Night Shift

I hope it is just superficial and thats she is ok ... its hard as we age ... people can break ribs from just a sneeze.

They both visited me in a country orphanage and I eventually went home to them and lived as an only child for 2 years in Sydney and then they tried to get the others back one at a time ....

So many huge adjustments for you at an early age. Lots of stress no doubt.

Its good your dad worked in the field. My dad's friendship was from knowing them in the orphanages and then in the Navy ... so a world brotherhood kind of ethic ... but my mother hated that he would talk to them and introduce me etc...

The racism was HUGE ... and enough for me to think that all Australians were racist for a while.... I realise now that a FEW are not and never were ... and a lot are improving their act ... now that it is no longer politically correct ... but as I was obviously European ... even 10-15 years ago ... I would often get a "nice" lady confide her racist views to me ... cos she thought I'd agree ... until last few years I was always so shocked I couldnt reply but recoiled from friendship.

I think the girl I befriended in the orphanage was a stolen generation child. It was just she was the next new girl and we were both shy but felt ok together. I dont know anything about her story and even have forgotten her name ... but I still remember HER.

I used to have outbursts of outrage in the face of racism and got very involved in one particular title claim but I was seen as an outsider and beaten up really badly by the opponents of the people I supported. I've never really been able to talk about that as the networks are extensive. These days I just say quietly 'we'll have to agree to disagree' or even disengage without expressing my views. Bigots are bigots and choose not to make themselves more aware so who am I to change them. As someone once taught me, "if I can't change anything else I can change my geography". Wow I'm sounding really cynical now but I have to protect myself. That experience really changed my ability to be a public activist. As well as causing major PTSD for years.

People talk about the stolen generation but really it hasn't stopped. It's still happening in communities all the time.

I believe you that it is still going on ...

the main time I spoke out was when I was running a bookclub group and a "nice" woman said something outrageous .... she was a kindergarten teacher and said "we didnt want them and we moved them on".

I couldnt in all honesty let that stand and then found that most of the group agreed with her ... I was horrified as we were all being nice middle class ladies and the particular home we were sitting in at the time was very fancy ... it turned my stomach ... my community centre director took my side and we let that group leave ... and go independent ... that was about 10 years ago ... you are right ... it is very hard to change bigotry ... all I hope is those attitudes die out ...

I love our new growth of indigenous literature ... eg "Swallow the Air" and "The Swan Book" I havent read "Carpentaria" yet ... one day when I have time ... but it is complex and I have heard that a lot of the young aboriginal men are getting more militant .. its sad .. but understandable.

I hope those attitudes die out too. I haven't read any of the books you mention, but of course I've heard of Carpentaria. Hard to tell here if it's really a millitant thing or just following the USA gang trend. But there is a big divide between those for and against the Recognise movement towards Constitutional change. A legal treaty seems to be very important.

Listening to some more chants now while we chat. Over the last week so much of my history has come out again for the first time in ages. I seem to be doing ok about it though. This really feels like a safe avenue. Thankyou for your sharing and listening.