Hmm, I am a white Australian. I enjoy living and working in Australia - I am a fortunate person.
I like the idea of Australian 'values': mateship, fair-go, etc. I wonder though, how many of us really uphold these values? How many of us, black or white are quick to judge others negatively. So many of us appear to lack compassion.
For me, the 26th of January is Australia Day, given that I would not be here (a comfy, middle class existence!) without the arrival of the First Fleet. But I am also acutely aware of the disposession this arrival created for the indigenous people who had been on this land for many thousands of years. Certainly, 'invasion' or posession of the land would have been likely by others if the British had not arrived, however this does not make it right, it was still something taken without consent. What occurred was probably an indication of the mentality of the time - whites considered themselves and their way of life superior, the blacks were considered backward and, by some, barbaric.
Today, I guess I look to the future. There is much anger in the media currently directed toward wayward Aboriginal youths, and Aboriginal crime in general. I think this is a result of built up anger and agression (from the past injustices perhaps), lack of strong role models in some comunities and reduction in strong cultural ties to land (combination of whitefella legislation and black confusion?). I do think that ideally we can say "hey, it's been crap, we have been unjust and unfair, let's move on, ;et's work out how we can do this fairly and together" But it's going to take strong people- black and white. It's going to need to be about recognising the past but also building resislience for the kids of the present - the adults of the future. I'm not sure how we do this, but as a teacher of literacy (to both indigenous and non indig kids) I hope that I am making a small contribution toward a more accepting future which embodies the idea of a 'fair go'(for all).

get over it grow up stop your whingeing i feel sorry for the stolen generation but it happened nothing can change that and unfortunitly it still happening but to children of every race and religeon. as for invasion day WAKE UP i feel sorry for you but come on every country had people come. If you dont like what we have done for you go live out in bush. throw away your clothes, throw out ur fridge all your food, dont go to macdonalds throw out ur car dont go to doctors because that was all brought by the dreaded white man, i am so sick and tired of aboriginals. i not racist i dont judge people for colour of their skin (though these days you cant tell) besides i remember learning about something that been hidden by aboriginals, the fact is the aboriginals are not the original owners of australia. they came down from the islands north of Australia they invaded and killed the natives that were already here. their have been small burial sites in Australia that were not aboriginal. So technically the Aboriginals invaded Australia then now upset that someone else came here. I have an Aboriginal friend he was stolen off his parents and you know what his attitude is?? he wants EQUAL rights. he dont want more rights he wants equal he said why give Aboriginals free tutoring because they aboriginal their is descimination where people dont see aboriginals as anything then their the descimination where people go oh the poor aboriginals they dont know how to make money, they need extra help the poor people. he said most people dont want that either. he went for a job that was for helping the Aboriginals in the area, helping them with their rights etc. at interview when asked what first thing he would ask for if employed he asked for Charles Perkins to have his mouth shut. needless to say he didnt get the job. he said best thing done was being stolen off his parents cuz he had recently gone back and found his parents and they were alcoholics with criminal record a mile long. The original aboriginals the full blood aboriginals were nice people. i respect them. my grandma often talked about the old Aborigials the gentle people. but now their the people with one drop iff that of aboriginal blood in them crying for more rights, wanting the rights to places they sold and abandoned. Eg Bennalong point in sydney. they claim and aboriginal was buried their well rightly so and true. The Aboriginal Benalong was friendly with the Brittish. he was the first Aboriginal to go to England and meet the Queen. He was highly respected but he was rejected by the Aboriginal people. they excommunicated him and if he ever tried go back they would of murdered him. He was buried a reject. Years later the Opera House is built on Bennalong point and suddenly the cries goes out that is our land a famous Aboriginal was buried their. They not interested in fact Aboriginal their all they interested in is the publicity. I will never respect Aboriginals as long as their people out their going over board. If a person says they scottish i believe them if they say they african i believe them but i dont care it interesting but no more then that cuz they same as me. Aboriginals like to mouth out that they are. they have to prove they Aboriginal and they want special treatment. to me someone says they Aboriginal i dont care it dont make any difference to me because to me they the same as me another human being but it annoys me when they get more privalages. they scream racisim at moments notice but look in paper amount of jobs for Aboriginals only now that is racisim though government dont see it cuz Aboriginals minority but Racism is racism whether it against a majority or minority.
I hope John Howard never apologises for the stolen generation why should he. You apologise for something YOU done wrong. John Howard had nothing to do with stolen generation so why should he apologise.
If you want equal rights u can have them that means no more extra money from centrelink, no extra payments, no special discount cards, no free tuitian for your kids. if you want to be equal then be equal be the same dont go begging for special help because you Aboriginal all people i know dont give a crap if you Aboriginal or not. treat u same whether u are or not. we only get cranky when we try do something and cant cuz we NOT Aboriginal.
Do not call it Invasion day. it not so much a celebration of the English landing as it is more a celebration of being Australian of the mateship of the fair go, of all the special things it means to be Australian whether it be the diggers, Albert Namajera, it a time to remember Australias past our history your history for those who came here recently for them to learn bout Australian and Aboriginal culture. Aboriginal culture is important to remember and to respect. but dont call it invasion day. Call it what it is AUSTRALIA DAY. stand tall stand proud remember you are Australian you are Aboriginal Australians..
grow up get over yourselves for the benefit of the Aboriginal people and the benefit of the rest of australia