you choose to do your own thing then you are on your own and no point in sooking that your treated as an out cast or different. 

Yes, but if we are going to make people adapt and conform, we have to show them how, we have to educate them, and we have to guide and help them and we have to give them time.

[katydidthat]

All I see is the so called self proclaimed victims doing nothing to help themselves, instead of raising above all the so called racism and proving they are better, they prefer to continue to be victims.

Everyone in this country has the opportunity to become what ever they wish with effort and dedication, no one is holding them back from having the same health care and living standards as the rest of Australians have.   

Crikey, do you agree with the above statement?  

[rabbitearbandicoot]

I cannot understand the logic behind intervention V non-intervention in Indigenous Affairs.

I am talking about the real Aboriginals - the ones that live in remote areas.

As far as I can see, either they want to live their lives as their forefathers lived (ie live in their own societies) or they want to merge into the western society. They can't have it both ways - well, they can merge and still retain their culture just as anyone of European / Asian societies can.

When the governments establish housing, schools, medical facility for the aid of these remote people, then we are interfering and trying to westernise them. If governments don't intervene we are neglecting them.

These are just my thoughts. I don't know the answers and I don't need to be lectured or called racist. The FACTS are that ANYONE who lives in a remote area is going to have less facilities whether they are black or white. If my father had decided when we arrived in Australia that he didn't want to live in the city / town then he would have no right to dictate that anyone provide him with all the facilities that cities have.

Hard Hat firmly in place.]:)

[*crikey*mate*]

No Katy, I don't agree with that statement.

In some instances that may be true, but not in all circumstances as I have outlined above.

I know a little about the health care issues, access and system, and a little about the sociology behind the living standards, but not enough to be able to enunciate what i do know effectively.

I do however know about the challenges faced in Education, so I felt comfortable commenting on that.

I lived and worked in Bedourie Qld for a while, but apart from that, the majority of my knowledge and experience comes from "books".

[the_hawk*]

Crikey as a child we had indigenous kids in the class room and there was no discrimination, we all played as kids.

I dont remember ever seeing any form of discrimination until I was in my late teens and experienced reversed discrimination from a group of indigenous types.

I have since seen this behavior repeated on many occasions since over the years, and to top it off my son got involved with an indigenous girl and had 2 kids with her and have observed the family and how it works closely, so I am quite experienced with how it all works and the values.  

[*crikey*mate*]

🙂

Some probably do want to live as their forefathers lived, but regardless are forced to adapt to a totally foreign culture than what they have known for generations. Simply because mainstream society values their way of life, decide that what they do is better and is therefore the expected norm for EVERYBODY.

Some may not know how to live in a city. They may not have the skills such as catching public transport. They may live in an environment controlled by the rise and set of the sun, so the thought of just moving to the "city" away from everything culturally familiar, may scare some people.

Do you remember the movie series Crocodile Dundee? Do you remember the challenges portrayed in those films that Mick had to overcome? All the things he had to learn? Even something as simple as sleeping in a "real bed" or not carrying this huge knife down the main street.

And just think - he had a personal mentor to guide and support him 24/7.

[*crikey*mate*]

Crikey as a child we had indigenous kids in the class room and there was no discrimination, we all played as kids.

I dont remember ever seeing any form of discrimination until I was in my late teens and experienced reversed discrimination from a group of indigenous types.

I have since seen this behavior repeated on many occasions since over the years, and to top it off my son got involved with an indigenous girl and had 2 kids with her and have observed the family and how it works closely, so I am quite experienced with how it all works and the values.  

Hawk, I am not trying to devalue your experiences and beliefs, I was just giving a different perspective as well.

We have to be careful though to remember that our own experiences are not necessarily true for other people and that we don't stereotype an entire race on a limited sample.

Does that kind of make sense?

But I do agree that it is not only the non Indigenous who need to be aware of this, as we have seen in this very thread, some quite diverse ummmm "reactions" and hostilities.