8 June 2011

The Tent Embassy turns 40 next year

| johnboy
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tent embassy site

Facebook brings word that the Tent Embassy in front of Old Parliament House is celebrating its 40th birthday next Australia Day.

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

[Photo Credit: Craig L Hodges, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)]

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Pommy bastard1:31 pm 14 Jun 11

Diggety said :

Good. Why don’t you post the essay here?

I second that!

ThatUniStudent said :

I think I’ll use all of the posts here when I submit my next essay on cultural and embedded racism.

Good. Why don’t you post the essay here?

shadow boxer1:21 pm 14 Jun 11

Classified said :

matt31221 said :

There is no us and them only we. And we all are a part of Australia. We are together now.

Exactly, which is why I formly believe we need more than good intentions – we need to help Aborigines to get out of the poverty cycle.

This is true, was it Jefferson

“There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people”

Pommy bastard said :

I think Jim’s nailed it.

Thankyou. I’m particularly proud of that piece of work.

If I’d managed to wedge something in about Climate Change being a massive conspiracy of epic proportions, I could probably get it featured on Andrew Bolt’s blog.

Pommy bastard12:59 pm 14 Jun 11

I think Jim’s nailed it.

Pommy bastard said :

ThatUniStudent said :

I think I’ll use all of the posts here when I submit my next essay on cultural and embedded racism.

Interesting, and what will your deconstruction aim to show?

That, alongside the boatloads of millionaire terrorists arriving on our shores EVERY DAY with their gay heroin and their Sharia Law and their heavily armed unaccompanied minors, there are also dole-bludging alcoholic primitives attempting to strongarm the Black Armband version of our own history into our public schools, which are vomiting forth apocalyptic armageddon upon the law-abiding suburbanites, because of all their students are lazy, Gen-Y hoody-wearing criminals whose parents are communist apologists for Stalinist genocide and won’t pay for private education, supported by the nanny-state that, being run by homosexual left-wing latte-sipping intellectuals from ivory towers who have never set foot in the REAL WORLD, is trying to destroy the greatness of Australia by banning fireworks and subsiding solar power which is nothing but extremist-Green urban-terrorist public policy which will ruin us all.

Pommy bastard12:11 pm 14 Jun 11

ThatUniStudent said :

I think I’ll use all of the posts here when I submit my next essay on cultural and embedded racism.

Interesting, and what will your deconstruction aim to show?

ThatUniStudent10:58 am 14 Jun 11

I think I’ll use all of the posts here when I submit my next essay on cultural and embedded racism.
Maybe you should all go out and talk with Aunty Lucy at the Tent Embassy.

fgzk said :

Classifed You could support any idea that allow Aboriginal people self determination. They need to tell you, how you can help.

I’m not trying to put down your obvious care for the Aboriginal people, but I think there’s more to the story.

Classifed You could support any idea that allow Aboriginal people self determination. They need to tell you, how you can help.

I apologize to the Aboriginal people who I may have offended in presenting ideas that may in no way reflect their aspirations. I was pursuing my own agenda at your expense. I am Sorry.

matt31221 said :

There is no us and them only we. And we all are a part of Australia. We are together now.

Exactly, which is why I formly believe we need more than good intentions – we need to help Aborigines to get out of the poverty cycle.

fgzk said :

In modern Australian culture, the fire may be represented by RA. A place to meet and discuss. I might post a thread and wait for a response. Bound by custom and law that guide me in my discussion on RA virtual country. The moderators being custodians of country.

Some of you seem to have a problem with the part you play in todays Australia. When my farther came to this country he was instructed he had to abide by the culture, customs and laws of the country. He was expected to speak English only and not taunt Australians with his own cultural customs. In so doing we grew up in a house that spoke one language and mostly practiced my mothers cultural heritage. Except on holidays. You can see this concept played out today. This concept is based on a very convenient lie.

So to use PB only as an example in name. When you came to country did you make an effort to learn anything about the culture of this country. Did you respect the customs, law and culture of the country, or did you accept the convenient lie and continue to force your own culture on to country.

For those off us born on country, did we accept the culture of this country or adopt a culture from a different country that denies us our true heritage. If you find your self in a struggle to bulldoze aboriginals, spreading derogatory comments, racism, discrimination, not being sorry, denying the exsistance and importance of the culture of country. Then you are contributing to the “english” side of what amounts to an attempted genocide of the people of Australia and a denial of this countries cultural heritage.

To come to country and taunt “us” with hateful names and claims, is a bastard act. This is why in the colloquial English Australian language, a “pommy bastard” is considered a derogatory term.

The culture and heritage of this country, is now and has always been Aboriginal. That’s the truth.

I object to all the English bashing. Captain Cook was very respectful of the Aboriginies. He admired their simplicity and noted that they were happy and harmonious. And I also object to all this ‘it’s our land’ stuff and making it seem like us and them, WE ARE THEM, If you were born here white black or yellow – you are indiginous. You and I are Aboriginal Australian. There is no us and them only we. And we all are a part of Australia. We are together now.

To come to country and taunt “us” with hateful names and claims, is a bastard act. This is why in the colloquial English Australian language, a “pommy bastard” is considered a derogatory term.

actually fgzk, in colloquial english, ‘pommy bastard’ is a term of endearment – it is derogatory in a literal reading of the language, hence the usage colloquially…

and i was born ‘on country’ as you say and my ‘culture, is one rich in a history of immigration, notwithstanding i was born prior to the referendum that gave our indigenous population suffrage. my culture is both rich in history of immigration, so rich in a diversity of ‘cultures’ and approaches to life, while simultaneously inherently one of some shame for the manner in which indigenous australians have been, and continue to be, treated. these are not mutually exclusive, something that bears your consideration, methinks…

Huh? My previous comment didn’t look like that when I previewed it.

It was supposed to refer to this comment:

fgzk said :

The culture and heritage of this country, is now and has always been Aboriginal. That’s the truth.

Pommy bastard6:14 pm 13 Jun 11

there was no reason for either post to be “moderated”, indeed as my post which was removed was a reply to one already posted, and therefore had already “passed” moderation, I cannot believe there was any reason for either to go.

Neither was inflammatory, contained offensive language, they were on topic, and did not in any way broke the rules here. Such retrospective moderation, nay censorship, is very poor form indeed.

At the time, I decided otherwise.

In modern Australian culture, the fire may be represented by RA. A place to meet and discuss. I might post a thread and wait for a response. Bound by custom and law that guide me in my discussion on RA virtual country. The moderators being custodians of country.

