Invasion or what?

[Jonzjob]

I don't know if any of you guys down there have seen this?

University tells students Britain 'invaded' Australia - BBC News

What do you think anyway? Is it PC gone silly or what?

[Arron]

No, sounds pretty accurate.

Bunch of people living in a place, bunch of others come along and take over. That's an invasion isn't it?

[FenceFurniture]

I agree Arron.

If the former inhabitants had been white it would always have been called an invasion. The fact that they were black meant the land was declared Terra Nullius, which is a whitewash. Black people were not regarded as human then.

[Bushmiller]

Arron

Thoroughly agree. Settlement was a euphemism for conquest. How else do you describe a bunch of tough critters with better weaponry beating up a basically peaceful group of people?

Did the French, Vikings, Danes etc settle England or did they take it by force? Did Europeans invade America and take it by extreme force?

Did the Spanish conquistadors (they even called themselves conquerors) take South American countries by force? Powerful nations have been doing this for thousands of years and the British were no different. In fact they were arguably the worst offender of all.

I have not read or heard that article, but I believe it also points out that Cook was not the first person to discover Australia. He was not even the the first European to discover Australia. He was the first person to stick his flag in ground and declare in the name of His Majesty, the King of England, that this bit of dirt now belonged to the United Kingdom.

The British did the same thing they and others had been doing for thousands of years. Invading other countries.

Regards
Paul

[Twisted Tenon]

There's an interesting article in the Guardian today about it. In all honesty there was an invasion.

TT

[FenceFurniture]

He was the first person to stick his flag in ground and declare in the name of His Majesty, the King of England, that this bit of dirt now belonged to the United Kingdom.

Yep, I'm coming up to your place next week to put a stick in it. Doesn't sound too hard. Or if you'd prefer I can give you some of Lola's trinkets and we can call it square.

Honestly Jonzjob, I think you're on a loser here. That's four responses agin, and none for....and to the best of my knowledge all four are white fellas. I'd be surprised if the ratio goes down.....

Oh yeah, and it's not about political correctness - it's about reality and facing up to what happened - what the white fella did to wipe out the black fella physically, and when that was outlawed, they tried - and succeeded admirably - to do it psychologically (Stolen Generations, getting them hooked on religion, booze, cigarettes, and other white fella magic).

Current white fella isn't to blame directly, but it is up to us to recognise what our forebears did, and try to get some balance back into the equation.

A good start would be Aboriginal Studies in all primary schools. We have so much we can learn from them - even understanding bushfires.

[Twisted Tenon]

Current white fella isn't to blame directly, but it is up to us to recognise what our forebears did, and try to get some balance back into the equation.

A good start would be Aboriginal Studies in all primary schools. We have so much we can learn from them - even understanding bushfires.

Yes real Aboriginal studies would be helpful if it includes a bunch of accurate history. There's also the fact that there is a serious amount of casual racism underpinning the current cultural dialogue.

TT

[Chris Parks]

How could it be called anything else? You only have to look at what was done to the Aborigines in Tasmania to be appalled by the history of this country.

[FenceFurniture]

Yes real Aboriginal studies would be helpful if it includes a bunch of accurate history.

Yes, no BS or patronising in it please.

There's also the fact that there is a serious amount of casual racism underpinning the current cultural dialogue.

What, you mean like describing the change from "discovery" to "invasion" as "political correctness gone mad"?

I had the good fortune to befriend a local elder a year or so ago, through woodworking. He had succumbed to some of the white man's vices, like gambling, but is a thoroughly decent well balanced chap, who really likes being described as a "Black Fella". Fortunately, we met through vise.

I doubt he would object to the change of definition......

[FenceFurniture]

How could it be called anything else? You only have to look at what was done to the Aborigines in Tasmania to be appalled by the history of this country.

That's 5 zip.

[Twisted Tenon]

Yes, no BS or patronising in it please.

What, you mean like describing the change from "discovery" to "invasion" as "political correctness gone mad"?

I had the good fortune to befriend a local elder a year or so ago, through woodworking. He had succumbed to some of the white man's vices, like gambling, but is a thoroughly decent well balanced chap, who really likes being described as a "Black Fella". Fortunately, we met through vise.

I doubt he would object to the change of definition......

I was thinking more along the Adam Goodes stuff of last year FF. You raise a good point. I spose your relationship with your mate would permit a bit of banter along those lines because of the mutual respect. I doubt you would call him that if he didn't like it.

TT

[Jonzjob]

I have to admit that I hadn't posted this to push the PC idea. I have a lot of time for the Aboriginals and am often shocked by their treatment. They had a civilisation long before we did and I love the way they live with the land.

So, the answers so far are from the descendants of the invaders then

Sorry, but I haven't managed to explain what I want to say very well, but I'm not on a loser because I am not trying to win owt really. Just to find out how the ordinary Aussies feel?

[Chris Parks]

I worked for many years with two aboriginals and both were just part of the group which is more than can be said about some of the white fellas at the same workplace.

[woodPixel]

We learned the local aboriginal language at high school here (this was '85-86). There was considerable course material on local custom, but it also included studies of other cultures too. Sioux, Latin, ancient Greek. This was a public school.

People see and know what happened when England invaded. Calling it anything but is simply a euphemism. The locals rebelled, were shot, enslaved and consistently persecuted. They were driven from their land and were not compensated in any meaningful or materially important way.

[Twisted Tenon]

Stan Grant has an adult view of it here

TT