Peter, you have put forward a view which I've long wondered about, asking
myself the question, "But what does "reconciliation" really mean and why
would the true People of this land *want* to be reconciled; what are they
being reconciled *to*?".
I guess to me reconciliation means - or at least I *hope* it means - white
Australia coming at last to an understanding of the truths of the past and
an absolute acceptance, deep respect for and protection of the rights of
the People to be in their own traditional ways, as well as respecting and
protecting the traditional cultures, the connection to the land and all
that is, and doing all possible to ensure the wellbeing of the People and
the land for ever and always.
Not having heard of any moves to "appropriate indigenous spirituality" as
being considered part of the "reconciliation process", I would be
interested to hear/read more about that ... and most certainly, Peter, I
agree with your comment on that. Respecting the traditional ways,
spirituality, rights, etc of the People of this land is surely not in
having non-indigenous Australians become "wannabe Aborigines".
Neshoba
At 08:09 AM 8/17/99 +1000, you wrote:
>Hi to all in the group and thanks for your postings. Just have a couple of
>thoughts to put up and see if they get any response. Interested in how
>people feel about this.
>I have spent the last ten years working in australia on community
>development and justice and equity projects and am wondering if we, as a
>nation are not headed in the wrong direction on Reconciliation. I was with
>a Tiwi lady last week who asked if I really expected her to be reconciled
>with the "mainstream" culture in Australia. I have to admit that this set
>me back a little. After a few minutes thinking about my and my families
>history at the hands of "white" australia i agreed with her that it would
>be foolish. A bit like going to bed with a known rapist and hoping that
>they will change because we are nice!
>
>Should not our efforts be instead based on reforming white society instead.
>I am not refering, here, to trying to reform the racist and brutal areas of
>politics, but of going behind that to the root causes of our racism. I
>believe that in a very real sense the brutality of what has happened to
>anglo-celts and other forced migrants including european POW's has left a
>deep scar on our psyche.
>The divorce from "our home lands" has in many ways crippled us spiritually.
>And our Kurri, Murri and TI Friends are right to say that it is the land
>that nurtures us.
>
>Should we, as people who believe in a just society, be working towards
>reconciling, white australia to its own lack of spirituality. My belief is
>that we as a group should ?perhaps? focus on developing an indigenous
>"white" spirituality. While this may sound crazy i am 8th generation
>Australian and while i, personally, feel a deep connection with the land, i
>dont feel that it would be appropriate to apropriate Indigenous spirituality.
>
>I put this forward because i am no longer sure of my position on
>"Reconciliation," at least as it stands now.
>
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