Some of you seem to have a problem with the part you play in todays Australia. When my farther came to this country he was instructed he had to abide by the culture, customs and laws of the country. He was expected to speak English only and not taunt Australians with his own cultural customs. In so doing we grew up in a house that spoke one language and mostly practiced my mothers cultural heritage. Except on holidays. You can see this concept played out today. This concept is based on a very convenient lie.

So to use PB only as an example in name. When you came to country did you make an effort to learn anything about the culture of this country. Did you respect the customs, law and culture of the country, or did you accept the convenient lie and continue to force your own culture on to country.

For those off us born on country, did we accept the culture of this country or adopt a culture from a different country that denies us our true heritage. If you find your self in a struggle to bulldoze aboriginals, spreading derogatory comments, racism, discrimination, not being sorry, denying the exsistance and importance of the culture of country. Then you are contributing to the “english” side of what amounts to an attempted genocide of the people of Australia and a denial of this countries cultural heritage.

To come to country and taunt “us” with hateful names and claims, is a bastard act. This is why in the colloquial English Australian language, a “pommy bastard” is considered a derogatory term.

The culture and heritage of this country, is now and has always been Aboriginal. That’s the truth.

Jazz said :

no, just not passing moderation

Probably a good thing.

Pommy bastard1:46 pm 12 Jun 11

Some posts have gone missing?

no, just not passing moderation

Great ideas, but I was thinking about more practical matters. Like how we lift Aborigines out of poverty, and all the problems that go with.

Giving them a proper embassy is nice and all, but isn’t the ugly-arse thing they have now supposed to represent how they feel Australia has treated them?

Classified said :

This topic has drawn a lot of comments from those sympathetic to the plight of Aborigines, but I’m still at a loss as to what we should do to help. Any ideas at all?

You are not likely to find any constructive ideas here. What you are likely to find are some jingoistic slogans, guilt trips and meaningless ideas that some latte sippers use to make themselves feel better about hey they are the only ones who truly understand the plight of their indigenous brethern – without actually contributing to any workable solutions.
Here are some examples:

aceofspades said :

The Australian Aboriginals were gentle and beautiful people, when we came here they offered no resistance and simply wanted to work with us for a better existence”

fgzk said :

[Take a load of firewood and some good food to the Tent Embassy .

Stevian said :

“Scratch an Aussie, find a Racist”

fgzk said :

You could hold a peaceful protest asserting aboriginal sovereignty to the land we call Australia.

fgzk said :

. If your ignorant of what the tent embassy stands for, then its of your own doing or lack of.

Gun. Al – that sounds like a great idea. Somewhere that truly represents Aboriginal people as the First Nation people of Australia is long overdue.

My heart sank as I read the majority of comments here on RiotACT … are there really that many intolerant racists in Canberra? Aboriginal people have the right to make representations to the politicial elite (and the people of Australia) highlighting their plight and to seek a better future.

Captain RAAF said :

Garbage, if anything we’d be the first to ensure you did have your freedoms by removing the gummint and telling them to start again, this time maybe think more about the people that put you there!!!

Am I reading this wrong or do we actually have a (supposedly) serving officer in the Australian Defense Force arguing that he thinks it is reasonable for the Australia military to remove an elected government?

Nice.

Pommy bastard3:55 pm 10 Jun 11

aceofspades said :

The point is that there is very little we can do, what is done is done and nobody can change that. We took their land on the premise that they had no ‘civilised’ society that we could see, (they were nomadic and had no evidence of buildings) so in our conceited view the land was ours to take. We then proceeded to take their children with the same conceited view that our way was better for them than their own. Our culture is still in a constant state of change and turmoil yet theirs has been tried and true over 40000 years. Their religion is based on respect for ‘Mother Earth’ something that we are still arguing over today. As Frots points out they have stood next to us on the battle field and fought with us in our own wars. Then we find out here that apparently our own servicemen don’t even believe that their owed an apology and want us to bull dose their last remnants of symbolism into the lake. This is so ridiculous that there is even a discussion on this topic. Give them the little they ask for, an embassy anywhere they want it, and nothing more than a celebration on its 40th birthday, it is the very least we can do

When you say “we”, can you point out the part I played in this?

aceofspades said :

The Australian Aboriginals were gentle and beautiful people, when we came here they offered no resistance and simply wanted to work with us for a better existence. How any white Australian could feel proud for what our ancestors did to them astounds me. It was pure genocide of the oldest culture and religion in the world. 40000 years is a long long time. As it was our ancestors I am not saying we need to feel guilty but neither should we be feeling proud.

Really? No tribalism wars or anything like that? And I’ve yet to see anyone here boasting how proud they are of things which are not their doing, done a few centuries back. Having said that I’m still pushing for recognition of what the Anglo Saxons did to the Cornovii in “my name”.

Will there be a gift shop.

I like your style, Al – sounds beautiful!

Gungahlin Al2:34 pm 10 Jun 11

Classified said :

This topic has drawn a lot of comments from those sympathetic to the plight of Aborigines, but I’m still at a loss as to what we should do to help. Any ideas at all?

As good an opportunity to float something I’ve been thinking about for a while. And I have to point out that I haven’t discussed this with anyone so am not aware whether any aspect of the idea might offend cultural sensitivities.

I would hope that one day the Indigenous Australians wouldn’t feel the need to retain the tent embassy. But I do think that it has been and remains an important part of our society’s history and it keeps reminding us that the problem is yet to be solved.

Therefore I have been wondering about a way this role could be commemorated in an ongoing way, while preserving the design and vista of the axis. Then I was listening to a podcast about a gallery in Paris dedicated to just Australian Aboriginal art, and it got me thinking why is there this in Paris but we don’t have such a thing in our own capital? To a degree this has been remedied with the expansion of the National Gallery, but there’s more to it than just art. A museum is warranted.

To work with the design issues, my idea is to build this museum and gallery underneath that square, retaining the grass park over the top (but better kept than the way the government leaves it now!). The building would emerge from the ground along either side in much the same way as the tents are now nestled among the trees down both sides.

I picture long ground-level glass facades facing each other across the grass. The facing sides could somehow represent the “sides” that seek/need reconciliation and they could be designed to pay homage to the tent embassy, and work in the trees somehow too. In the centre an appropriate sculpture could represent that reconciliation achieved (pre-emptively I guess).

Classified said :

This topic has drawn a lot of comments from those sympathetic to the plight of Aborigines, but I’m still at a loss as to what we should do to help. Any ideas at all?

