Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Dec 25
th, 2022 at 7:50pm:
I don't need welcoming to my own country - I've always been here apart from relatively short overseas stints... multi-generation and born here like several generations - I'm Indigenous...
I agree totally. I too am getting increasingly pissed off with this
typical bullshit suddenly appearing in every newspaper article and
TV show, film or documentary, art show opening, school concert
night, council or court meetings, and Australian web sites such as
the ABC's or SBS's.
Quote:"Our conference is being held on the lands of the Gunaikurnai people
and I wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. I would also
like to pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and Aboriginal
Elders of other communities who may be here today".
I'm a fourth generation Australian, and regard myself as indigenous.
One of the many meanings of the word is "originating or occurring
naturally in a particular place". The word originated in the mid-17th
century from the Latin
indigena, "a native".
I was born here in 1946, and certainly regard myself just as much, if
not more so, as an Australian, than any 20- or 40-year-old Aboriginal
activist half my age.
In short, this silly Aboriginal acknowledgement can only be seen as
ultimately divisive—furthering the "them and us" mindset amongst
both blacks and whites in Australia.
—As a side note, Ayer's Rock, Mount Warning, the Grampians,
the Olgas etc were all here as geographic features for millions
of years prior to the Aboriginal migration from SE Asia. Nobody
"owns" these natural features of the continent.
I'm a 1st Gen Aussie. I was born in Australia. I consider myself to be indigenous because of that fact.
All my brothers and sisters were born here.
My mum and dad migrated to Australia from Greece and Italy (respectively) as teenagers in the mid 60's. And the Australian govt invited/paid for them to get here. They did not fly here. They came by cruise ship.
They met and married here. I was born here. I was educated here. I've lived here all my life and my children are a mix of Greek, Italian, English, Irish, German and French.
I've now buried both my parents here. In Australia. The country where both my parents lived for most of their lives.
My son and daughter (from my 1st marriage) still have their paternal grandfathers WW2 medals and actual uniform. As well as all his war photos. They also have the photos and medals of his 2 uncles who fought in Gallipoli. These children ie MY children have blood links to the Anzacs.
So yeah I feel very proud to call Australia MY country. And I'll be damned if I'm going to be told by anyone that I'm less of an Australian than anyone else! i