8 October Newsletter Friends of Eaglemont Village
Avoid "morning after" regret on the The Voice vote
How many of your Sunday mornings past have been dominated by soul-searching reviews of Saturday night's events?
"Why did I do that?"
"Why did I not do that?"
"Why did I just stand by"
"Why didn't I listen?"
"What was I thinking?"
Often followed by remorseful reflection - "If I had my time again...........?"
Well you still have this week to ponder how you will vote in the referendum.
I urge you to look at this single question through someone else's eyes.
What will it be like on Sunday morning to be a person of aboriginal blood if the plea to be heard is neglected?
What will be the effect a categoric rejection?
Will it be interpreted as a total rejection of " being Aboriginal"?
"The Voice to Parliament is proposed to be an advisory body made up of First Nations people from across the country who will be able to advise on policies that affect them.
It's important to note that they are just an advisory body — it will not be able to compel a government of the day to enact, retract, or amend policy — it will have no extra powers other than to give advice to the government.
The Voice to Parliament proposal was born from the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which involved more than 1,200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, with 250 delegates." (ABC News 3 October)
Seems simple enough.
Why make it complex, fraught, divisive?
Vote for a better future.
Is The Underlying Problem Always Being An Outsider?
It is all too easy to find fault with First Nations, Indigineous, Aboriginal, Native minorities - the world over.
What leads to the different outcomes on numerous indicators for these people? Why has the substandard treatment persisted - indeed why is it getting worse?
The common thread running through the plight of all First Nations people is that they are outsiders - made second-class inferior people by a systemic alienation.
Bit too cute to then blame the victims of (invasion, conquest, colonialisation, oppression, marginalisation, deprivation, racism, a stacked deck, loaded dice [ choose 1 or more]) for their circumstances, their choices, their consequences.
Our present status quo - as unsatisfactory as everyone believes - has been evolving over the 250 years of us "white fellas" running the show.
It is time to try something different - to bring more knowledge, more understanding, more compassion, more hope, more responsibility, more information, more voices to the decision-making table.
Do not burden our children, our grandchildren, our future generations with the mistakes of the past - as we are belatedly realising we are doing with the environment.
Face up to our obligation to be decent, inclusive citizens.
I was reminded - by a car advertisement of all things - of the major Dylan Thomas poem, the theme of which is that older people should maintain the rage.
Back in the 60s and 70s us (now) oldies promised ourselves and the world we would not put up with conscription, the Vietnam war, entrenched privilege, gerrymandered political structures and more.
Think back to the dress, behaviour, hair styles, popular culture, attitudes we exhibited to rail against the Establishment, against power, against the old ways.
More recently social issues about women, family structures,sexual choices & identity have been to the fore.
Next Saturday think about racial stereotyping, equity, dignity, opportunity, pathos.
Revive the fair go I say.
Successful Working Bee - Again
Our Alandale Road bushland wildflower walk is 250 plants better thanks to the efforts of corporate volunteers from DKSH.
FofEV provided the plants and tools; our visitors provided a fine morning tea at the Dish - then plenty of energy and goodwill.
Coming Up
Eaglemont Village Market 29 October from 10 a.m.
Best Wishes
Two of our colleagues have been hospitalised recently - we wish Bev and Mick a full recovery and respite from hospital food.
Posts to Eaglemont's Voice last week:
Member discussion