11 January 2012

Tent Embassy turning 40 and drumming up a big gathering

| johnboy
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Last June we had a look at planning for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy’s 40th anniversary.

Today pink little birdie has reminded me that’s it’s full steam ahead.

This from the Facebook event page:

Indigenous elders invite all Aboriginal people, supporters and other members of the general public, to come together at the ‘Aboriginal Tent Embassy’ site, on Thursday 26th January 2012, to celebrate “SOVEREIGNTY DAY” and be part of the Sacred Fire Ceremonial Gathering that will marks 40 years since the first protest on the site.

The ‘Federation of Aboriginal Sovereign Nations’ will be convening on Thursday 26th January 2012 where the focus of discussions will center around Sovereignty Issues.

After Sovereignty Business has been attended to by the ‘Federation of Aboriginal Sovereign Nations’ we will have a big Sovereignty Corroboree, over the rest of the weekend.

One Mob Represents Aboriginal people of Australia and a call to stand united as one.
One Voice Stands for a free Aboriginal Voice.

For further information please contact: niokac32a@hotmail.com

Apparently the Australian “occupy” movement are getting involved, they could certainly use some lessons in sticking to it from the tent embassy.

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devils_advocate10:20 pm 21 Mar 12

troll-sniffer said :

devils_advocate said :

troll-sniffer said :

The Ghandis, the Abraham Lincolns etc of the world didn’t accept things the way they were, and had the will, foresight and most importantly ability to change things.

But luckily we have the 99 per cent (such as your good self) who are able to articulate such a clear and compelling road map for their like-minded sheeple friends to live by.

Ummmm your argument is wrong and misses the point. The characters you have nominated all worked within the society they found themselves in, used its and their own resources to further their cause. There’s a Grand Canyon of difference between those who constructively change society, even if there’s resistance at the time, and the loser brigade of spoilt cry-babies down at OPH.

1) I don’t think the tent embassy achieves anything. I alluded to as much above. So no argument from me there.
2) there was a blanket statement above stating we should just blindly do what the state tells us to. I don’t agree with that statement.
3) For around 99 per cent of the population, blind obedience to the state is probably the optimal course. But that 99 per cent shouldn’t hate the 1 per cent who can create change.
4) I don’t think that the circumstances leading to the emancipation proclamation can be accurately described as working within the system. Regardless, rather than comparing the tent embassy to Lincoln, I am actually contrasting them to illustrate a point, which was 2) above, not 1).

Deref said :

Arseholes are arseholes – it has nothing to do with the colour of your skin. As the hymn says “Red and yellow, black and white, all are arseholes on that site” or something like that. Every day they spend there puts their cause back years.

It’s a damn shame.

Well said. The are plenty of Aboriginals who want to stand up and take their place in modern Australia, and lots of Australians who want them to do just that.

Does anyone know how the Tent Embassy parking exemption works? Is it an agreement between Katie Gallagher’s government and the NCA that they aren’t to be booked? There are three or four cars parked at the Tent Embassy daily … any public servant who dared park anywhere near there would be booked.

EvanJames said :

Indira or Rajiv?

Propa?

Arseholes are arseholes – it has nothing to do with the colour of your skin. As the hymn says “Red and yellow, black and white, all are arseholes on that site” or something like that. Every day they spend there puts their cause back years.

It’s a damn shame.

EvanJames said :

Indira or Rajiv?

Goosey, goosey?

EvanJames said :

devils_advocate said :

Erg0 said :

If you’re sensitive to the subtext, I think he’s actually likening himself to Ghandi.

Buh? Any alleged subtext of this nature is purely your own invention. I’m nothing like either of the Ghandis.

Indira or Rajiv?

Mohandas, but I can’t expect someone like you to be aware of him

c_c said :

Send in the AFP Lenco and smash that eyesore.

What’s done is done, there will not be any sovereignty. There will not be any going back. Either move forward and try to be constructive members of society or exclude yourselves from society, meaning stop claiming dole checks while saying you want the white man out.

So sick of it. There are so many, high achieving, intelligent Aboriginal people in society. It’s low lives like this that give them all a bad image. And by trying the brain wash the next generation, they just fuel inter generational animosity and disadvantage.

Thankfully you have no control over what the AFP can and cannot do.

EvanJames said :

Someone sent this to me, thought I’d share, has anyone else heard of this sort of carry-on?

” It appeared that an English tourist was taking a picture up towards the war memorial from outside old parliament house. Well she was approached by an aboriginal woman and asked what she was doing. She told them and was then told that it would cost $2.00 or she would have to delete the photo. Needless to say she deleted the photo!!”

