Karen,
Why is it that when even a straightforward question is asked you can't
manage to answer it without going into a stream of paranoia and
self-justification?
Your'e right, we don't know you and we never will if you answer
everything by going off the topic and acting persecuted.
You wanted to know 'why people thought such things and how they
perceived
things to be racist'.
We told you. In many different ways but you weren't listening. You were
too busy defending yourself and changing the subject. So we assumed you
really didn't want to know - you were just here to disrupt the list and
follow your own agenda.
You say: 'For someone such as myself who believes in the law and
justice, I
could not understand where that [racist] accusation came from. It made
me want to ask questions and put another side to the argument and to
challenge people about what it really meant. I wasn't fighting, I was
just asking or posing thoughts about such topics. I wanted to know why
people had these opinions. The trouble was the more I seemed to ask, the
more people did not like my imposition.'
The reason that people are so frustrated with you is because you say
things like you did above. You keep repeating that you just want to know
but you don't really want to know. We took you at your word when you
first said so and many people answered you and asked you to consider
different things. You did none of these things. You turned the tables,
changed the subject, didn't address what was being said. You went into
stream of consciousness posting but you made it clear that you didn't
really want to know.
As far as presenting 'another angle', the one you present is one
everyone of us is familiar with. It is the one that hurts Indigenous
people to the core. It is the one we hear over and over from the Howard
govt., from Pauline Hanson and from many other Australians. We call them
racists. Now, some of them are malicious intentional racists and others
are racists because they just don't know any better and have never taken
the time to find out. When they are presented with the information that
they lack many of them turn away because they really don't want to know.
If you have no idea why you are here Karen, may I suggest that you
listen and learn and not post until you have some idea of what it is we
are doing here and you feel that you are ready to contribute?
Now, if you feel that you can't do this then maybe it would be better if
you found a list more suited to what you are interested in.
This list has been in an uproar ever since you started 'posing your
questions'. If there had been an inkling that any of our answers were
being considered it would have made a difference. Instead, we are all
tired of it and need to get on with what we are here for. This list is
not really about baring your soul and telling people 'who you are'. Most
of us learn about each other from our opinions and what we do for the
common cause.
Trudy
Karen Crook wrote:
>
> I would like to know what my attitude to Aboriginal Australians actually is
> too?
> Considering I have friends from different races, including a number of
> Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, I thought it was one of friendship
> and laughter.
> But now everyone questions me (someone they don't know) and I'm not sure
> what my views are. Everyone else seems to know what my views are except me.
> Seeing as everyone knows me so well, could someone pls enlighten me???????
>
> As for your questions, not that I feel I should have to explain myself nor
> do I know how well to answer them (apart from honestly), but:
>
> Q1: What are you willing to contribute to this list that will further the
> cause of reconciliation?
> Q2: If you do not want to contribute to reconciliation via this list, then
> what is your purpose for being on the list?
>
> I have no idea!
> This list seems to have a bit of everything and certainly is not restricted
> to discussing just one issue. From my view, I simply wanted to add another
> angle - even though I am white, young and female - and to pose questions so
> I had a better understanding of things happening in this country.
> I was keen to find out why people thought such things and how they perceived
> things to be racist. No matter how many times I've said this, but I have
> never been called a racist in my life (until now) and have never practiced
> racism. I assumed that by reading material on this site I would understand
> what was going on and realise why people were doing the things they were
> doing and saying the things they were saying.
> Unfortunately the first major issue I stumbled across was the death in
> custody with mandatory sentencing and the perception by people it was
> racist. For someone such as myself who believes in the law and justice, I
> could not understand where that accusation came from. It made me want to ask
> questions and put another side to the argument and to challenge people about
> what it really meant. I wasn't fighting, I was just asking or posing
> thoughts about such topics. I wanted to know why people had these opinions.
> The trouble was the more I seemed to ask, the more people did not like my
> imposition.
> I have no idea what I can offer to the process. However, I do know that in
> my own way I will continue to have many friends of all races and treat them
> as people with the respect they deserve and have always received. Not
> because of a colour or race but because they are human beings. I just want
> people to get on regardless of what they look like or what they are. Hell
> I'm not perfect and I'm the first to admit it but it disgusts me when people
> feel they have to put someone down simply because they are different. I do
> not believe in the ideal world of white because that is narrow-minded and
> arrogant. This world is made up of many people from all over the place with
> many exciting and extremely interesting lives and stories.
> As a young Australian I am extremely proud to be Australian and to have the
> freedom and ability to make a good life for myself wihtout fear or malice
> from others. I've travelled overseas and I know we are in fact a very lucky
> country because there are many places who do not have the privileges we do
> and we should be forever thankful.
> I belong to no political party, have never been involvd in politics and have
> no intention to be. In fact I think some politicians are liars just looking
> for votes by giving the answers they know people want to hear. To me, that
> is cop-out and one thing I have never been. I have never been one to stand
> down from my thoughts and opinions or things I believe very passionately
> about.
> If people do not want me on the list because my opinion offends then that is
> a pity because that was not my intention. By the same token, it goes 50/50
> and it offends me when people abuse me or go against things I am passionate
> about. But I understand because it is all about a lack of knowing or
> understanding. You just can't change some people-you just acknowledge they
> are who they are.
> And that I suppose was part of my original intention but it just seemed to
> get washed away before I even had a chance.
> I have no idea whether this dialogue answers anything but I am just saying
> how I feel. There are no real defined answers to these questions.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Trudy & Rod Bray
> Sent: Wednesday, 5 April 2000 6:05 PM
> To: RecOzNet2
> Subject: [recoznet2] Questions for Karen
>
> Karen,
>
> No doubt you are aware that many people find you disruptive to the list
> and your attitude to Aboriginal Australians upsetting.
> Whether you think this is justified or not doesn't really come into it
> because this is how it is.
>
> You have told us how you came across this site and decided to stay and
> see what it was all about. Now that you know what it is about, please
> tell us the following:
>
> --What are you willing to contribute to this list that will further the
> cause of reconciliation?
>
> --If you do not want to contribute to reconciliation via this list, then
> what is your purpose for being on the list?
>
> Would you please answer the questions above as directly as possible?
>
> Trudy
>
> --
> _________________________________
> Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti
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--
_________________________________
Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti
-------------------------------------------------
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To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body
of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here
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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 @
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