Comments on: Sovereignty Day http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/ a linguist without a language Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:47:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: jangari http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/comment-page-1/#comment-790 jangari Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:05:39 +0000 http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/#comment-790 Iain, that first sentiment of yours is particulary worrying - are you advocating some sort of proprietary anarchy? Secondly, I think the language of the colonisers is neither here nor there; the country was colonised in a manner that, under our current understanding, was highly immoral. If we were mature enough as a nation to accept that fact, then it would be a large step in the right direction, but we aren't. Instead, we seem determined to continue on with a colonial mindset that assumes that everyone wants what Anglo-Saxon people want. In that respect, nothing major has changed since 1788. Finally, the virtues of this country, wonderful as they are, would not have been possible without this immoral acquisition of land. So in fact, if Australia Day is about celebrating Australia's achievements, then it should be a day of thanks to Aborigines for their land, without which we would not be able to prosper. It was brilliant, Gagu. Hunter, Pluto, Hyperballad, a few off Medúlla and quite a few from Volta, which I haven't even heard yet. It was a pretty good show all in all, especially with that reactable, but definitely overpriced. Iain, that first sentiment of yours is particulary worrying – are you advocating some sort of proprietary anarchy?

Secondly, I think the language of the colonisers is neither here nor there; the country was colonised in a manner that, under our current understanding, was highly immoral. If we were mature enough as a nation to accept that fact, then it would be a large step in the right direction, but we aren’t. Instead, we seem determined to continue on with a colonial mindset that assumes that everyone wants what Anglo-Saxon people want. In that respect, nothing major has changed since 1788.

Finally, the virtues of this country, wonderful as they are, would not have been possible without this immoral acquisition of land. So in fact, if Australia Day is about celebrating Australia’s achievements, then it should be a day of thanks to Aborigines for their land, without which we would not be able to prosper.

It was brilliant, Gagu. Hunter, Pluto, Hyperballad, a few off Medúlla and quite a few from Volta, which I haven’t even heard yet.

It was a pretty good show all in all, especially with that reactable, but definitely overpriced.

]]> By: wamut http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/comment-page-1/#comment-789 wamut Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:43:34 +0000 http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/#comment-789 n how was the bjork concert? what did she play? any classics? i'm jealous you got to see her... n how was the bjork concert? what did she play? any classics? i’m jealous you got to see her…

]]> By: Iain Hall http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/comment-page-1/#comment-780 Iain Hall Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:09:31 +0000 http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/#comment-780 <b>Oh come on Guys the reality of the world is that we can only truly own a piece of land if we can exclude others from it.</b> This country could have been colonised by anyone and the indigenous people could have been far worse off, than they are now, under a different regime we could be speaking French and you lot would have a great deal more to complain about. Good bad or indifferent we can't change the events of 220 years ago but we can celebrate the virtues of the country now and that is what Australia day is about, rather than being a reason to whine about wrongs in the distant past. Oh come on Guys the reality of the world is that we can only truly own a piece of land if we can exclude others from it.
This country could have been colonised by anyone and the indigenous people could have been far worse off, than they are now, under a different regime we could be speaking French and you lot would have a great deal more to complain about. Good bad or indifferent we can’t change the events of 220 years ago but we can celebrate the virtues of the country now and that is what Australia day is about, rather than being a reason to whine about wrongs in the distant past.

]]> By: Mrs. Chili http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/comment-page-1/#comment-778 Mrs. Chili Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:50:02 +0000 http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/#comment-778 The arrogance of the colonizer is boundless, regardless of which part of the world their claiming for themselves. The arrogance of the colonizer is boundless, regardless of which part of the world their claiming for themselves.

]]> By: jangari http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/comment-page-1/#comment-777 jangari Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:32:51 +0000 http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/#comment-777 I stand corrected. Thanks Dez. I stand corrected. Thanks Dez.

]]> By: Dez http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/comment-page-1/#comment-776 Dez Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:48:17 +0000 http://www.matjjin-nehen.com/2008/01/25/sovereignty-day/#comment-776 A minor point (but one that is important to those of us from Western Australia) is that it was not the whole continent that was claimed at that time, but only the eastern half (well, two-thirds). The western part was formally claimed some time later (1829?). Growing up in WA I recall it was a common complaint that 'Australian Day' was actually 'Eastern States Day'. A minor point (but one that is important to those of us from Western Australia) is that it was not the whole continent that was claimed at that time, but only the eastern half (well, two-thirds). The western part was formally claimed some time later (1829?). Growing up in WA I recall it was a common complaint that ‘Australian Day’ was actually ‘Eastern States Day’.

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