Federal Aboriginal intervention (4 Viewers)

[Serius]

I'd like to hear some indigenous opinions on these matters.

But bos is far too racist, it scares away all the ethnics, besides the Arab/Jew thread.

I allready gave my opinion. it went like this:

a problem exists, banning a previously legal drug cold turkey and sending in the military to enforce it is not the way to solve the problem. Counceling and social services would do a world of good.

This is also the exact wrong way to treat a population that is allready sceptical of government intervention. The government stealing land is probably the worst insult there, it rings of actions taken by a previous government 200 years ago.

 

[PrinceHarry]

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Maori Party politician Hone Harawira has labelled Australian prime minister John Howard a "racist bastard" for his radical attempts to end alcoholism and child abuse in Aboriginal communities, according to reports on Monday.

Harawira’s comments were first aired on the Sunday indigenous current affairs show Native Affairs. Harawira said that Howard was a "racist bastard" who applied "racist policies" to powerless Aboriginal communities. The measures, announced last month, include bans on alcohol and pornography, the monitoring of welfare payments, and mobilisation of extra police and troops.

He likened Howard's intervention to the American invasion of Iraq, because he claimed Howard's move would appeal to voters in an election year and allow the state to control the "outback", the Australian Northern Territories, and its rich mineral reserves.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Australian_PM_racist_bastard_Hone/articleshow/2189766.cms

Someone is angry cause he can no longer have sex with a teenage girl :rofl:

 

[banco55]

I allready gave my opinion. it went like this:

a problem exists, banning a previously legal drug cold turkey and sending in the military to enforce it is not the way to solve the problem. Counceling and social services would do a world of good.

This is also the exact wrong way to treat a population that is allready sceptical of government intervention. The government stealing land is probably the worst insult there, it rings of actions taken by a previous government 200 years ago.

The military is not enforcing it. They have provided LOGISTICAL support and that's it.

 

[Serius]

well what are they going to think when they see army trucks rolling in? the fact is its a military operation, even if the actual patrolling is going to be done by a special police force.

 

[Captain Gh3y]

So what? People think 'army' and imagine bombs, well what about all the rebuilding work our Defense Forces have done in East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

If anything Australian troops have built a lot more than they've destroyed in recent conflicts. That sort of experience would be ideal for dealing with farked up Indigenous communities.

 

[PrinceHarry]

THE NSW government has refused to withdraw from state schools a controversial songbook with a song apologising to Aborigines, despite complaints it amounts to political propaganda.

Education Minister John Della Bosca said today the ABC songbook, which has been around for more than 40 years, is widely used, but is not part of the NSW Department of Education's curriculum.

Hamish East, the father of a pupil at Kiama Public School, on the state's south coast, approached the school principal after learning his son Brian was being taught the Sorry Song by West Australian composer Kerry Fletcher.

Mr East said he was not opposed to reconciliation but the sorry issue was "emotive'' and political, and should not be forced down the throat of a child.

School principal Jenny Maude reportedly said the children had stopped singing the song after the complaint.

Opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner said it was inappropriate for public schools to push a political agenda on young children.

"The irony is that while the premier is happy to push an agenda via political tokenism on to children as young as eight, he has repeatedly refused to take the action needed to address the real crises facing indigenous communities,'' Mr Stoner said.


http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22053427-2,00.html

 

[yourfacehere!]

While Howard still wants the flag raised and the anthem sung every morning in public schools, I think we can afford a sing-a-long song in children's books that spreads a rather peaceful message.

But back to the issue. The only real problem I can see with this whole operation is the scrapping of the permit system. Stats came out of the NT the other day saying that 12 in 13 sexual abuse cases in Aboriginal communities were committed by white people working in the local area. So, isn't allowing absolutely anyone in that doesn't belong to the community counter-productive?
The placement of police officers and social workers in these communities to assess the situation and attempt to repair some of the damage, especially alcohol and substance abuse is productive. Disempowering the Elders, undermining native title and the NT government is not.

It's a flawed idea in parts, but the fact that any action at all is being taken is refreshing.

 

[banco55]

While Howard still wants the flag raised and the anthem sung every morning in public schools, I think we can afford a sing-a-long song in children's books that spreads a rather peaceful message.

But back to the issue. The only real problem I can see with this whole operation is the scrapping of the permit system. Stats came out of the NT the other day saying that 12 in 13 sexual abuse cases in Aboriginal communities were committed by white people working in the local area. So, isn't allowing absolutely anyone in that doesn't belong to the community counter-productive?
The placement of police officers and social workers in these communities to assess the situation and attempt to repair some of the damage, especially alcohol and substance abuse is productive. Disempowering the Elders, undermining native title and the NT government is not.

It's a flawed idea in parts, but the fact that any action at all is being taken is refreshing.

Which stats are you talking about?

 

[yourfacehere!]

I read them in SMH a few days ago, i'll see if I can track down the article for you. They stuck distinctively in my mind, because they really did change my outlook on the whole issue.

Unfortunately it may have been last week, so it could be out of the SMH 8 day free viewing in the archives, though I'll have a look around.

 

[bassguy]

Why are we only banning alcohol in the Aboriginal communities? Is it ok for a white person to be abusive because of alcohol?
Get some education in there if you really want to make a difference.

 

[banco55]

Why are we only banning alcohol in the Aboriginal communities? Is it ok for a white person to be abusive because of alcohol?
Get some education in there if you really want to make a difference.

