I Stand With Lydia Thorpe

[crunchysteve]

Ask any modern historian and, while they might disagree to the extent, the "settlement" of what we now know as Australia, was a military invasion. There was genocide, too. These are recorded historical facts. Genocide doesn't have to "successfully" wipe out a people, only the intent and violence needs to be in place for it to be genocide. For example, it is accepted that the Nazis actions against the Jewish people was genocide, even though the Jewish community is strong these days because of those who survived or escaped. In short to even attempt total genocide is genocidal.

The British invasion which began at Botany Bay was, from start to finish, genocidal. In intent and act. Even modern legal definitions of how one "proves" their "heritage" hold remnants of those genocidal laws of taking the children away, the "black drives," the actions of police throughout Australian history of settlement. (The latter, even today, in the violence used agains indigenous kids compared to white kids.) This land was founded on hate and racism. Hatred of the Irish rebels, hatred of the poor and hatred of the people who had held and harvested this land for at least 80,000 years.

So Senator Thorpe broke protocol. "Cholly's" ancestors broke terra nullius laws. They knew the land was peopled. Thorpe, while not popular with some in her community, has every right to raise this issue on behalf of her people. Maybe she lacks grace but, more likely, she lacks patience and, as an unaffiliated Senator, she probably lacks access to a more formal approach to the Crown from when Australia's nationhood derives official international recognition.

I'll give Dutton no oxygen in this. The man is a populist "thug" and an ex cop. I'll also say that, in some past actions, Thorpe has not represented her people well, she is a controversial figure. However, Thorpe may not have had "authority" to speak, she had a right and a duty to her people to do so, and that is a Senator's job - to demand answers to why the people she represents can't get the answers they need. She most definitely should not resign, she has represented indigenous Australia by pointing out that Australia was founded on an unlawful invasion and genocide.

That is all.

Comments

[armiphlage]

Agreed.

People complained too when Canada's Governor-General spoke to Parliament in Inuktitut instead of French and English (she's Inuk), and when she met with the Queen and told her to rewrite history books. But she was right to do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Simon

The Canadian government acknowledged its historic (and current!) genocide, and is attempting to make amends. But tens of billions of dollars isn't enough to make up for it.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6540350

[crunchysteve]

Australian politics, sadly, is still hungup on the idea that they can't offend the pale, stale, bogan males who think indigenous history is a conspiracy