The point is that there is very little we can do, what is done is done and nobody can change that. We took their land on the premise that they had no ‘civilised’ society that we could see, (they were nomadic and had no evidence of buildings) so in our conceited view the land was ours to take. We then proceeded to take their children with the same conceited view that our way was better for them than their own. Our culture is still in a constant state of change and turmoil yet theirs has been tried and true over 40000 years. Their religion is based on respect for ‘Mother Earth’ something that we are still arguing over today. As Frots points out they have stood next to us on the battle field and fought with us in our own wars. Then we find out here that apparently our own servicemen don’t even believe that their owed an apology and want us to bull dose their last remnants of symbolism into the lake. This is so ridiculous that there is even a discussion on this topic. Give them the little they ask for, an embassy anywhere they want it, and nothing more than a celebration on its 40th birthday, it is the very least we can do

Classified said :

This topic has drawn a lot of comments from those sympathetic to the plight of Aborigines, but I’m still at a loss as to what we should do to help. Any ideas at all?

Take a load of firewood and some good food to the Tent Embassy .

This topic has drawn a lot of comments from those sympathetic to the plight of Aborigines, but I’m still at a loss as to what we should do to help. Any ideas at all?

“How any white Australian could feel proud for what our ancestors did to them astounds me. It was pure genocide of the oldest culture and religion in the world. 40000 years is a long long time. As it was our ancestors I am not saying we need to feel guilty but neither should we be feeling proud.”

I agree ace, but it goes even further than that. There is a reason why the arguments of “It all happened so long ago – get over it” are incomplete, and that is simply that it wasn’t all that long ago. What is dismissed by that argument is the reality that the referendum occured in living memory. Also in living memory are the ongoing dispossessions from land, the encouragement to abandon culture and language and, with those things, the loss of identity.

The things we collectively fail to do in Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Tiwi Islander affairs are many. But, significant among those things in my view is the asking of a raft of ‘why’ questions. Why can some communities be so riven with despair? Why are many of the nation’s First People so committed to notions of sovereignty? The list of ‘why’ questions is extensive.

But, until we ask them, and keep asking them until we have a detailed understanding of Indigenous disadvantage and its reasons, then we’ll only ever maintain the parlous status quo. That, too, is when we need to forget the ‘half-way-house’ of ‘tolerance’ and move to a more positive position of ‘acceptance’.

fgzk said :

The Frots said :

Captain RAAF said :

Garbage, if anything we’d be the first to ensure you did have your freedoms by removing the gummint and telling them to start again, this time maybe think more about the people that put you there!!!

This isn’t Russia or some tin-pot african sh/t hole where the passing of some gold bullion or blood diamonds can buy off the military to do the gummints will, YOUR military is in it for Australia, not themselves. That’s the good thing about having such a proud heritage, people are less inclined to piss on it when, and if, a gummint demands that they put down the people.

Just because I disagree with a lot of the arseclowns here doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be up on the wall defending their right, to be that arseclown.

We’re a bit off the orginal thread toipic – but I have to agree with you Capt. From my perspective, we owe so much to the men and woman of the military (past and present) for our ability to live as we do. If it wasn’t for the sacrificies they made (and still make), I wouldn’t be able to type this post now probably.

Wasn’t it Churchill who said ‘Never has so many owed so much to so few’? I remain in awe of our military personal and what they do for us.

Never has so many owed so much to so few’? That’s the way the Queen/King’s like it.

We have been in a lot of wars against peoples seeking to throw off the shackles of French and English domination.

I much prefer the generous dignity and respect the Australian Aboriginals have shown us, in their fight for sovereignty.

Actually the Aboringinals fought along side us in a couple of wars – and their courage and gallantry can’t be denied either. And the cooment of course was from Churchill (never a King or Queen) – though he may have wished to be at various points in time.

History is full of oppressive acts – how many civilisations have come and gone over the centuries? Hundreds? Thousands? The Aboriginal race isn’t going to disappear – we as Australians won’t let and neither should we.

The effect now, some 40 years later, of the Tent Embassy probably isn’t the same as it was back then. I rarely see it, it doesn’t get in my way for my lunchtime run/walk, so it’s affect on me is minimal. And that may be the same for most people now. Perhaps it’s time for them to revise that particular strategy and see what else they can do – ?

And the good Capt is correct – in a less tolerant society, it would have been bulldozed long ago. That doesn’t make it right – it’s simply a observation. Either way, I wish them all well.

The Australian Aboriginals were gentle and beautiful people, when we came here they offered no resistance and simply wanted to work with us for a better existence. How any white Australian could feel proud for what our ancestors did to them astounds me. It was pure genocide of the oldest culture and religion in the world. 40000 years is a long long time. As it was our ancestors I am not saying we need to feel guilty but neither should we be feeling proud.

The Frots said :

Captain RAAF said :

Garbage, if anything we’d be the first to ensure you did have your freedoms by removing the gummint and telling them to start again, this time maybe think more about the people that put you there!!!

This isn’t Russia or some tin-pot african sh/t hole where the passing of some gold bullion or blood diamonds can buy off the military to do the gummints will, YOUR military is in it for Australia, not themselves. That’s the good thing about having such a proud heritage, people are less inclined to piss on it when, and if, a gummint demands that they put down the people.

Just because I disagree with a lot of the arseclowns here doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be up on the wall defending their right, to be that arseclown.

We’re a bit off the orginal thread toipic – but I have to agree with you Capt. From my perspective, we owe so much to the men and woman of the military (past and present) for our ability to live as we do. If it wasn’t for the sacrificies they made (and still make), I wouldn’t be able to type this post now probably.

Wasn’t it Churchill who said ‘Never has so many owed so much to so few’? I remain in awe of our military personal and what they do for us.

Never has so many owed so much to so few’? That’s the way the Queen/King’s like it.

We have been in a lot of wars against peoples seeking to throw off the shackles of French and English domination.

I much prefer the generous dignity and respect the Australian Aboriginals have shown us, in their fight for sovereignty.

Captain RAAF said :

Garbage, if anything we’d be the first to ensure you did have your freedoms by removing the gummint and telling them to start again, this time maybe think more about the people that put you there!!!

This isn’t Russia or some tin-pot african sh/t hole where the passing of some gold bullion or blood diamonds can buy off the military to do the gummints will, YOUR military is in it for Australia, not themselves. That’s the good thing about having such a proud heritage, people are less inclined to piss on it when, and if, a gummint demands that they put down the people.

Just because I disagree with a lot of the arseclowns here doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be up on the wall defending their right, to be that arseclown.

