In the wake of yesterday's historical apology, the element that drove me to despair in this post are back and haunting me.
What worries me is this question. What does it say about my personality and my friends that I keep receiving these racist 'jokes' via email and text?
Why would anyone think I would find redneck propaganda, like the fake 'apology' that has been doing the rounds, even mildly amusing. Its not 1970 anymore.
You people shit me.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sorry
"Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Cricket again
This story on baggygreen.com.au really got up my nose this morning.
Before I start ranting, I will point out that I am not one of "those Australians" that "doesn't see what all the fuss is about", as the general cricketing public has often been referred to since the Sydney Test. There is plenty of room for improvement of the behaviour of both cricketers and spectators in the recent past, but the smarmy condescension of Peter English in this article is beyond belief.
Mr English's use of the good behaviour (which I wholeheartedly applaud) of both teams and the crowd as an excuse to not-so-subtly attack their Australian counterparts is both odious and counter-productive. Surely any cricket writer worth his salt should be able to report on the harmonious atmosphere without sly and demeaning digs at an absent party? Anyone reading this article would think that it was Australia's recent history that included games being stopped due to rioting crowds, that Australia's board had threatened to cancel a tour if the ICC did not dance to it's tune or that an Australian captain had threatened to take his team from the field because he didn't agree with the no-balling of one of his bowlers. I'm sure that even the Indians and Sri Lankans would agree that there are incidents in their collective pasts that they would rather not have occurred, that reflect badly on their cricket, but apprently the fact that they are not Australian on this tour absolves them of any wrongdoing.
I am glad that the cricket watching public of Brisbane last night were well behaved during the half a game they got to watch, and I truly hope that it continues. Australian crowds can sometimes get rowdy and uncomfortable to be in, but as anyone who watched "An Aussie Goes Bolly" last week will agree, I know with whom I would rather be watching my cricket.
p.s.
Because I am a sucker for punishment, I also read this article by the aforementioned journalist about the fining of Rohit Sharma for dissent. It could be because I am sensitive but this sentence "The Sri Lankans were convinced Sharma had edged the ball to Kumar Sangakkara, but the replays showed Rudi Koertzen made a serious error." I found to be in stark contrast to the hammering Adam Gilchrist and the Australians copped during the Sydney Test for appealing when Rahul Dravid was "incorrectly" given out. To make matters worse, I found this on the Fox Sports web site.
"Murali initially failed to appeal but went up in support of Sangakkara, who later said he heard a noise."
Is this fair and balanced journalism?
Before I start ranting, I will point out that I am not one of "those Australians" that "doesn't see what all the fuss is about", as the general cricketing public has often been referred to since the Sydney Test. There is plenty of room for improvement of the behaviour of both cricketers and spectators in the recent past, but the smarmy condescension of Peter English in this article is beyond belief.
Mr English's use of the good behaviour (which I wholeheartedly applaud) of both teams and the crowd as an excuse to not-so-subtly attack their Australian counterparts is both odious and counter-productive. Surely any cricket writer worth his salt should be able to report on the harmonious atmosphere without sly and demeaning digs at an absent party? Anyone reading this article would think that it was Australia's recent history that included games being stopped due to rioting crowds, that Australia's board had threatened to cancel a tour if the ICC did not dance to it's tune or that an Australian captain had threatened to take his team from the field because he didn't agree with the no-balling of one of his bowlers. I'm sure that even the Indians and Sri Lankans would agree that there are incidents in their collective pasts that they would rather not have occurred, that reflect badly on their cricket, but apprently the fact that they are not Australian on this tour absolves them of any wrongdoing.
I am glad that the cricket watching public of Brisbane last night were well behaved during the half a game they got to watch, and I truly hope that it continues. Australian crowds can sometimes get rowdy and uncomfortable to be in, but as anyone who watched "An Aussie Goes Bolly" last week will agree, I know with whom I would rather be watching my cricket.
p.s.
Because I am a sucker for punishment, I also read this article by the aforementioned journalist about the fining of Rohit Sharma for dissent. It could be because I am sensitive but this sentence "The Sri Lankans were convinced Sharma had edged the ball to Kumar Sangakkara, but the replays showed Rudi Koertzen made a serious error." I found to be in stark contrast to the hammering Adam Gilchrist and the Australians copped during the Sydney Test for appealing when Rahul Dravid was "incorrectly" given out. To make matters worse, I found this on the Fox Sports web site.
"Murali initially failed to appeal but went up in support of Sangakkara, who later said he heard a noise."
Is this fair and balanced journalism?
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