Hi everyone,
An ongoing topic on this list is the idea of knowing how to
participate in discussions with and about First Australians. The genuine
concern not to, as a settler person, dominate, speak on behalf of or down to
others can often lead to a reluctance to say anything at all. But it is
the great strength of lists like this that they provide a relatively safe place
for that encounter to take place in.
So how can we know, if you like, that we are doing it right,
that we are actually being open to alternate points of view?
My suggestion would be that our hesitation to speak is
actually a good first sign. The person who jumps in fearlessly to
pontificate on this or that matter is almost by definition not being open to
"otherness" in any shape or form. And this applies equally to people on
both sides of the conversation.
To the extent that we find ourselves confronted, shocked and
uncertain and some of our previous ideas challenged, we are probably in the
right frame of mind to at least begin the conversation. Our very
fear of joining in provides some guide to our sincerity. It's a like
the quote from Yeats: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of
passionate intensity."
In other words, unless you want to dominate and impose answers
to all questions, you are going to be uncertain and unsure of what you are
saying. This is the difference between a John Howard and someone who has
really begun to listen to other points of view. The day Howard says "I'm
not sure" when asked about some aspect of his dealings with First Australians is
the day we know he's turned the corner. Though I wouldn't hold my breath
waiting for him to say it!
When it comes to some of the difficult matters that are
discussed on this list, being scared to post a comment is the right frame of
mind.
Tim