We’re a bit off the orginal thread toipic – but I have to agree with you Capt. From my perspective, we owe so much to the men and woman of the military (past and present) for our ability to live as we do. If it wasn’t for the sacrificies they made (and still make), I wouldn’t be able to type this post now probably.

Wasn’t it Churchill who said ‘Never has so many owed so much to so few’? I remain in awe of our military personal and what they do for us.

Captain RAAF8:24 am 10 Jun 11

Garbage, if anything we’d be the first to ensure you did have your freedoms by removing the gummint and telling them to start again, this time maybe think more about the people that put you there!!!

This isn’t Russia or some tin-pot african sh/t hole where the passing of some gold bullion or blood diamonds can buy off the military to do the gummints will, YOUR military is in it for Australia, not themselves. That’s the good thing about having such a proud heritage, people are less inclined to piss on it when, and if, a gummint demands that they put down the people.

Just because I disagree with a lot of the arseclowns here doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be up on the wall defending their right, to be that arseclown.

luther_bendross said :

+1 for everything Probuscus just said.

Every Australian should have the opportunity to suck c#ck for cash, to eat. Ass money could feed the kids. Of course some whining slackers would prefer to thieve. We should send them somewhere. Tasmania still has facilities.
+1 Bring on the 1800s

All the Queens horses and and all the Queens men will never put Ozzy white again.

But they do like to pretend.

@stevian, are you aware of the current state of affairs??? The evidence indicates that Julia is ruling but she is definately not ‘elite’!

And yes – freedom is certainly measurable and we are all bound by many restrictive laws (however minor) that impacts almost every area of our existence, but living in Oz sure beats most other countries!

matt31221 said :

troll-sniffer said :

“If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!”

And yet, if someone where to say that about, well, let’s say, Muslims, then it would be, err, what’s that word? Racism?

And following that train of idle thought, I can only imagine the response I’d get to a visit back to the old country to kick out the French usurpers of my ancestors lands…

there comes a point in history when what transpired generations ago should be left as just history, and a stand be made whereby those who can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps shouldn’t expect endless sympathy.

That is the best comment I have read all night. It is so true. +100

And @stevian and Capt Raaf knockers,

If it wasn’t for the military and people like Capt. Raaf – You would not be enjoying your freedoms. I think the term “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” applies to this situation.

A specious argument. If Capt. Raaf and his ilk had their way we would have no freedoms. As it is military indoctrination removes any capacity for independent thought making them the automatons of the ruling elite. We only have freedoms because if pleases the elite for us to believe we have these illusory freedoms

troll-sniffer said :

“If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!”

And yet, if someone where to say that about, well, let’s say, Muslims, then it would be, err, what’s that word? Racism?

And following that train of idle thought, I can only imagine the response I’d get to a visit back to the old country to kick out the French usurpers of my ancestors lands…

there comes a point in history when what transpired generations ago should be left as just history, and a stand be made whereby those who can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps shouldn’t expect endless sympathy.

That is the best comment I have read all night. It is so true. +100

And @stevian and Capt Raaf knockers,

If it wasn’t for the military and people like Capt. Raaf – You would not be enjoying your freedoms. I think the term “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” applies to this situation.

Captain RAAF said :

Stevian said :

Jim Jones said :

Captain RAAF said :

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

The only thing keeping that disgrace of an ’embassy’ out of the Mugga Lane tip is our lickspittle politicians.

And that’s another reason so many people think that the armed forces are better kept in barracks: so that they have less opportunity to interact with the normal population.

I’m inclined to agree but consider the source, a man who has in all likliehood has never seved in the military and never shall. This is just another of his febrile fantasies. No doubt many in the military are died in the wool racists, as are much of the general population. It’s not a unique problem

Yeah, nice try, I’m going to get all upset and angry at your comment and just blurt out that I still serve, have been on operations etc etc……ooops!

You can think what you like but all I did was relate what I saw with my own eyes. the same sentiments are reflected in my workplace all the time. Maybe we should be locked up in our barracks so we don’t infect the general populace with all our ‘hate’ but remember, we are the most well travelled people in society. We have seen it all, the good, the bad, the pathetic and the fantastic, if we can’t act as a barometer to what the people think then your all in for a very big surprise when the people snap out of the sleep their in, because we are the people and the people are us.

The rest of you on here that call me a bigot are in the minority, maybe not here on Riotact, but out in the burbs, you wouldn’t last 5 minutes on a soapbox spruiking half the crap you ramble on about here. The vast majority of the population would bulldoze the tent embassy into LBG, would stop the boats 100 kms West of Xmas Island with a burst of .50cal if necessary, would bring back the death penalty for murderers, would cut the balls off paedophiles, would line a lot of our politicians up against a wall.

Don’t think for a minute that the ‘illuminated’ among you have the numbers, this country is still very much attached to what you would call the bad old days of the 50’s and 60’s.

I am so glad they stopped making this model.

Captain RAAF said :

Don’t think for a minute that the ‘illuminated’ among you have the numbers, this country is still very much attached to what you would call the bad old days of the 50’s and 60’s.

Just because a majority of people may be racist doesn’t make them right.

luther_bendross4:29 pm 09 Jun 11

Captain RAAF said :

The rest of you on here that call me a bigot are in the minority, maybe not here on Riotact, but out in the burbs, you wouldn’t last 5 minutes on a soapbox spruiking half the crap you ramble on about here. The vast majority of the population would bulldoze the tent embassy into LBG, would stop the boats 100 kms West of Xmas Island with a burst of .50cal if necessary, would bring back the death penalty for murderers, would cut the balls off paedophiles, would line a lot of our politicians up against a wall.

I think I was the only one today to use the word “bigot” so I’ll assume you’re talking with me, and the above paragraph supports my use of the word.

Captain RAAF said :

…this country is still very much attached to what you would call the bad old days of the 50’s and 60’s.

And thanks to attitudes like yours it will remain to be.

What would you have done instead of say sorry? Do you have a solution to the disparity between ‘us’ and ‘them’? I don’t, but I wholeheartedly support “charades” like Rudd’s apology and Howard’s intervention (OMG! bipartisan support in Canberra!). If you disagree with so many of these inclusive initiatives maybe you should do something about it rather than simply spruik anonymous views on the internet and subsequently dragging the name of our (yes, seeing as I am Australian I claim a portion of ownership over the RAAF) airborne serivce with you.

