Let it Be

 From the Migration Museum, 23 June 2009 

The Dictation test operated as a method of exclusion until 1958.  After 1909, no one who was given the test passed it.  Those who failed were refused entry and deported.  It was not until 1973 that the federal government removed race as a factor in Australian Immigrant policies. 

British orphaned children were considered a valuable commodity, as they would have their whole lives to contribute to the work force, were malleable in spirit and vocation, and would contribute to the white population.  Between this time-- especially in the 1940s after WW II-- thousands of these children were brought to Australia.  Due to lack of funds and management, these children typically suffered from physical and sexual abuse, faced starvation and slave labor. 

Between 1910 and 1970, over 40,000 aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to orphanages-- The Stolen Generation.  It became law in the 1923 Care of Children Act, as a means to "cure children" of the abuse and sin of native savagery.  Although this Act has been revoked, it still exists, culturally:  Aboriginal children are 6 times more likely to be removed by Child Welfare services and 21 times more likely to end up in Juvenile Halls.  Further, the government has instituted birth control systems, designed to "protect" the young teen women from unwanted pregnancies.  Government agencies will visit camps and offer partial or permanent sterility techniques.  Some programs offer incentives to encourage this practice.  Again, it falls under the guise of protecting these women from potential sexual abuse or lack of future opportunity to a better life. 

Aboriginal communities now fear the spread of Swine Flu.  There have been hundreds of suspect cases and several deaths already cited.  Government has not yet taken any steps to intervene, offer flu vaccinations or treatments, or send authorities to document cases (after testing positive in hospitals, but not officially documented for govermnment aid and intervention).  These communities fear that this flu may wipe out hundreds-- thousands-- of Aboriginals who already suffer multiple health issues.  (The average Aboriginal's life span is 17-25 years shorter than their white counterparts.)

So, a sobering day.  If the walk didn't help, the Museum and Swine Flu article sure did. 

I'll end this section with a quote from a man from the Kaurna tribe (original South Australia native).  Aboriginal people met the early efforts of missionaries to Christianise them with anger and indifference.  When told that they should fear Jehovah and not the Red kangaroo or Kaurna belief, one man replied:

"Why do you charge us with a lie... we do not charge you with lies.  What you believe and speak of Jehovah is good, and what we believe is good."

South Australian Aboriginal, Kaurna tribe, 26 June 1841

Amen to that, my brother. 

Let it Be.