I’ve heard of tourists and people being hassled, this is just stand-over begging.

And probably complete Bullshit. Admit it.

troll-sniffer4:47 pm 21 Mar 12

devils_advocate said :

troll-sniffer said :

The Ghandis, the Abraham Lincolns etc of the world didn’t accept things the way they were, and had the will, foresight and most importantly ability to change things.

But luckily we have the 99 per cent (such as your good self) who are able to articulate such a clear and compelling road map for their like-minded sheeple friends to live by.

Ummmm your argument is wrong and misses the point. The characters you have nominated all worked within the society they found themselves in, used its and their own resources to further their cause. There’s a Grand Canyon of difference between those who constructively change society, even if there’s resistance at the time, and the loser brigade of spoilt cry-babies down at OPH.

c_c said :

What’s done is done, there will not be any sovereignty. There will not be any going back.

I have issues with th whol “soverignty” aspect of this anyway.
Soverignty suggests that they had rule in th first place, which they didn’t. they had a society but no hierachal structure that said whose was what.

So if they want to claim prior soverignty they should really prove they had it in the first place.

troll-sniffer said :

Fact: No matter where you are in the world, no matter your background or circumstances, getting off your butt and adapting to the society around you will always provide a better more satisfying outcome than some pointless campaign based on some mythical pride and sovereignty. Technically I could occupy a patch of land somewhere back in England and assert my ancestral rights, but commonsense decrees that I would be wasting mine and everyone else’s time.

Nature teaches us that a fair go is an aberration rather than the norm. Smart people realise this simple immutable law and work with it, the others never really get it.

+1

The status quo reminds me of a chapter in The World According to Garp where guilt by association is discussed.

My guilt by association is being part of an Australian community where the pointless path you mention is actively promoted, and even the most constructive dissenting view is ridiculed.

devils_advocate said :

Erg0 said :

If you’re sensitive to the subtext, I think he’s actually likening himself to Ghandi.

Buh? Any alleged subtext of this nature is purely your own invention. I’m nothing like either of the Ghandis.

Indira or Rajiv?

devils_advocate1:56 pm 21 Mar 12

Erg0 said :

If you’re sensitive to the subtext, I think he’s actually likening himself to Ghandi.

Buh? Any alleged subtext of this nature is purely your own invention. I’m nothing like either of the Ghandis.

devils_advocate1:55 pm 21 Mar 12

EvanJames said :

devils_advocate said :

You’re likening the squattters at the Tent Shambles to Ghandi? Come off it. There are some members of the Aboriginal community at large who would give Ghandi a run for his money, and Mr Lincoln too, but they’re not at that Tent mess and never would be either.

No – actually I specifically pointed out that the tent embassy occupants were unlikely to ever make a change to anything. I was responding to the more general admonition that we should all just shut up and do as we’re told by the state, like good little sheeple.

And my response to that was, yes, roughly 99 per cent of the population should do just that, because they’re too stupid to do anything else. But they shouldn’t hate the 1 per cent that is willing and able to make a change.

Send in the AFP Lenco and smash that eyesore.

What’s done is done, there will not be any sovereignty. There will not be any going back. Either move forward and try to be constructive members of society or exclude yourselves from society, meaning stop claiming dole checks while saying you want the white man out.

So sick of it. There are so many, high achieving, intelligent Aboriginal people in society. It’s low lives like this that give them all a bad image. And by trying the brain wash the next generation, they just fuel inter generational animosity and disadvantage.

EvanJames said :

You’re likening the squattters at the Tent Shambles to Ghandi? Come off it. There are some members of the Aboriginal community at large who would give Ghandi a run for his money, and Mr Lincoln too, but they’re not at that Tent mess and never would be either.

If you’re sensitive to the subtext, I think he’s actually likening himself to Ghandi.

devils_advocate said :

That’s true for the 99 per cent of the population who lack the mental capability to change the world or to appreciate those with the capacity to do so (not saying the tent embassy people are in the 1 per cent, but these people do exist).

The Ghandis, the Abraham Lincolns etc of the world didn’t accept things the way they were, and had the will, foresight and most importantly ability to change things.

But luckily we have the 99 per cent (such as your good self) who are able to articulate such a clear and compelling road map for their like-minded sheeple friends to live by.

