Happy invasion day.

[4Vman]

There isn't a country or continent in the world that hasn't evolved from conflict, takeover, settlement or war, Australia is no different.

It's part of evolution, survival of the fittest, natural hierarchy at play, it happens in the animal kingdom as well as mankind.

Hindsight is wonderful, but the only thing you get from looking backwards is a sore neck.

It's imperative as a Nation that we continue to be true to our cultural heritage, a heritage built by a rich diverse mix or migrant and ethnic cultures working together.

A cornerstone of which is being culturally and racially inclusive.

We MUST stop seeing people by race or color.

This is a central issue, "US V You".

"WE".

Everyone equal, everyone with the same opportunities.

[WASP]

If we want to think of it in invasion terms, that process starts when land is first encountered. That’s the start of the thought process on land acquisition.


First contact[edit]
The First Fleet encountered Indigenous Australians when they landed at Botany Bay. The Cadigal people of the Botany Bay area witnessed the Fleet arrive and six days later the two ships of French explorer La Pérouse, the Astrolabe and the Boussole, sailed into the bay.[51] When the Fleet moved to Sydney Cove seeking better conditions for establishing the colony, they encountered the Eora people, including the Bidjigal clan. A number of the First Fleet journals record encounters with Aboriginal people.[52]

Although the official policy of the British Government was to establish friendly relations with Aboriginal people,[43] and Arthur Phillip ordered that the Aboriginal people should be well treated, it was not long before conflict began. The colonists did not sign treaties with the original inhabitants of the land.[53] Between 1790 and 1810, Pemulwuy of the Bidjigal clan led the local people in a series of attacks against the British colonisers.[54]

If history is the measure, I do not think any reasonable person could question the significance of the 26th's on Indigenous Australians, and why many feel so strongly about it, and not in a good way. It marks a significant disruption to their way of life, one that existed some 60,000 years before British settlement.

I understand people's current concern with changing the day and feeling as if it will make no difference to past events, or righting wrongs.
Of course, you cannot change the past. All you can do is acknowledge and learn from it. Doing so is the first step to moving forward, but ignoring it effectively keeps the past alive and the wounds open.

I can only imagine that if I were a descendant of Indigenous Australians, pretty much any OTHER day, other than Jan 26th would be a better alternative to celebrate 'together' if we do at all. This discussion and debate in my mind comes down to what weighting we as a collective Australia we place on our Indigenous people and history.

If we were to approach Jan 26th as we would ANZAC day for example, just maybe the 26th would not be so unpalatable to so many. i.e.

First - acknowledging the great toll and sacrifice that was made to have our current way of life (including both Britsh settlers & Indigenous Australians); and
Second - a day of reflection, respectfulness, gratefulness, and also a celebration of our lifestyle and what it means to us all.

What we currently have is perceived to be a celebration only, driven by commercialisation and the meat industry.

[4Vman]

All you can do is acknowledge and learn from it. Doing so is the first step to moving forward, but ignoring it effectively keeps the past alive and the wounds open.

First - acknowledging the great toll and sacrifice that was made to have our current way of life (including both Britsh settlers & Indigenous Australians); and
Second - a day of reflection, respectfulness, gratefulness, and also a celebration of our lifestyle and what it means to us all.

What we currently have is perceived to be a celebration only, driven by commercialisation and the meat industry.

How much more acknowledgment, respect and compassion has to be shown?

It's been done do death, when can we all move on??

[WASP]

How much more acknowledgment, respect and compassion has to be shown?

It's been done do death, when can we all move on??

While the approach to 26th remains the status quo, very little I'm afraid mate.
It's been talked about to death, but talking is just talking. I'm sure Indigenous Australians want to be beable to move on as well.

[4Vman]

While the approach to 26th remains the status quo, very little I'm afraid mate.
It's been talked about to death, but talking is just talking. I'm sure Indigenous Australians want to be beable to move on as well.

So unless they get their way, we cant move forward?

[WASP]

So unless they get their way, we cant move forward?

If the goal is that we all moving forward together, how we currently approach the 26th as a nation needs to change.


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[4Vman]

If the goal is that we all moving forward together, how we currently approach the 26th as a nation needs to change.


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I don't believe it will change anything.

And it sets a bad precedence.

