We were having an interesting conversation at Sunday lunch yesterday about the ‘aboriginal problem’ in Australia. There were no aboriginies present, so it was a one-sided view, but worth noting down as it does represent the thinking of some more recent immigrants.
The older generation agreed that the aboriginies that they knew 30 years ago were delightful people and that the problems have really started since then. I was very happy to hear that the blame for this change wasn’t all put on the aborigines. Most of the blame was put on the government for pushing them all into small communities and giving them lots of money to compensate for that relocation. The money has become an expectation so that most aborigines see it as their right to be supported by the intruders.
Most of us agreed that the money couldn’t keep coming and the problem has to be solved another way. The solution probably involves continuing to provide good education (which could surely be free) and encouraging employers to take on aborigines when all else is equal. Right now, I think most employers would choose a non-aboriginal given any choice. Of course, all this probably involves money in the short term, but should require less as time goes on.
Another school of thought is that their problems generally come from a lack of sense of belonging to any culture (particularly to mixed race aborigines) and the aboriginal culture should be allowed (encouraged!) to flourish in this country. I wonder if it’s possible to have large areas owned and governed by the aboriginal community with open borders so that they can choose to move into the urban world as and when they chose. Better and more well-informed minds than mine have worked on these issues, but it’s an interesting idea, nonetheless. Chances are that these communities would be able to build a tourist economy based on the artwork and tools they create and that more and more of the young ones would be inclined to take their skills into the towns and cities. Dedicated schools within the communities would get the interested students ready for university without necessarily forcing statewide exams on them at particular ages.
Food for thought.