How is education going to prevent child abuse?

 

[katie_tully]

What good is an education when you're face down, passed out in a gutter?

 

[katie_tully]

How is education going to prevent child abuse?

Precisely, especially when it is the alcohol and substance abuse which is contributing to the abuse of children.

A nurse I know worked up the top end for a while. She says that for the first half of the week the kids are fed and clothed, and then comes pay day. The parents get smashed and forget they have kids for the next three days.

They've shown they cannot live together in a community so there is no chance of them integrating into a predominantly white society, so a heavy handed response is what is needed. You cannot tackle this issue lightly. Granted it should have never reached these proportions to begin with.

 

[Iron]

Why are we only banning alcohol in the Aboriginal communities? Is it ok for a white person to be abusive because of alcohol?
Get some education in there if you really want to make a difference.

They're genetically predisposed to be more serious abusers than whites because we've had alcohol in our culture for thousands and thousands of years, cf ~200 for them. Similar health story with (eg) diabetes; indigenous peoples cant breakdown complex fats at the same rate we can, so they look fat.

 

[pen-el-ope]

What good is an education when you're face down, passed out in a gutter?

An education provides an individual with skills necessary to seek employment. So if you have an education your chances of getting a job are greatly increased. Someone with a good job and the ability to provide for his/her family, aswell as the satisfaction of contributing to our society, is probably less likely to resort to substance abuse.

Of course this is all theoretical. Having an education wont take away the fact your people have been subject to government neglect for decades. Pitty the government didnt see the need for "federal intervention" when they were first elected. Pitty they've allowed it to advance to this stage, allowed it to advance to the point where it can be considered a "crisis". Pitty the rights and freedoms of our indigenous communites are considered to be of so minute importance they can be taken away for the soul purpose of winning an election.

Something has to be done. However definately not on a racial basis. The focus needs to be on the abuse of the rights of Australian citizens. Which has prodominately been caused by government negelect.

 

[PrinceHarry]

Of course this is all theoretical. Having an education wont take away the fact your people have been subject to government neglect for decades. Pitty the government didnt see the need for "federal intervention" when they were first elected. Pitty they've allowed it to advance to this stage, allowed it to advance to the point where it can be considered a "crisis".

Better Late Than Never.

Pitty the rights and freedoms of our indigenous communites are considered to be of so minute importance they can be taken away for the soul purpose of winning an election.

What rights were taken away concerning their fredoms except their rights to rape children?

Something has to be done. However definately not on a racial basis. The focus needs to be on the abuse of the rights of Australian citizens. Which has prodominately been caused by government negelect.

Something, such as...?

 

[kauliflower]

i'm not opposed to federal intervention, but if the motive is the image that the federal government is helping aborignal communities get back on their feet, the government is going to want results quick smart to help their ailing election campaign. and when you get quick results from a problem that's been around for decades, you know it won't last, something will be sacrificed to get the speed factor up. i think that's the problem. what is the sense in sending soldiers in? surely there are doctors and teachers who have been in these areas for a considerable length of time, trying to make their contribution. Are the soldiers with guns going to walk up to the local doctors and teachers and ask "Yes ma'am, now what do you think we should do?" or are they just going to find the nearest drunk and throw them in jail? i can see one option being easier than the other and i fear the Curse of the Quickfix

 

[ElendilPeredhil]

i'm not opposed to federal intervention, but if the motive is the image that the federal government is helping aborignal communities get back on their feet, the government is going to want results quick smart to help their ailing election campaign. and when you get quick results from a problem that's been around for decades, you know it won't last, something will be sacrificed to get the speed factor up. i think that's the problem. what is the sense in sending soldiers in? surely there are doctors and teachers who have been in these areas for a considerable length of time, trying to make their contribution. Are the soldiers with guns going to walk up to the local doctors and teachers and ask "Yes ma'am, now what do you think we should do?" or are they just going to find the nearest drunk and throw them in jail? i can see one option being easier than the other and i fear the Curse of the Quickfix

some of you are really shocking...
did your parents tell you when you were small that if you didn't behave the police were gunna 'get ya!' ?

You all act as though an army presence means turning these commmunities into little concentration camps...the army is a disciplined force with the skills and training to help in situations like this- they're not going to be toting AK-47's, building guard towers and giant spotlights or shooting drunks on sight.
Jeez.

And, yeah, there is doctors and teachers trying to help out now, but the fact that the army is being sent in shows they need more help, don't you think?
If I was living there, I'd be happy to have Aussie army help, I'd feel heaps safer. (If it was the US army..not so much )

 

[ElendilPeredhil]

White people shouldn't have to apologise for the stolen generation/aboriginals killed.
White people shouldn't have to apologise for any other ethnicity that has been killed off either e.g. holocaust
It is not the white man's fault that they were weak.

Stop posting. You are a disgrace to our race.

I thought you didn't believe in the Holocaust

 

[kazan]

White people shouldn't have to apologise for the stolen generation/aboriginals killed.
White people shouldn't have to apologise for any other ethnicity that has been killed off either e.g. holocaust
It is not the white man's fault that they were weak.

congratulations on being a bumfuck redneck and turning on a computer.
i didn't think your people could do that


i think that cultures that have wronged other cultures should show remorse, but its not the current populations fault for something done 100's of years ago

back on topic

before i make any judgment on this plan by the government i'm interested to see how strongly they are following up with it after the election.