The concession id make is an acknowledgment ceremony at the the start of the day (like the dawn service for Anzac day), then get on with whatever.

[WASP]

I don't believe it will change anything.

And it sets a bad precedence.

The concession id make is an acknowledgment ceremony at the the start of the day (like the dawn service for Anzac day), then get on with whatever.

Sounds like a great start. IMO I the idea of changing the conversation from one of changing to day, to one of how we acknowledge it inclusively and respectfully as a nation.


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[4Vman]

Sounds like a great start. IMO I the idea of changing the conversation from one of changing to day, to one of how we acknowledge it inclusively and respectfully as a nation.


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To me its a far easier conversation and makes far more sense.

Like a funneral day, starts off sad and reflective, but the wake afterwards ends up a celebration of their life and pissup! lol

[HSE2]

If history is the measure, I do not think any reasonable person could question the significance of the 26th's on Indigenous Australians, and why many feel so strongly about it, and not in a good way. It marks a significant disruption to their way of life, one that existed some 60,000 years before British settlement.

I understand people's current concern with changing the day and feeling as if it will make no difference to past events, or righting wrongs.
Of course, you cannot change the past. All you can do is acknowledge and learn from it. Doing so is the first step to moving forward, but ignoring it effectively keeps the past alive and the wounds open.

I can only imagine that if I were a descendant of Indigenous Australians, pretty much any OTHER day, other than Jan 26th would be a better alternative to celebrate 'together' if we do at all. This discussion and debate in my mind comes down to what weighting we as a collective Australia we place on our Indigenous people and history.

If we were to approach Jan 26th as we would ANZAC day for example, just maybe the 26th would not be so unpalatable to so many. i.e.

First - acknowledging the great toll and sacrifice that was made to have our current way of life (including both Britsh settlers & Indigenous Australians); and
Second - a day of reflection, respectfulness, gratefulness, and also a celebration of our lifestyle and what it means to us all.

What we currently have is perceived to be a celebration only, driven by commercialisation and the meat industry.

Nothing bad happened on the 26th.

At the time it is clear there was no intention of genocide. It was not the policy of the British nor was it decreed by Phillip.

On this day it represents hope, to move forward with balance as was recorded by those in the first felled tasked with documentation.

Maybe they have lied but this day is as safe as any that no harm occurred and that there was no intention to do harm or to not find harmonies albeit under the guise of a take over.

What history tells us is that natives who decided to fight for what was theirs, often at a significant disadvantage, paid a heavy price.

There is no easy way around this. This was a war over land, a very one sided war but on the 26th there was hope. No one was harmed, there was uncertainty but there was choice.

Move away from this date you will encounter death if they aren’t extremely careful. That’s not what we want.

Norm.

Yes the history can’t be changed but it can’t be celebrated and that is the issue.

The 26th either disappears as a celebration altogether, or it’s turned into day of remembrance. A minutes silence is fitting remembrance and consistent with other events of lose.

If people choose to see this date as the actual beginning of the end, apart that is not supported as representing that intention and no harm was had on this date, the expectation is there can be no celebration.

You know my feelings. Scrape it. No other date will do because over the next few years there will be conflict and loss of life.

BUT.

I watched an interview today from an indigenous perspective. In Alice Springs a protest was held with just 10% of aborigines. When asked about this low percentage in a region one might expect to see massive support, the answer was, “we aren’t anyone’s victim”

This brings me back to making sure this grief, this trauma, is not manufactured white activism. On Twitter was a photo of an international activist with the slogan, “your fight is our fight”

As I mentioned I only know 1 aboriginal. I didn’t mention his wife who happens to be white. Perhaps that might explain his relaxed view on the date but it appears this crossing of races isn’t as rare as I had thought.

I must have heard wrong because 85% sounds very high, but if it’s just a small portion, I find it hard to I imagine there isn’t actually already gains in healing and moving forward. Bit hard not to if you are sleeping with the symbolic enemy.

Our leaders just have to get out there and talk to those who matter. It’s the only voice in this that matters.

I’m sceptical. I have seen and been part of too many movements that are not on merit but financial gain. Start a cause make a noise, get it funded and you are set.

I would however assume it’s genuine until proven false. By taking to those impacted you will learn what is required to not just address symbolism by the very real mental health aspects that would underpin it.