Chief Protector
James Gallaway makes an interesting observation in this week’s New Matilda:
Where once Senator Amanda Vanstone’s title as Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs had concluded with the words, ‘Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Reconciliation’ the rubric has been quietly altered since the recent election to read, ‘Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Indigenous Affairs’, only.
It’s no longer about reconciliation. It’s about white government officials dictating the affairs of Aboriginal people. Henceforth, I shall refer to John Howard as the Chief Protector of Aborigines, and Amanda Vanstone as the Assistant Protector.
Despite any colloquial historical meaning to the word, “protector” is a bit of a stretch, Rob. What’s the average lifespan of Australian indigenous men ? 38 or 40 years? I’d be swimmin’ in dirt by now if I was a saltwater fella.
What really knocks me out is how wrong Aboriginal leaders can get it sometimes. Wasn’t it John Ah Kit who was pinning Aboriginal suicides on cannabis use not long back?
*sigh*
-weez
What really knocks me out is how wrong Aboriginal leaders can get it sometimes.
Yes, a white immigrant from the US who lives in the city knows a hell of a lot more about Aborigines than those stupid Aboriginal leaders do.
I believe weezil may be using an esoteric technique known as “looking at what people say and then checking the facts” EP. Give it a whirl and let us know how you do.
Weez, it’s 56 years. Prime Minister Barton will be thrilled to hear that it matches the national average.
Behind ‘Manda
Yesterday’s post by Robert Corr reminded me of an interview with Amanda Vanstone on Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope (ABC) several months ago.
No way is he using that technique, Anthony.
He’s using the common leftist method known as “someone says something that doesn’t fit in with my ideological preconceptions, therefore it must be wrong”.
Funny, isnt that exactly what the right wing does, all the time?
Wait, wait, wait. EP, are you trying to argue that Aborigines who commit suicide do so because of cannabis use?
It’s one thing to say someone’s “got it wrong”, because you disagree with their ideology and their (alleged) statements. It’s another to say someone’s “got it right”, even though you disagree with them, because their ideology is apparently different to the ideology of someone with whom you disagree.
Crikey.
Anthony
Sorry about the delay but I gave your technique a go in the back yard yesterday and wow, what can I say? Aboriginal leaders are a diverse bunch with differing opinions, sometimes being right and sometimes being wrong. It’s not just the good bits of Noel Pearson. And you know that war in Iraq, complete rubbish, the LOT. The terrorist threat, the WMDs, and do you know what else I found out - it’s going really badly. People are still dying - lots of ‘em. War crimes too. And Lynx deodorant, it doesn’t attract women. Crown lager, it’s just Fosters…
God bless ya!
Hey. don’t mention it big guy.