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Lionel Edriess
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It is generally accepted that the first white child was born on this continent in 1788.
In 1789 there were almost 4 million Americans and Britain had no compunction about engaging in a war against them - their former colonists. One should also consider the American situation and attitudes towards its indigenous peoples. Who, I might add, had vastly more civilised societies than our own indigenous.
There would appear to be a great disparity between Phillip's actual treatment of the local Aboriginal population at the time and the British Government's general attitude towards troublesome native populations elsewhere.
Certainly there were violent repercussions for those Aboriginals who attacked lonely and isolated colonists in the early days, but Aboriginals understood the notion of 'payback'. After all, they had been at war amongst themselves for time immemorial. And these were violent times anyway, even amongst the 'civilised' societies. It would do well to consider that, at that time, if an Aboriginal were lifted from Newcastle and placed in the Sydney region, not only would he be lost, he would be unlikely to make it back home alive. No love lost between tribes back then.
We should remember that the road between Parramatta and Bathurst was only paved back in the '40's.
There was never an official war declared, never a policy of genocide adopted, on the Aboriginal occupants of this country. If there had been, the current population would be a lot thinner today. One should also consider the Dutch and French treatment of locals wherever they established colonies.
While it's true that Aboriginals have suffered in the past, have limited opportunities in the present, and face an uncertain future, their treatment and position in the modern world is far from unique.
We're doing the best that we can, with the limited knowledge and resources at our disposal.
Is it too much to ask that they themselves adopt a more pro-active approach in a united front, instead of pushing the various agendas of the 500 nations?
Just sayin'.
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