We are not supposed to manage indigenous society. We have one duty and
that is to manage ourselves, and we our failing at that simple task. This is my take on what Australia Day means to me.
Racism is like a cancer with taught strings that attach themselves to the host. It is our role to cut these strings and create the most asphyxiating environment so as to deny its return.
This cannot be achieved with liberal notions of some legislation here and equality Facebook posts there, it must be directly opposed and disposed. This is why I oppose Australia Day, because it represents one of these strings of racism. It represents a society based on divide ad conquer tactics. It represents a reoccurring nightmare to all those effected, and it should, represent for all those that aren't effected that the fight to defeat racism and nationalism continues to elude our collective immune system.
* * *
Racism is like a cancer with taught strings that attach themselves to the host. It is our role to cut these strings and create the most asphyxiating environment so as to deny its return.
This cannot be achieved with liberal notions of some legislation here and equality Facebook posts there, it must be directly opposed and disposed. This is why I oppose Australia Day, because it represents one of these strings of racism. It represents a society based on divide ad conquer tactics. It represents a reoccurring nightmare to all those effected, and it should, represent for all those that aren't effected that the fight to defeat racism and nationalism continues to elude our collective immune system.
To explain why I believe it is important to ask a couple of questions. What does it mean to be Australian? What does it mean to be white?
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Australia as we all know it was invaded by the British in 1788, and in a bloody and brutal process of land dispossession, apartheid (between indigenous and the British) and terrorism in what is referred to as the Australian frontier wars that has spanned 228 years. I cannot think of any country that has experienced war (or a world war) that has come away without a significant impact to their society, and yet this is exactly what has happened in this country to all the first nations. Like apartheid South Africa, like modern day Israel, superficial gestures of support is the order of the day, and it has been the only course in Australia for the last 228 years.
When I think about this as part of the founding of this country, I see no reason to celebrate, nothing that relates to who I am, to my identity. I see no reference to "laid back" or "fair Australia". No, when I think about what it means to be Australian I can only think of someone that is proud of our colonial past, that resort to victim blaming. I see the likes of Reclaim Australia and the self described "patriots" that call themselves "proud Australians" play the role of the fall guy. We jump quickly to criticise their ideas while lowering ourselves to their tactics to inflate our egos.
Far from being the odd one out, these patriots are the embodiment of what it is to be Australian, and I see no reason to find any comparison between me and them.
So what does it mean to be white? We know what it means to be black. This is made obvious whenever indigenous politics moves into the mainstream such as with the #SOSBlackAustralia movement which resulted in "Selfish rabble shut city" as the headline from a Herald Sun article when indigenous activists protested the closure of communities. Or the booing and abuse towards footballer Adam Goodes because he dared exercise our freedoms to embraced his culture and history.
Australia Day. Australian of the year. Anzac Day. These days are culturally significant occasions for the state because they attempt to do something very unique. They attempt to solidify our "Australianess" and our "whiteness" (as the dominant race). That doesn't mean we should forget ANZAC day, but that indigenous who fought and returned to find segregation is a story we don't tell the same as that of brave soldiers sacrificing themselves for the Australian ruling class. It creates an uncomfortable truth that we'd rather not deal with.
As a white Australia I am afforded the luxury of not having to think about this countries past. Being white affords me the option to be conservative and comfortable in society. This is central to the "Reclaim Australia" movement. Would I create an asphyxiating environment for racism by celebrating or remaining silent on these days? No. By celebrating national days we normalise the views of conservative Australia. We strengthen groups like Reclaim Australia more than they could ever accomplish by themselves.
The obvious argument is "I am not racist" or "Not all Australians are racist". And that may be true, but what are we doing to combat racism? Simply stating your objection is not good enough, it must be turned into action otherwise words are meaningless. It is why I fight for an anti-racist society. I do it because I am not interested in buying the lies being cooked in a kitchen on disposed land with food served by slavery.