Holden Caulfield4:27 pm 09 Jun 11

Captain RAAF said :

Yeah, nice try, I’m going to get all upset and angry at your comment and just blurt out that I still serve, have been on operations etc etc……ooops!

You can think what you like but all I did was relate what I saw with my own eyes. the same sentiments are reflected in my workplace all the time. Maybe we should be locked up in our barracks so we don’t infect the general populace with all our ‘hate’ but remember, we are the most well travelled people in society. We have seen it all, the good, the bad, the pathetic and the fantastic, if we can’t act as a barometer to what the people think then your all in for a very big surprise when the people snap out of the sleep their in, because we are the people and the people are us.

The rest of you on here that call me a bigot are in the minority, maybe not here on Riotact, but out in the burbs, you wouldn’t last 5 minutes on a soapbox spruiking half the crap you ramble on about here. The vast majority of the population would bulldoze the tent embassy into LBG, would stop the boats 100 kms West of Xmas Island with a burst of .50cal if necessary, would bring back the death penalty for murderers, would cut the balls off paedophiles, would line a lot of our politicians up against a wall.

Don’t think for a minute that the ‘illuminated’ among you have the numbers, this country is still very much attached to what you would call the bad old days of the 50’s and 60’s.

5/10

A liberal use of uppercase and exclamation marks would have yielded a better score.

Keep trying.

Captain RAAF said :

Don’t think for a minute that the ‘illuminated’ among you have the numbers, this country is still very much attached to what you would call the bad old days of the 50’s and 60’s.

You mean to say that not all Australians have an ANU Arts degree??

Captain RAAF3:47 pm 09 Jun 11

Stevian said :

Jim Jones said :

Captain RAAF said :

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

The only thing keeping that disgrace of an ’embassy’ out of the Mugga Lane tip is our lickspittle politicians.

And that’s another reason so many people think that the armed forces are better kept in barracks: so that they have less opportunity to interact with the normal population.

I’m inclined to agree but consider the source, a man who has in all likliehood has never seved in the military and never shall. This is just another of his febrile fantasies. No doubt many in the military are died in the wool racists, as are much of the general population. It’s not a unique problem

Yeah, nice try, I’m going to get all upset and angry at your comment and just blurt out that I still serve, have been on operations etc etc……ooops!

You can think what you like but all I did was relate what I saw with my own eyes. the same sentiments are reflected in my workplace all the time. Maybe we should be locked up in our barracks so we don’t infect the general populace with all our ‘hate’ but remember, we are the most well travelled people in society. We have seen it all, the good, the bad, the pathetic and the fantastic, if we can’t act as a barometer to what the people think then your all in for a very big surprise when the people snap out of the sleep their in, because we are the people and the people are us.

The rest of you on here that call me a bigot are in the minority, maybe not here on Riotact, but out in the burbs, you wouldn’t last 5 minutes on a soapbox spruiking half the crap you ramble on about here. The vast majority of the population would bulldoze the tent embassy into LBG, would stop the boats 100 kms West of Xmas Island with a burst of .50cal if necessary, would bring back the death penalty for murderers, would cut the balls off paedophiles, would line a lot of our politicians up against a wall.

Don’t think for a minute that the ‘illuminated’ among you have the numbers, this country is still very much attached to what you would call the bad old days of the 50’s and 60’s.

luther_bendross said :

+1 for everything Probuscus just said.

Absolutely.

luther_bendross2:27 pm 09 Jun 11

+1 for everything Probuscus just said.

Jim Jones said :

Captain RAAF said :

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

The only thing keeping that disgrace of an ’embassy’ out of the Mugga Lane tip is our lickspittle politicians.

And that’s another reason so many people think that the armed forces are better kept in barracks: so that they have less opportunity to interact with the normal population.

I’m inclined to agree but consider the source, a man who has in all likliehood has never seved in the military and never shall. This is just another of his febrile fantasies. No doubt many in the military are died in the wool racists, as are much of the general population. It’s not a unique problem

luther_bendross12:45 pm 09 Jun 11

Captain RAAF said :

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

Sometimes I think your bigoted remarks belong back in the 1800’s military.

An amusing short film that puts things into perspective…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHK308_MTiU

The original 1971 protest had merit and preceded Mabo and the Reconciliation and was supported by many Australians. But this mob have no real issues that haven’t already been addressed by the Government.

The in fighting amongst the local communities about whose “country” this is has also white-anted the cause. This isn’t helped by the unemployed blow ins and lay abouts who are “protesting”.

As an Australian with a proud Indigenous heritage, I have been embarrassed by this eyesore for 25 years. I am embarrassed because the Embassy reinforces the cliches of Indigenious people as lazy, boozy welfare cheats – which most of these arse-clowns at the Embassy are.

As a community (and I mean everyone here) we have to stop throwing money at all the social issues and problems and start looking for real solutions which are cost effective. Welfare should be for the sick, elderly and disabled – not for junkies, the lazy or disinterested.

Personally I believe that if people are fit enough for work, they should work. Of course you have a choice whether to work or not, but this choice also correlates as to whether you eat or starve – an easy choice really.

Anyway, I for one hope the Embassy is removed before it hits 40 and the “protesters” moved on.

matt31221 said :

Remember the Canberra fires a few years ago? I seem to recall that during the worst of the fires the group who runs this tent embassy had their people actually knock up a more solid structure whilst the authorities were busy with the fires. The AFP/government had a wobble, took no s*** and ripped the sucker down. When ever I see the tent embassy I wonder who started those bush fires. And whether it was a clever ruse to try and build a proper embassy.

This is the stupidest thing I think I have ever read.

Classified “But that’s whole point: I don’t want to indulge guilt. I would rather we came up with strategies to actually improve the situation. Many Aboriginal people are clearly stuck in what we would consider to be a western poverty cycle, and this is far from acceptable.”

You could hold a peaceful protest asserting aboriginal sovereignty to the land we call Australia.

You could grant control to the aboriginal people to develop their own strategies.

You could bring me CaptRoof’s head on a pike.

Jim Jones said :

Captain RAAF said :

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

The only thing keeping that disgrace of an ’embassy’ out of the Mugga Lane tip is our lickspittle politicians.

And that’s another reason so many people think that the armed forces are better kept in barracks: so that they have less opportunity to interact with the normal population.

Oh Jimbo, you just can’t help yourself, can you? Given the majority of your posts recently it seems that you really are a professional ‘toller’ or try to be anyway.

Now, try again – and this time try not to be so offensive to people in your posts – you may find it helps generate more stimulating conversation.