You’re likening the squattters at the Tent Shambles to Ghandi? Come off it. There are some members of the Aboriginal community at large who would give Ghandi a run for his money, and Mr Lincoln too, but they’re not at that Tent mess and never would be either.

devils_advocate1:14 pm 21 Mar 12

troll-sniffer said :

Fact: No matter where you are in the world, no matter your background or circumstances, getting off your butt and adapting to the society around you will always provide a better more satisfying outcome than some pointless campaign based on some mythical pride and sovereignty. Technically I could occupy a patch of land somewhere back in England and assert my ancestral rights, but commonsense decrees that I would be wasting mine and everyone else’s time.

Nature teaches us that a fair go is an aberration rather than the norm. Smart people realise this simple immutable law and work with it, the others never really get it.

That’s true for the 99 per cent of the population who lack the mental capability to change the world or to appreciate those with the capacity to do so (not saying the tent embassy people are in the 1 per cent, but these people do exist).

The Ghandis, the Abraham Lincolns etc of the world didn’t accept things the way they were, and had the will, foresight and most importantly ability to change things.

But luckily we have the 99 per cent (such as your good self) who are able to articulate such a clear and compelling road map for their like-minded sheeple friends to live by.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back1:10 pm 21 Mar 12

Baldy said :

Jim Jones said :

troll-sniffer said :

Assimilate or die

Pretty well true. What part of invasion isn’t understood here? People invade, the natives (or the latest in teh long line) assimulate to the winning invaders society.

Look at China and Ireland for an example.

Oh, you mean the Chirish?

troll-sniffer said :

Fact: No matter where you are in the world, no matter your background or circumstances, getting off your butt and adapting to the society around you will always provide a better more satisfying outcome than some pointless campaign based on some mythical pride and sovereignty. Technically I could occupy a patch of land somewhere back in England and assert my ancestral rights, but commonsense decrees that I would be wasting mine and everyone else’s time.

Nature teaches us that a fair go is an aberration rather than the norm. Smart people realise this simple immutable law and work with it, the others never really get it.

…and that should be the first and last word on the victimhood industry.

Get off your lazy feral arses and do something useful.

Jim Jones said :

troll-sniffer said :

Assimilate or die

Pretty well true. What part of invasion isn’t understood here? People invade, the natives (or the latest in teh long line) assimulate to the winning invaders society.

Look at China and Ireland for an example.

I’d love to see centrelink cut their payments.

troll-sniffer said :

Assimilate or die

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

If someone told me I had to pay $2 or delete the photo I’d tell them they had to pay me $2 or f*** off.

I suspect they pick their marks carefully. Polite English women would probably get more attention of this kind than normal-sized australian men.

there were some aboriginals in town for some event or protest some years back, and some of them later proceeded to Civic and were on City Walk with their beer and grabbing people who went past demanding money. I rang the police and within 10 minutes they’d shown up, and were moving these characters on.

troll-sniffer11:44 am 21 Mar 12

Every now and then I pass by OPH and I always look out for the iconic cheese samples I assume must be there somewhere, as my mates assure me it’s a specific cheese embassy. So far all I’ve come across is an Aussie version of the legendary American trailer parks where self-pitying types hang out and console each other as they try and deny that they are just a bunch of losers.

Fact: No matter where you are in the world, no matter your background or circumstances, getting off your butt and adapting to the society around you will always provide a better more satisfying outcome than some pointless campaign based on some mythical pride and sovereignty. Technically I could occupy a patch of land somewhere back in England and assert my ancestral rights, but commonsense decrees that I would be wasting mine and everyone else’s time. Nature teaches us that a fair go is an aberration rather than the norm. Smart people realise this simple immutable law and work with it, the others never really get it.

Amazing that a protest has gone on for 40 years and in that time it has failed spectacularly in achieving it’s cause. Aboriginals have not only failed to gain sovereignty but have managed to even further ostracise themselves from the rest of Australia. Perhaps someone could drop off a few marketing textbooks for them to peruse inside that little shipping container? The fact that they have lived in this ugly protest camp while hassling tourists and receiving free firewood and facilities from the government has done nothing to further their cause. A group of white people tried to protest in Martin Place and have been moved on a number of times…..maybe because the powers that be know that a couple of hippies are not going to cry racism so it’s an easier target.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back11:24 am 21 Mar 12

EvanJames said :

Someone sent this to me, thought I’d share, has anyone else heard of this sort of carry-on?

” It appeared that an English tourist was taking a picture up towards the war memorial from outside old parliament house. Well she was approached by an aboriginal woman and asked what she was doing. She told them and was then told that it would cost $2.00 or she would have to delete the photo. Needless to say she deleted the photo!!”

I’ve heard of tourists and people being hassled, this is just stand-over begging.

