ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I was driving around town yesterday and spotted a bumper sticker, one that is possibly unique to the centre but possibly found it's way around the country....the sticker has "No room For Racism" on it, a fair statement I would say, but why is it a yellow map of Australia as the centre and a red and black surround? it is virtually an Aboriginal flag with the yellow circle replaced with a yellow map of Australia......why would you wave a racist banner with the statement "no room for racism" plastered across it? Now these stickers have been around the centre for sometime now, they are about the size of a postcard and actually are being used as an easy source of graffiti. they are stuck on everything from street signs, shop fronts, fences and especially road signs to anything that will hold one up. We are having major issues with law and order here in Alice at the moment, and every time some one mentions the problem they are deemed racisct..BS!...the perpetrators are young Aboriginal kids running amok, everyone knows who is doing it, there are hours of film footage to prove it, some of which has been aired here in TV ads to highlight the problem.....but even so, the libertarians are screaming racism! I won't go into the politics of it here, nor will I offer any opinion as to why it happens or how it should be handled, but I just needed to take this opportunity to clarify to some of you who may suspect I have a racist streak that it is not the case.
I have worked with, for and amongst these people for over twenty years, I have attended school with them, played sport with and against them and generally interacted with them for a period which dates back a lot further than that. I would never say I have never made a racist comment in my life, but I would be confident in saying I have been less racist toward Aborigines as a race than has been the reverse. I have offered and administered assistance in the bush to many Aboriginal people I have employed some and have a few Aboriginal friends. Most of them agree to some extent that the race certainly needs to take a look at themselves and where they are heading.
I know that it can be romantic to write stories or poetry about the Dreamtime and all sorts of Aboriginal culture, but it does strike a nerve with me, and like minded people who are actually on the ground in these situations, when I continually hear the white fella getting the blame for the wrongs and injustices.....much of the injustices and indeed crimes are actually from within their own sections of society and do not involve white fellas at all.

Thank you to anyone who has bothered to read this, I hope I haven't been construed as racist but suspect I may have been, I hope this at least partially clears my name.

Ross mate I agree with you almost 100% do gooders manly are often so called whites have a lot to answer for. As you know I lived and worked with them for a number of years but I am sorry to say the so called modern generation has a lot to answer for including stupidity and lack of respect from all works of life and I am like you so don't ever call me a racist most likly you could be one your self

BILL WILLIAMS the old battler

I totally agree with everything you say Ross - a huge amount of the problem is self inflicted and then when it all goes pear shaped then others are blamed and that is the annoying part.

I am sure we have all faced adversity at some time and as in most cases have had to help ourselves - but if you don't want to help yourself than why expect the rest of the nation to rally to your cause - and this is the problem as I see it. My neighbour who is an elder freely admits that for every step forward he makes for his community and he makes so very many - there are others who are taking it backwards more steps than he can make and sadly these are the ones who engender all the publicity and who the general public seem to base their perceptions on. He has major problems with his own son that he is trying to work through, and that is sad when he has set so many other young blokes through his men's groups back on to the straight path - but alcohol does not sit well with these blokes metabolism or whatever causes the bad effects. Something you see far more of I think in your area.

I have read that Alice has been described as a town in siege where people are frightened to go on the streets at night because of marauding aboriginal youth some as young as pre teen...I believe that - saw similar in Kalgoorlie where all the shop fronts had steel bars over their windows and that included Woolies and Coles - it was like a city under siege but the menace only seemed to surface actively at night. Who want's to live like that....it is very sad.

The solution to this problem if there is a solution has to come from within their own groups and communities if it is to be successful I feel, and as to whether or not they have the wherewithal to do that I don't know. I think they could do it but suspect that as fast as one community is declared dry then the young ones move out into town, become part of the long grass crowd and continue to drink - so nothing is resolved, the problem is just moved. Removing children is not an option as the stolen generation has so well depicted - yet at the time it was done no doubt with good intentions though it has backfired miserable for all concerned down the decades.

I have always appreciated your take on the situation Ross - please don't think that I haven't...you are on the coal face so to speak.
My only concern is the way we tend to lump things together, when of course that is not the case. It is the 'all pit bulls are savage killers and should be put down' mentality - as a previous pit bull owner I know that is so' not true.' A dog is a dog - this breed has issues of which one must be aware, they are fearless and strong and in a given situation this certainly could enable them to morph into savage killers, (as I might add could many people) but if treated with respect and taught to respect, taught social skills and obedience to rules, then they are a loyal and loving companion just like any other dog...allowing for the fact that there will always for whatever reasons be some amongst them who of course don't fill this criteria.

People just need to be treated as people. regardless of race, religion, colour, sexual preferences or any of the other myriad things that make us individuals - and if the fellow down the street is a nice bloke and a good neighbour and friend and everyone thinks he is OK that is good - if he beats his wife and kids, is always drunk and nobody likes him then he is not so good and probably none of his neighbours like him...but one should be judging the man - not his race, or his religious affiliations etc etc...and that from my perception is not what is happening in Australia and that is what gets my goat.

Maybe we should head this discussion up as 'What really pi**es me off'....but that wouldn't do.

Cheers

Maureen

G'day Ross, the social problems you relate are a disgrace because they are the result of bad government. I am convinced that the first duty of any government is to maintain our society in peace and safety to everyone's benefit, if they don't do this I'm afraid the only conclusion I can draw is that they are moral cowards who have betrayed their constituents.

You are certainly not a racist Ross. I say that because I believe there is really no such thing as a racist. Has anyone ever defined racist or explained its precise meaning. Of course not.
"Racist " I maintain , is just a connotation politic-speak word invented by the post-modernists to mean anything they want it to mean when it suits their purposes.
It has become a handy weapon to beat up people who dare to see an inconvenient truth.

Read George Orwell's book " 1984 " you'll see that Orwell understood very well, the tyranny of deceptive politicspeak.

Thank you all for you replies, I am comforted to know that my comments are accepted as first hand observations and not racist opinions.

I agree with you as well Ross, we here in Cairns are having a real problem with Aboriginals, I for one won't go into town of a night to 'walk the nard' so to speak, too many bashings & robberies & yes, 99% commited by their youth.

No Ross. Never considered you a racist. Just one who speaks from the heart with the advantage of experience and knowledge.

Yes Ross . . your CLP bloke Matt Conlon is an old mate of mine - I used to share a house with his missus in Perth and he sends me his press releases so I've been keeping up with the trouble in Alice - and David J is right about Cairns too. And Marty you hit the nail on the head by saying the label 'rascist' is used to stymie debate on what is a law and order issue.

Marty

...thanks Dave and Vic, I know that a lot of people will not speak up for fear of being branded racist, I on the other hand, tend to speak up and defend myself afterwards....if I can. Both Neville and Marty have summed up the definition or use of 'racist' pretty well I think, it is obvious to me that so far we all agree, in this circle anyway.

Thanks Marty, I was about to hit submit when I spotted your addition, Matt is a good bloke with the centre at heart, not sure why you are good mates if you shacked up with his missus though.....

He's a sharing sort of a bloke