Some of my friends might think that Australian can be saved. I am not one of these people. The Australian state has only one interest, to the ruling class. I am not interested in defending conservative Australia, in defending the crimes of genocide and terrorism by our rulers and state. I want them to pay for what they have done, and continue to do. If justice was to prevail they would hang for their crimes as did the indigenous warriors hang for protecting their land and loved ones from the British colonial gangs of murderers and thieves.
To end prejudice, to end racism we must take responsibility, we must stop blaming the victims of war, we must learn to cooperate. But above all we must learn to listen. Listen about our history, listen to our indigenous brothers and sisters. Listen and learn.
I do not expect everyone to agree with me, all I ask is you think about it and make up your own mind about what Australia Day means to you and what that might mean to the kind of society it will create. Will it be one built on lies and ignorance. Will it be built of division. Or will it be built on unity and compassion.
Far from being the odd one out, these patriots are the embodiment of what it is to be Australian, and I see no reason to find any comparison between me and them.
* * *
So what does it mean to be white? We know what it means to be black. This is made obvious whenever indigenous politics moves into the mainstream such as with the #SOSBlackAustralia movement which resulted in "Selfish rabble shut city" as the headline from a Herald Sun article when indigenous activists protested the closure of communities. Or the booing and abuse towards footballer Adam Goodes because he dared exercise our freedoms to embraced his culture and history.
Australia Day. Australian of the year. Anzac Day. These days are culturally significant occasions for the state because they attempt to do something very unique. They attempt to solidify our "Australianess" and our "whiteness" (as the dominant race). That doesn't mean we should forget ANZAC day, but that indigenous who fought and returned to find segregation is a story we don't tell the same as that of brave soldiers sacrificing themselves for the Australian ruling class. It creates an uncomfortable truth that we'd rather not deal with.
As a white Australia I am afforded the luxury of not having to think about this countries past. Being white affords me the option to be conservative and comfortable in society. This is central to the "Reclaim Australia" movement. Would I create an asphyxiating environment for racism by celebrating or remaining silent on these days? No. By celebrating national days we normalise the views of conservative Australia. We strengthen groups like Reclaim Australia more than they could ever accomplish by themselves.
* * *
The obvious argument is "I am not racist" or "Not all Australians are racist". And that may be true, but what are we doing to combat racism? Simply stating your objection is not good enough, it must be turned into action otherwise words are meaningless. It is why I fight for an anti-racist society. I do it because I am not interested in buying the lies being cooked in a kitchen on disposed land with food served by slavery.
Some of my friends might think that Australian can be saved. I am not one of these people. The Australian state has only one interest, to the ruling class. I am not interested in defending conservative Australia, in defending the crimes of genocide and terrorism by our rulers and state. I want them to pay for what they have done, and continue to do. If justice was to prevail they would hang for their crimes as did the indigenous warriors hang for protecting their land and loved ones from the British colonial gangs of murderers and thieves.
To end prejudice, to end racism we must take responsibility, we must stop blaming the victims of war, we must learn to cooperate. But above all we must learn to listen. Listen about our history, listen to our indigenous brothers and sisters. Listen and learn.
I do not expect everyone to agree with me, all I ask is you think about it and make up your own mind about what Australia Day means to you and what that might mean to the kind of society it will create. Will it be one built on lies and ignorance. Will it be built of division. Or will it be built on unity and compassion.
When I look into the eyes of this countries citizens I see something different to this founding country. I see a longing for this unity and humanity. This fair go. This common wealth. This lands abound in natures gifts. Yes, when I look into the hearts of our population I see the desire for a better country, but I also see into the eyes of the politicians, the bankers, the media barons that corrupt society and celebrate as the watch this us as we're disposed by the feral greed of capitalism that benefits off racism. Time wasted expecting politicians to do anything, another string we must cut.
There may come a time when we learn from the mistakes of the past and pass those lessons onto our children in the hope of a brighter future. That time is not now, and neither is my patience for Australia.