If someone told me I had to pay $2 or delete the photo I’d tell them they had to pay me $2 or f*** off.

Someone sent this to me, thought I’d share, has anyone else heard of this sort of carry-on?

” It appeared that an English tourist was taking a picture up towards the war memorial from outside old parliament house. Well she was approached by an aboriginal woman and asked what she was doing. She told them and was then told that it would cost $2.00 or she would have to delete the photo. Needless to say she deleted the photo!!”

I’ve heard of tourists and people being hassled, this is just stand-over begging.

bd84 said :

I’d wish them a happy 40th birthday by putting a bulldozer through the place.

If I chip in a few dollars can you write my name on the card?

GardeningGirl2:05 pm 12 Jan 12

Bulldozer, no. Evolving into something, yes. (I quite like Al’s idea.) Btw I recently noticed there’s a coffee shop at the front of OPH, I would have been tempted to linger over a cuppa and enjoy the view but for the smoke blowing right at it.

They would be well advised to get rid of the criminal types who live there permanently in caravans if they want to be respected as a group. I walked past there the other day and got chased & verbally abused in very nasty language by a guy & a woman in a white station wagon. They used racist, sexist language (I am white) and this was with no provocation whatsoever. My workplace said I should report it to the police so I did and they said there’s nothing they can do unless they actually threatened me with a weapon or grabbed me. My security area at work advised me not to wear my pass as it is considered “provocative”. I had a witness who happened to be a lawyer walking past and he was so incensed he wrote to NCA and copied me in on the letter. So I actually still have nothing against aborigines but I do object to obnoxious rude nasty people. If you think that makes me racist then so be it.

Why have we allowed this to go on for 40 years?

colourful sydney racing identity8:07 am 12 Jan 12

Jethro said :

bd84 said :

I’d wish them a happy 40th birthday by putting a bulldozer through the place.

I always love the bulldozer suggestion.

It takes what is at worst a minor eyesore and offers to turn it into a series racial conflict. I’m sure the images of bulldozers going through the tent embassy (along with the riot police, etc who would need to help if this were to ever happen) would do wonders for the relationship between indigenous and non indigenous Australians.

Thank you Jethro, well put.

bd84 said :

I’d wish them a happy 40th birthday by putting a bulldozer through the place.

I always love the bulldozer suggestion.

It takes what is at worst a minor eyesore and offers to turn it into a series racial conflict. I’m sure the images of bulldozers going through the tent embassy (along with the riot police, etc who would need to help if this were to ever happen) would do wonders for the relationship between indigenous and non indigenous Australians.

I’d wish them a happy 40th birthday by putting a bulldozer through the place.

I don’t mind Gungahlin Al’s idea.

I’m afraid its unlikely to come to fruition, though, because it might force some of the protesters into a real job.

fgzk said :

GA. Replace a living camp fire with a building. How very english of you.

A “living camp fire”? How very drug-crazed-hippie-nonsense of you.

Gungahlin Al3:37 pm 11 Jan 12

fgzk said :

GA. Replace a living camp fire with a building. How very english of you.

Huh? Did you miss the “underground” bit? Open space retained at ground level for suitable permanent thing – like a bora ring analogue even. Anyway, was only asking for thoughts, improvements, whatever. So thanks for your input. Shall now go away and try to scrub off the stain of Englishness… 🙂

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Solidarity said :

Not to be confused with Solidarity day, which would command a much greater audience.

Since you first crawled out from under your rock and found this site, I have often wondered whether you picked your user name to be ironic.

I thought that was pretty obvious.

Apparently the Australian “occupy” movement are getting involved, they could certainly use some lessons in sticking to it from the tent embassy.

Also, a bunch of middle class white kids with an “Occupy” banner could easily be mistaken for a counter-protest.

GA. Replace a living camp fire with a building. How very english of you.

Gungahlin Al1:56 pm 11 Jan 12

On “sticking to it”, trotting out my piece about what could come after the Tent Embassy again. Maybe someone involved with the event may be interested in the idea and whether it is reasonable or out of order even: http://alankerlin.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-comes-after-aboriginal-tent.html

Apols if you’ve read it before.

“marks 40 years since the first protest on the site. “

Notice this particular mob isn’t pretending the tent squalor has actually been there continuously for 40 years, unlike some other less honest activists.

colourful sydney racing identity1:49 pm 11 Jan 12

Solidarity said :

Not to be confused with Solidarity day, which would command a much greater audience.

Since you first crawled out from under your rock and found this site, I have often wondered whether you picked your user name to be ironic.

Not to be confused with Solidarity day, which would command a much greater audience.

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