Um, it’s Mick Dodson, Kev, not his brother Pat.

Thanks guys….Typing without checking….same message though.

shows your lack of capacity for understanding of anyone but white Australia.
There is a fair chance that I have more understanding than you. I’ve traveled most of Australia and have sat down with many a tribal elder including Galarrwuy Yunupingu and I do understand this; side issues like carping about Invasion Day do nothing and never will do anything to improve their lot.

The ‘many’ people who want this sort of symbolic change come from a very small group of the society that also wants them kept in outstations without education or jobs leading them to substance abuse and all its associated problems. They want them to be taught only about their culture and language at the detriment of their lives as they live in our culture and need English to climb up above their problems

Mick Dodson is not helping at all with his ‘Grab the Media’s attention’ statement but while shallow thinkers like you support him then the problem festers.

You need to wake up to yourself and get out in the country an maybe visit an outstation or two and witness first hand what damage left wing policies have wrought on a troubled people.

Wow Kev that was truly moving!

I totally agree. And for me I think, if -for example- Glen McGrath was another heritage, be it aboriginal Australian or Indian, but was still an Australian, would he still receive his NSW award? Yes he would!

If Mick Dodson was not aboriginal Australian then he would not have even been nominated, in effect it was a racist choice.

Not to mention the ideas of Mick Dodson hurt his own people, and Glen McGrath for example is fighting a battle in the name of someone else.

You are just an advocate for hatred. Saying Mick Dodson is wrong has nothing to do with hatred, it’s an opinion. I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet but our short debate is a clash of ideologies, not race.

I don’t doubt there is any amount of the will to succeed that you saw in Aboriginal communities such as Wujal Wujal, Aurukun, Hopevale and Naprinum but the point is to succeed one needs education. You are obviously educated so you know what I mean. When I say education I mean English, maths, science etc with a touch of culture, both black and white, on Friday afternoon. I do not mean dot painting and recently choreographed tribal dances.

I saw school kids at Nullunby, Yirrkala and surrounds whose education (or lack of western style education) was setting them up for permanent victim-hood (some good dot painters among them though)and I knew a young man, son of Galarrwuy, whose third language was English. Every time an elder died he was dragged out of school for two weeks. Three times in one year didn’t help his final grades. and his third language English wasn’t enough to get him a good pass through a good college with every body helping.

Hate me all you like but until people like you, the educated ones of your race, fight for the young kids education across the board then it is a wasted emotion. Every kid at school every school day learning that which will set them up for jobs.

If that standard isn’t available at Yeundemu or elsewhere then move to where it is.

If the parents are in trouble then help them to the point where they are able and conscience of getting their kids to school every school day.

I don’t count a mans skin colour, Mick, just his ability to accept responsibility for his wife, kids and where he lives. What I do dislike is the Lefts misguided take on life that supports victim-hood, poor bugger me mentality, outstations and sit-down money. For the last 30 plus years the Left have done your race a huge disservice and are a part of the cause of the tragic problems we are encountering in far off towns – substance abuse and all it’s causes and effects.

I have neither racism nor hatred in my bones and I am compassionate about the problems of some Australians; causes beyond their ken have dragged them down. They need uplifting, maybe even guiding for awhile, but they do not need poor bugger me stories or antics and/or statements by their leaders that don’t address the real problems.

Get used to the idea Mick. Whatever you have been told or learn’t in the circles you travel in, they are not the opinions of the majority. Most of the population wish you guys well but are getting sick and tired of ideologically based ‘hand-out, keep ‘em in the outstations and out of site’ type programs.

Mick, since when does Kev stating a fact like ‘aboriginals living in the stone age’ become racism?

At the end of the day what choice do aboriginals have? Assimilate or die? If assimilation is a good option what would be a good way forward?

By my accounts, my boots (numerous pairs) have served longer within the Australian military than 8675309. And I’m still not sure how or why he would drag a marginalisation issue into a discussion about the merits of the Aboriginal of the Year 2009.

Then again, alot of what of 2×5/326=89 says is meandering rubbish, so in effect, it’s like having a discussion with most Murri’s and Koori’s after all.