[Dialogue] Fw: Stepping Out - Rudd Deserves Respectful Acknowledgement

Sat Feb 2 15:51:40 EST 2008

George, Another link.  these links should keep people updated, as you have suggested.  cheers to all Robyn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sally Fitzpatrick 
To: NSW.Action at mail13.syd.optusnet.com.au 
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 8:50 AM
Subject: Fwd: Stepping Out - Rudd Deserves Respectful Acknowledgement

Begin forwarded message:

  From: Les Malezer <les.malezer at gmail.com>
  Date: 28 January 2008 8:23:07 AM
  To: Media
  Subject: Stepping Out - Rudd Deserves Respectful Acknowledgement

  PRESS RELEASE
  by Les Malezer, Chairperson, Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA)
  28 January 2008

  Rudd's Acknowledgement of First Peoples - A Real Step Forward

  On Invasion Day the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, made two very deliberate comments to acknowledge the First Peoples of Australia.

  First the Prime Minister said that Aboriginal culture represents the oldest continuing culture in history, referring in one part of his statement to 'Aboriginal Australia' and, secondly, he recognised that effective reconciliation remains as one of the greatest challenges to the future of Australia.

  I know that many of my close colleagues will be suspicious of these comments because they will immediately identify all the important matters to them that the Prime Minister does not address.

  We are essentially cynics borne out of long-time failures and shortcomings of governments and seasonally adjusted to the false promises of government.

  I personally also have a long list of issues that I consider the government must address but I appreciate that Rudd has decided on the occasion of 26 January to personally openly acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples.

  John Howard, the Prime Minister who was voted out of Parliament by Australians in the last election, would have emphatically made the point of not acknowledging Aboriginal Australia.

  Howard rubbed our faces in rants of racial superiority and orchestrated propaganda campaigns.

  Rudd's acknowledgement, by comparison, seems honest enough for me and gives me encouragement to at least try and talk in good faith with him and his administration.

  Kevin Rudd is also planning to have the traditional owners in Canberra participate in the ceremony to open the new Parliament, and this is another great gesture which should be praised not snubbed.

  Along with many other countrymen from around Australia I will be making the journey to Canberra in early February to protest in front of Parliament House about the failures of the Governments of Australia to acknowledge Indigenous rights, especially self-determination, and the failures to provide redress for injustices.

  I will take my list of grievances and demands with me to read out at the protest rally.

  But my first statement will be a sincere thanks to the Prime Minister for his messages of respect.

  He is not God, he is not our leader, he has not yet committed himself to go beyond symbolism and make real changes.

  He has only given a symbolic gesture to us as First Peoples, but we should respect the positive efforts and acknowledge them just as much as we are prepared to condemn the failures and wrongdoings.

  In my view, by returning respect, we are simply living up to our own standards as respectful people, we are not blinded by the manifest injustices against us, we are accepting human dignity, rights and freedoms as our benchmarks, and we are showing preparedness to move in the right direction when the opportunity presents itself.

  True, it is also a great way to offend John Howard for his myopic policies, cruelties and long-term failure to become a leader in this country.

  _______

  CONTACT:  Les Malezer  (mobile 0419 710720)

http://www.womenforwik.org/

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