March 2011
44 posts
“They only eat two meals a day - emergency crackers and vegetable juice for breakfast, and a packet of rice with chicken, fish or curry for dinner.
In the evenings, they gather around in a safe room to cheer “Let’s do our best!” and clap once, before wrapping themselves with blankets and going to sleep on the floor.
” —Everybody cease complaining this instant.
(via clembastow)
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Call to end welfare for Aborigines →
theage.com.au
Does anyone else feel ashamed of the patronising and paternalistic language used by non-indigenous community leaders and opinion writers when talking about the plight of our Aboriginal people?
It is “stealth racism”. It insinuates that one class of Australian is more superior to another, and that the inferior class is unable to handle its own affairs. It flies under the radar and the proponents of this view see nothing wrong with it.
It should also not be seen that there is little that our aboriginal people already offer our society. I, for one, feel that our aboriginal people are far more advanced in the way that our environment is treated, in maintaining a connection to mother nature, in spiritual awareness, in the bonds and beauty of family, in geographical and zoological knowledge and in pride and appreciation of history. I could certainly learn a lot from these views and skills. And so could many other Australians.
Certainly I agree that it is absolutely shameful that there is a disparity in healthcare, education, living standards and life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, and it is in part a responsibility of various governments to bridge that gap; but it should never, ever be about a view that suggests “we, the privileged white Australians as a more advanced and resourceful class of people need to look after those poor, helpless and uneducated black people.”
This is why I think initiatives like GenerationOne are so important. What we need most is a holistic, collective approach that embraces the need for inspirational, influential and charismatic people that are both indigenous and non-indigenous leading the cause for equality. We are all Australians first. Imagine if we removed the idea of race from the argument. What non-patronising and healthy progress would be made then! Everyone needs to look after everyone.
Edit: The entire fifth page of today’s The Age portrays the shameful, imperialistic behaviour of many of those who hold power in this country.
Today I was complimented on my forklift driving skills by a veteran truckie. I didn’t tell him that up until a couple of weeks ago the last time I’d driven one was almost a decade ago and that it was only my second straight day of unloading tightly-packed grape bins off truck trailers on a 7-tonne forklift with barely a few millimetres of room for error. It’s actually a lot of fun.
Today I was also told that the only real opportunity for a day off for the forseeable future is in the next day or two, and then we’ll be so crazily busy that we simply won’t be able to afford one less person on any given day. So as of next week it looks like indefinite 7-day weeks with 12 hours per day until we get quieter again, which could be up to a month away. Such a schedule does not lend itself much room for making plans or spoiling myself, so I’ve decided to allow myself something simple to look forward to each week. Starting tomorrow, I’ll get up a little earlier every Sunday and go to work via the bakery to grab a brekky pie and a proper coffee. Ah, the simple things.
On a side note; my hands are wrinkled, splitting and covered in cuts due to the prolonged exposure to water, grape juice, corrosives, acids, additives and sharp metal - caustic soda on split skin is a pain unlike anything I’ve felt; my feet are blistered and irritated from spending long days in wet socks; and my legs and lower back are as stiff as boards every morning when I wake up…
But I’m still happy.
What a load of crap! →
blogs.news.com.au
Andrew Bolt’s opinion piece in today’s Herald Sun is the most non-sensical and unintelligent piece of writing I have read in a long time.
Andrew, we all live on the same planet. Even if Australia cut their emissions by 50% by 2020, but acted alone, I doubt there would be global consequences even then.
You are missing the point.
The world needs decisive, collective action and needs it now and we may just see some progress in perhaps a generation or two. And every country needs to do its bit in that collective action. You need to view a global issue in global terms. We will NOT see much change by 2020 and change will not occur through Australia’s action alone.
In my opinion, we need to do far more than our measly 5% by 2020. Our planet is in trouble because of our lifestyle of convenience. If it’s going to spare the planet for my grandchildren, then tax the hell out of me and everyone else and maybe we’ll learn to appreciate simple, deserved things again.
Stop misinforming the majority with your crap you ill-informed conservative puppet.
I’m not sure if it’s the 12-hour shifts, or the prospect of very few (if any) days off, the sheer mental and physical tiredness of the work, or the fact that I’ve moved far away from my friends and family preparing for the prospect of months (if not years) of travel, but my brain has been kicking into sentimental mode recently.
Past loves, places I grew up, high school, old friends, family moments, university, holidays… you name it, it’s been occupying my thoughts.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, and in many ways it’s pleasant and reassuring, and I wouldn’t say I’m lonely, but I’m missing a lot of people and places… in a healthy way.
In fact, if you’re reading this, I probably am missing you. Sincerely.
x
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
—To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (via fuckyeahliteraryquotes)
This book helped form my moral outlook on life. It is incredible and should be read by everyone.
I honestly have a legitimate crush on Tony Jones from ABC’s QandA. Anyone who says they don’t is a liar.
ABC The Drum - Apocalyptic hyperbole leaves journalism speechless →
abc.net.au
A well-written piece on the sensationalisation of the mundane in journalism of today. I feel it could also apply to the language used by politicians.
Jason Chatfield: I need to catch a cab. →
jasonchatfield.tumblr.com
This has popped-up in a few of my mates’ streams here and on Facebook. I don’t know Jason but what happened to him can’t be allowed to happen to anyone else.
I woke up this morning in Emergency at the Alfred Hospital. The right side of my head throbbing, not able to open my jaw, my drawing arm shredded up from my shoulder to my wrist and my hips shooting pain up my spine as I tried to move my legs- and I’m told the first thing I was saying was “Shit,…
Oh tonight? Yeah, I just drank a Rutherglen Muscat older than any of my living relatives… that’s all.