Captain RAAF said :

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

The only thing keeping that disgrace of an ’embassy’ out of the Mugga Lane tip is our lickspittle politicians.

And that’s another reason so many people think that the armed forces are better kept in barracks: so that they have less opportunity to interact with the normal population.

fgzk said :

Classified said :

It’s pretty obvious that Australia has some guilt about how Aboriginals were, and are, treated. The real question is simple. What can we do to get past this?

Simple questions rarely come with simple answers. You all have a rare opportunity, for the past 40 years, to visit the fire and experience a culture. If your ignorant of what the tent embassy stands for, then its of your own doing or lack of.

I doubt that as a country we can feel guilty. We still support our English overlords. We allow the queen to parade her guard through our city. You probably should feel guilty about that. You could feeling guilty that as a country you haven’t cut off their heads and stuck them on pikes, at the city gates. That’s how my ancestors use to do it.

Seriously, if you want to indulge guilt, then it should be how we as a nation have treated “Country” not how we treat each other. Shameful.

But that’s whole point: I don’t want to indulge guilt. I would rather we came up with strategies to actually improve the situation. Many Aboriginal people are clearly stuck in what we would consider to be a western poverty cycle, and this is far from acceptable.

Thimper, My mistake the Queens Colour’s will be paraded.

Captain RAAF8:29 am 09 Jun 11

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

I certainly didn’t! I was standing in a lunch room with about fifty soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over Australia while it was being live telecast and every single one of them groaned when Rudd said ‘sorry’. There was a great deal of disappointment and anger at the charade. Now if that didn’t represent a broad cross section of the community I don’t know what does!

The only thing keeping that disgrace of an ’embassy’ out of the Mugga Lane tip is our lickspittle politicians.

Classified said :

It’s pretty obvious that Australia has some guilt about how Aboriginals were, and are, treated. The real question is simple. What can we do to get past this?

Simple questions rarely come with simple answers. You all have a rare opportunity, for the past 40 years, to visit the fire and experience a culture. If your ignorant of what the tent embassy stands for, then its of your own doing or lack of.

I doubt that as a country we can feel guilty. We still support our English overlords. We allow the queen to parade her guard through our city. You probably should feel guilty about that. You could feeling guilty that as a country you haven’t cut off their heads and stuck them on pikes, at the city gates. That’s how my ancestors use to do it.

Seriously, if you want to indulge guilt, then it should be how we as a nation have treated “Country” not how we treat each other. Shameful.

I went by the tent embassy recently and heard a disagreement going on. One group of people were telling another group to pack up and leave, this was not their country. The other group argued they had every right to be there. It was repeated, this was not their country and to leave. My impression of what was happening was that local Aboriginals were telling Aboriginals from elsewhere to leave.

troll-sniffer said :

“If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!”

And yet, if someone where to say that about, well, let’s say, Muslims, then it would be, err, what’s that word? Racism?

And following that train of idle thought, I can only imagine the response I’d get to a visit back to the old country to kick out the French usurpers of my ancestors lands…

there comes a point in history when what transpired generations ago should be left as just history, and a stand be made whereby those who can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps shouldn’t expect endless sympathy.

Generations ago?\
“When I was counted as Fauna”
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/when-i-was-fauna-citizens-rallying-call/2007/05/22/1179601412706.html
LINDA BURNEY remembers her childhood well – those days when she was counted among the nation’s wildlife.

“This is not ancient history,” says the state’s first Aboriginal minister. “I was a child. It still staggers me that for the first 10 years of my life, I existed under the Flora and Fauna Act of NSW.”

The referendum was in 1967, amazing that still 10% didn’t believe that Aboriginals should exists as humans, rather still be counted as animal wildlife. Hardly close to the time of French or English invasions.

I’m still waiting for an apology from the British Government for transporting my ancestors to Botany Bay.

Sad but true: “Scratch an Aussie, find a Racist”

Shows that the “Aboriginal Embassy” is still needed

mouthface said :

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

rudd apologised as the pm representing all australians, so given chop71 is likely an australian, then s/he has indeed been implicated in saying sorry. can’t be that hard to grasp the symbolism of that gesture, can it? but then it seems symbolism is lost on some of the active readership of the riot, going on some of the comments above…

Chop71 said :

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

“We?” I didn’t know you had anything to do with Rudd’s apology.

Not as if they were going to pack up and leave after we said “Sorry”.

Holden Caulfield said :

GBT said :

Holden Caulfield said :

GBT said :

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Woosh! Way to totally miss the point, haha.

That’s ridiculous. Just because someone doesn’t agree with your point doesn’t mean they don’t understand it.

I don’t agree with their method of promoting their message, and since it has no legal standing as an embassy and considering its location, it should be torn down.

The tent embassy isn’t the only way possible to forward their agenda.

Well, given the whole point of calling it an “embassy” is to make the point that it’s not their country any more it seems to me like you have failed to understand it. You may recall the tent embassy was originally an old caravan a bit closer to the site of the American embassy. But never mind…

It’s an embassy in name only, and that is the whole point. You’re right it’s not the only way to forward the agenda, but in the context of embassies in the nation’s capital I think it’s a pretty good point.

I hate to bring out the old chestnuts, but seeing as you’re so keen about legal rights, what legal rights did Cook and subsequently the first fleet have? This is made more pertinent given the Mabo ruling declared that terra nullius did not exist when the Europeans arrived.

Don’t bring Captain Cook into this. He was a great man and his positive influence is still felt and will always remain.

I personally respect the Aboriginies and believe alot can be learned from them.

Some people of aboriginal descent can be just as racist as everyone else BTW. I got physically attacked in Woden interchange the other day because I am white and was wearing a nice suit. An Aboriginal pushed me quite hard and said “Sorry you sophisticated white man”. It took all of my strength not to bury him where he stood but I just composed myself and walked on by. I had not done anything to that guy, or anyone of Aboriginal descent.

I also would argue that being born here, we are Aboriginals too. We have just as much right to live here.

Holden Caulfield said :

Pommy bastard said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

Tolerance is not mandatory, neither is respect, and both cut both ways.

Being an ignorant prick is not mandatory either, but many seem to find that a pretty simple task to achieve.

IMO, tolerance is different to respect.

For example, I can understand why some people may not respect the tent embassy, or at least not respect its reason for being (although I don’t agree with that position), but I can’t really see why people cannot tolerate it.

As I have said the tent embassy, that is its physical form and its residents, have little effect on the daily lives of vast majority of Canberrans/Australians, so why get uptight about its existence?

