Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

War and peace: the Government’s engagement with Indigenous realities

By Andrew Jakubowicz - posted Wednesday, 18 July 2007


What will it take to make a peace in this troubled land? How do we end the war? What are the terms and conditions for building trust between the parties?

We need to recognise a state of war (however low level, mundane and tortuous) continues. We need to recognise that the government has a war aim, the total dissolution of Indigenous communal life and the atomisation of Indigenous communities into indistinguishable Australians.

This war aim has been carried out in the recent past through slow desolation and marginalisation, the abandonment of communities to a life-world of environmental corruption and emotional dissolution. Now we are moving into a more active and dangerous phase.

Advertisement

Australian society needs to declare that it wants to make peace, and to espouse a peace plan. It requires a vision of real Indigenous economic development based on the capacity to realise the value extracted from Indigenous lands by our forebears. It means removing the weapons of mass destruction - the epicentre of pornography is the ACT suburb of Fyshwick, less than three kilometres from Parliament House; the government extracts huge revenues from the alcohol excises it collects.

Ultimately, it means having a government that commits itself to ending the war and that orientation depends on a people who want peace. Whether they do, is a question all Australians will have to answer for themselves.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

40 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Andrew Jakubowicz is a professor of sociology at the University of Technology Sydney. He blogs for the SBS program CQ: http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/cq/tab-listings/page/i/2/h/Blog/

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Andrew Jakubowicz

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Andrew Jakubowicz
Article Tools
Comment 40 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy