Ben,
I have been thinking about what you wrote and I think you have many
valid points. On the other hand, there are those who don't feel the way
you do as you saw with Tim's post this morning.
I agree that Karen exhibits insensitivity to the feelings and
sensibilities of the Indigenous members of the list and she also
describes how she understands 'reconciliation' from her point of view
only without taking into account that there two sides in reconciliation.
This is fairly typical of 'ordinary Australians' including our gormless
leader.
One of the ways that I can see to keep the Karens of this world off this
list is to make it a closed list but that brings problems of its own.
How do we get new blood? When you keep all people out then along with
those you don't want, you may miss those who would prove to be
invaluable.
It's a bit of a conundrum.
I would like to hear more people's opinions on this issue.
If you and Ian feel so inclined you could work out a rule about racist
statements which is clear to most people and I could add it to the
rules.
Trudy
benawa wrote:
>
> I was thinking about what has bothered me so much in the last day or so
> regarding Karen's posts. It isn't the difference of opinion so much, but the
> insensitivity. A difference of opinion that had some connection with the
> potential for insult (assault) would lessen the degree of frustration (for
> me anyway). When someone writes in ways that diminish responsibility or make
> excuses for 'white' Australians in mandatory sentencing, the Stolen
> Generation, the denial of history or the ongoing cultural violence of the
> current government it is blatantly provocative. I have adopted the strategy,
> more generally, of acknowledging the 'average Australians'' sense of pain in
> conversations where race is an issue, and then trying to offer my
> perspective. My frustration with Karen is that I don't believe she honors
> the sense of pain that many on this list experience with regards to the way
> that (speaking for not-Aboriginal Australians) our culture has treated
> Aboriginal Australians. I think, in fact, that often her posts are blatantly
> disrespectful of this.
> Difference of opinions... yes, disrespect no.
> Just quickly I don't know if suggesting that this list as a sanctuary means
> only preaching to the converted. It is more that when someone consistently
> obstructs or drains the energy of list members I think here should be a
> mechanism for addressing that obstruction. K clearly obstructs and upsets
> the list and therefore her presence should be addressed. I stand in the same
> place on this issue.
> Finally my apologies for the KKK quip.
> Ben
>
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Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti
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