Another angry, confused, condemning white voice

Perhaps, however, this essay is useful, for both Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians, shedding light onto Anglo-Australia’s acutely conflicted and contradictory attitudes and the profound lack of understanding non-Indigenous people have of the beauty, complexity, depth and breadth of Indigenous culture.

Perhaps, too, we can all reflect on what’s missing from this essay. We could engage with the consistent desire for reconciliation expressed by Indigenous people since contact. Those of us non-Indigenous Australians could take heed of the words of another non-Indigenous voice when striving to reach a richer understanding of our fellow Australians:

... on the evidence the Aborigines have always been looking for two things: a decent union of their lives with ours but on terms that let them preserve their own identity, not their inclusion willy-nilly in our response to scheme of things on a fake identity, but development within a new way of life that has the imprint of their own ideas. Stanner - After the Dreaming ABC Boyer Lecture, 1968, ABC 1969.

We could engage with each other, creating dialogue, understanding and respect, so that when the next Quarterly Essay on Indigenous issues appears we have a more nuanced, rounded understanding to build upon. Perhaps, perhaps - as Indigenous people consistently indicate - there’s another way and perhaps the overwhelming rejection of the Intervention by people living in the affected communities (as the secret ballot at the last election clearly showed) shows that people want less, not more, control over their lives; and they want more, not less, autonomy and respect; they want more, not less, of their law recognised by European Australia; they want more, not less, reconciliation.

Let’s all work together to bring that day closer.