A lighthearted analogy is this: I don’t respect Collingwood supporters, but because I like AFL and support my own footy team I find it within myself to tolerate them.

So, making the possibly foolhardy assumption that residents/citizens of Australia respect its democracy and the freedom for all to protest, then why can’t an otherwise insignificant group of tents/buildings/whatever be tolerated by all?

In this context, it’s really not that much to ask. Unless you’re an ignorant prick.

Debating the issues of indigenous affairs and so on is another subject and is, in many ways, separate to the existence of the tent embassy.

So you can still debate broader indigenous issues if you like, but just ask yourself, what impact on your quality of life does the tent embassy have? If the answer is “not much”, then tolerate it!

Carn the pies! Collingwood for premiers 2011!!!

Holden Caulfield2:47 pm 08 Jun 11

Pommy bastard said :

Jim Jones said :

If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!

A couple of points HC.

1) I only pointed out that tolerance and respect are should be mutual, and are not granted automatically, (for instance due to ethnicity.)

2) I am an Aussie citizen and have every much right to be here as anyone else.

3) I showed no lack of tolerance or disrespect to anyone, unlike you did to me.

Me or JJ?

Anyway, I still maintain, that there is a difference between tolerance and respect. And I agree that respect is strongest when it has been earned; there are differing degrees of respect though, but let’s not go down that path here.

To tolerate something you don’t need to agree with it, you don’t need to like it, you just need to, y’know, tolerate it. As it happens, that’s pretty much what tolerate means.

I agree that there comes a point at which tolerance is no longer acceptable. However, I would argue that the tent embassy is nowhere near a stage where it should no longer be tolerated.

In general terms, I also don’t think it unreasonable to expect tolerance is something that is granted automatically. Not unconditionally, but why live your life immediately opposing something you may not agree with? There’s just too many things I don’t agree with to do that, haha.

Pommy bastard said :

1) I only pointed out that tolerance and respect are should be mutual, and are not granted automatically, (for instance due to ethnicity.)

And why did you ‘only’ point this out here, in this thread, in response to a call for tolerance on this issue?

Completely random thought that you felt you needed to type, regardless of the context – perhaps *accidentally* maybe?

Couldn’t possibly be because you want to imply that tolerance and respect shouldn’t be afforded to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, could it?

I’d like to see the greens stop the people of the tent embassy having a wood fire in winter. They cause smoke that fills in Tuggeraning remember.

It’s pretty obvious that Australia has some guilt about how Aboriginals were, and are, treated. The real question is simple. What can we do to get past this?

shadow boxer1:51 pm 08 Jun 11

em•bas•sy

1. a body of persons entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, especially an ambassador and his or her staff.

2. any important or official mission, duty, etc, esp one undertaken by an agent

I go through there on my lunchtime run sometimes, they keep it pretty neat these days and it’s definitely more interesting than running through a bit of unused lawn. Good luck to them.

troll-sniffer1:50 pm 08 Jun 11

“If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!”

And yet, if someone where to say that about, well, let’s say, Muslims, then it would be, err, what’s that word? Racism?

And following that train of idle thought, I can only imagine the response I’d get to a visit back to the old country to kick out the French usurpers of my ancestors lands… there comes a point in history when what transpired generations ago should be left as just history, and a stand be made whereby those who can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps shouldn’t expect endless sympathy.

Pommy bastard1:18 pm 08 Jun 11

Jim Jones said :

If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!

A couple of points HC.

1) I only pointed out that tolerance and respect are should be mutual, and are not granted automatically, (for instance due to ethnicity.)

2) I am an Aussie citizen and have every much right to be here as anyone else.

3) I showed no lack of tolerance or disrespect to anyone, unlike you did to me.

Jim Jones said :

GBT said :

They don’t seem to have any issue accepting benefits from the government of ‘their country’ when it’s beneficial to them.

I’m happy just to look at this bit again, without even needing to comment.

What do you call that then? Sure it’s not a clever comment but it’s a comment just the same.

Holden Caulfield12:07 pm 08 Jun 11

GBT said :

Holden Caulfield said :

GBT said :

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Woosh! Way to totally miss the point, haha.

That’s ridiculous. Just because someone doesn’t agree with your point doesn’t mean they don’t understand it.

I don’t agree with their method of promoting their message, and since it has no legal standing as an embassy and considering its location, it should be torn down.

The tent embassy isn’t the only way possible to forward their agenda.

Well, given the whole point of calling it an “embassy” is to make the point that it’s not their country any more it seems to me like you have failed to understand it. You may recall the tent embassy was originally an old caravan a bit closer to the site of the American embassy. But never mind…

It’s an embassy in name only, and that is the whole point. You’re right it’s not the only way to forward the agenda, but in the context of embassies in the nation’s capital I think it’s a pretty good point.

I hate to bring out the old chestnuts, but seeing as you’re so keen about legal rights, what legal rights did Cook and subsequently the first fleet have? This is made more pertinent given the Mabo ruling declared that terra nullius did not exist when the Europeans arrived.

GBT said :

They don’t seem to have any issue accepting benefits from the government of ‘their country’ when it’s beneficial to them.

I’m happy just to look at this bit again, without even needing to comment.

Holden Caulfield said :

GBT said :

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Woosh! Way to totally miss the point, haha.

That’s ridiculous. Just because someone doesn’t agree with your point doesn’t mean they don’t understand it.

I don’t agree with their method of promoting their message, and since it has no legal standing as an embassy and considering its location, it should be torn down.

The tent embassy isn’t the only way possible to forward their agenda.

Jim Jones said :

GBT said :

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Do you think that they can really call it ‘their own country’ anymore?

They don’t seem to have any issue accepting benefits from the government of ‘their country’ when it’s beneficial to them.

But that’s irrelevant to whether it has the legal status of an embassy (which it doesn’t). I for one would be quite happy to see it torn down.

Holden Caulfield11:48 am 08 Jun 11

GBT said :

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Woosh! Way to totally miss the point, haha.

Holden Caulfield11:48 am 08 Jun 11

Pommy bastard said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

Tolerance is not mandatory, neither is respect, and both cut both ways.

Being an ignorant prick is not mandatory either, but many seem to find that a pretty simple task to achieve.

IMO, tolerance is different to respect.

For example, I can understand why some people may not respect the tent embassy, or at least not respect its reason for being (although I don’t agree with that position), but I can’t really see why people cannot tolerate it.

As I have said the tent embassy, that is its physical form and its residents, have little effect on the daily lives of vast majority of Canberrans/Australians, so why get uptight about its existence?

A lighthearted analogy is this: I don’t respect Collingwood supporters, but because I like AFL and support my own footy team I find it within myself to tolerate them.

So, making the possibly foolhardy assumption that residents/citizens of Australia respect its democracy and the freedom for all to protest, then why can’t an otherwise insignificant group of tents/buildings/whatever be tolerated by all?

In this context, it’s really not that much to ask. Unless you’re an ignorant prick.

Debating the issues of indigenous affairs and so on is another subject and is, in many ways, separate to the existence of the tent embassy.

So you can still debate broader indigenous issues if you like, but just ask yourself, what impact on your quality of life does the tent embassy have? If the answer is “not much”, then tolerate it!

GBT said :

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Do you think that they can really call it ‘their own country’ anymore?

Last I checked, you don’t have an embassy in your own country……..if you can even call it an embassy.

Jim Jones said :

Pommy bastard said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

Tolerance is not mandatory, neither is respect, and both cut both ways.

So, the aboriginals should tolerate us taking away their land and then complaining when they have the gall to set up an embassy?

I never had a problem with the tent embassy. But then, it’s really out of my way and I only pass there to go to OPH or Questacon or similar, ie. once a year.

What I has bothered me is that the representatives of the embassy that I’ve seen at various events have always come across as very negative. They never really seem to get any further than the “you stole our land!” accusation. But I’ve never figured what it is that they want us to do about it? If they would mention land rights and provide constructive feedback on various programs to aid Indigenous people, I’d be interested in listening and there might be an opportunity for me to support their efforts to better the life of their people. But I don’t see the use of subjecting myself to someone trying to make me feel guilty without offering me an opportunity to do anything about it.

So I definitely would not go to the celebrations because I am pretty sure that I would feel quite uncomfortable there as a non-Aboriginal person.

Pommy bastard said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

Tolerance is not mandatory, neither is respect, and both cut both ways.

If you don’t want to tolerate and respect the original inhabitants of this land, I strongly suggest you go back to where you came from!

Pommy bastard said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

Tolerance is not mandatory, neither is respect, and both cut both ways.

So, the aboriginals should tolerate us taking away their land and then complaining when they have the gall to set up an embassy?

Pommy bastard10:28 am 08 Jun 11

Holden Caulfield said :

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

Tolerance is not mandatory, neither is respect, and both cut both ways.

Holden Caulfield said :

matt31221 said :

Remember the Canberra fires a few years ago? I seem to recall that during the worst of the fires the group who runs this tent embassy had their people actually knock up a more solid structure whilst the authorities were busy with the fires. The AFP/government had a wobble, took no s*** and ripped the sucker down. When ever I see the tent embassy I wonder who started those bush fires. And whether it was a clever ruse to try and build a proper embassy.

FFS, what sort of comment is that.

And dungfungus was foolish enough to say “I am assuming we are all reconciled by now”. Mind reading the rest of his/her comment, it shows exactly why there are still issues.

The tent embassy is a minor eyesore that has virtually zero impact on the quality of lives of the morons above having a cry about it.

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

+1

Talking about the embassy brings out the rednecks faster than sheep in lingerie.

Holden Caulfield9:38 am 08 Jun 11

matt31221 said :

Remember the Canberra fires a few years ago? I seem to recall that during the worst of the fires the group who runs this tent embassy had their people actually knock up a more solid structure whilst the authorities were busy with the fires. The AFP/government had a wobble, took no s*** and ripped the sucker down. When ever I see the tent embassy I wonder who started those bush fires. And whether it was a clever ruse to try and build a proper embassy.

FFS, what sort of comment is that.

And dungfungus was foolish enough to say “I am assuming we are all reconciled by now”. Mind reading the rest of his/her comment, it shows exactly why there are still issues.

The tent embassy is a minor eyesore that has virtually zero impact on the quality of lives of the morons above having a cry about it.

Tolerance, is it that hard a concept for adults to grasp?

dungfungus said :

“Indigenous elders invite all Aboriginal people, supporters and other members of the general public……”

It would have been more inclusive (I am assuming we are all reconciled by now) if the spokesperson said “everyone is invited”. The way the invitation has been couched implies there are aboriginals first AND then others.

well, i’m sure they are rather keen on the idea that there are/were aboriginals first. i think that is the point. would there be a problem with the, say, new zealand high commission inviting ‘all ex-pat new zealanders, supporters and the australian public’ to an event? didn’t think so.

Remember the Canberra fires a few years ago? I seem to recall that during the worst of the fires the group who runs this tent embassy had their people actually knock up a more solid structure whilst the authorities were busy with the fires. The AFP/government had a wobble, took no s*** and ripped the sucker down. When ever I see the tent embassy I wonder who started those bush fires. And whether it was a clever ruse to try and build a proper embassy.

fgzk said :

You could always just steal the site, move in sheep, put up some fences and call it yours.

lol

I have never visited the site before. And – this is purely based on a few personal experiences – never got a good vibe of the people who represent the tent embassy. To the point where I’m not sure if they agree amongst themselves on what they are there for or what their goal is.

You could always just steal the site, move in sheep, put up some fences and call it yours.

RegGrundies said :

For a 40th birthday present this eyesore should be removed and relocated to surrounds where it more fits in – Mugga Mugga Tip

I think the fact it is an eyesore is part of the point. It’s forcing people to see the problem instead of burying their heads in the sand and pretending it doesn’t exist. Anyone who has travelled to remote Australia would acknowledge that the living conditions of many of the indigenous people in one of the wealthiest nations on Earth are a national disgrace. The tent embassy is there so we don’t forget that. But I guess having nice lawns on parliament house is more important than actually giving a s*** about Aboriginal people.

“Indigenous elders invite all Aboriginal people, supporters and other members of the general public……”

It would have been more inclusive (I am assuming we are all reconciled by now) if the spokesperson said “everyone is invited”. The way the invitation has been couched implies there are aboriginals first AND then others.
Then again, whoever these people are they have got to maintain the rage against “THE OTHERS” to maintain their rent free presence for the next 40 years.

Captain RAAF5:26 pm 07 Jun 11

Can I bring my own bulldozer? The lakes not far away…..

Yes 40 Years too long, ugly looking site that is,wish they would relocate them to the white building that no one lives in for most of the year.

ScienceRules4:43 pm 07 Jun 11

Well the Revolve site will be free in a week or so. Problem solved!

For a 40th birthday present this eyesore should be removed and relocated to surrounds where it more fits in – Mugga Mugga Tip

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