Laurie wrote: >It is interesting, Tim ,that the likes of Herron, Howard and Co. are quick >to quote Pearson when pushing their wagon of 'Welfare is bad for >Aborigines"---meaning give them less. I think it's entirely predictable that they'd do this - selectively quote and present it in a way that supports their point of view. But the idea that someone should "be more careful" what they say because their enemies might misuse it is ultimately self-defeating. It's another form of control that the enemy uses - "watch what you say because we can make it sound like it supports us." If you followed this threat, pretty soon no-one would say anything. Your enemies will always misuse what you say and to try and tailor your comments to theoretically prevent this happening is a recipe for quietism. I seem to remember you supporting Charles Perkin's "burn baby burn" comment, but surely if ever a statement could be used by "the enemy" it was that one. Why not chastise Perkin's on the same grounds? Same with talk of a treaty or even reconciliation. It can all get twisted, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be said. So I agree with you - they misrepresent him and that's a bummer. But that wasn't the point of my post. You wrote: "This emphasises the danger of people like Noel Pearson inferring that Aboriginal people are getting too much welfare." The point was - he didn't say that. Cheers Tim ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
