By Jay McDonald
Australia Day is traditionally the most racist day of the year for Aboriginal people.
When people celebrate on January 26, there is no escaping the fact they are celebrating the day that one race of people invaded another race of people’s country and took control of Aboriginal lands and tried to dominate Aboriginal people.
Invasion Day, as it should be called, celebrates the dispossession of land, culture, and way of life of Aborigines.
Aborigines and members of the wider community should not allow this to continue. Otherwise we are saying that it was ok to try to destroy the Aboriginal way of life, to murder Aborigines and to attempt cultural genocide.
True reconciliation cannot be achieved and a just society cannot be built if we continue to celebrate the gains of one race at the expense of another.
Invasion Day is a day to remember the wrongs that were committed against Aborigines, a day to remember the injustices forced upon one race of human beings by another.
This is no day for celebrating; it’s a day for mourning, a time to reflect, and a time to steel ourselves for the ongoing battle for a better society.
[Jay McDonald is an activist with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Launceston.]
Repost from Green Left Weekly, January 23, 2011
Comments
Hateful racism of white man at Tasmanian Aboriginal Center
Reconciliation will never happen as long as the Tasmanian Aboriginal Center harbors such a hateful racism of white man. One only needs to witness the sign they proudly display out the front to prove this.
Aussies hate everything different like a bunch of scared childen
Aboriginals have a reason to be upset, why are the Australian public upset by oppressed people telling their side of the story, you know the free speech issue the racist have been banging on about, I must ask, why are aussies so hurt by the telling of the truth of the invasion of the country we all live in, aussies hate everything different like a bunch of scared childen. whats your reason for being so bitter when your the one benefiting from Aboriginal dispossesion. Seems aussie culture are not concerned with truth and integrity. no wonder Aboriginals refuse to be like aussie's, thats a short cut to moral bankruptcy. Aussie's are bitter and twisted for no reason, like you, you couldnt walk one step in an Aboriginals shoes. what have you done or what has happened to you to be so defensive, at least our free speech is based on truth and not strait out lies
You are an illegal immigrant
Reconciliation wont happen if the truth is ignored and murder and stealing of the land is celebrated, your benefiting from Aboriginal dispossession and must do your part also or your just a burden to my peoples amazing country, for a people hung up on physical records(your people) please show me the records showing Aboriginals giving up the birth right to their land or the occupation of Australia is illegal and your an illegal imigrant. wasnt you taught to be honest or did your parents fail you. I will say again. WE DONT WANT TO BE LIKE YOU, Its not compatible with Aboriginal culture because if your a bad person they will ensure you cant hurt people where you society continue to celebrate thing like murder and theft, you's can keep it and we will just continue fighting the good fight