While there is some controversy surrounding the fact that Rudd plays in front of an Aboriginal flag, he says that he’s trying to help bridge the gaps between the two Australian cultures. “I think this country is an incredible gift. It’s such a powerful place. Such an ancient culture. I believe that spirit moves through all of us that spend time on this land.
Rudd believes that we simply have to build a bridge towards reconciliation. He feels it’s all about education, and all the negative points that have been brought up on a government level are almost a waste of time. On both sides of the fence there’s bitterness and a clash of the old ways versus the new and as such Aboriginal education should be included in all schools around the country.
"If people were more educated, if they knew the positive knowledge, previous to Captain Cook, about the land, spirituality, food, medicine, dating back over 200 years then the gap would definitely be closer to being bridged". Powerful thoughts, and it reminds us all to keep learning and exploring, there is this huge loss of ancient culture and understanding in our land, and its only reinforced by the one sided negative news reports of aboriginal misbehavior. And yet we seem to want to solve the problems by sending in police and army units to serve in these communities? we need to re-connect, open up and communicate.
ORIGINAL STORY : Xpress
NEWS ARTICLE : SMH
CURRENT ALBUM : Food In The Belly
7 comments:
related? Kevin?
who knows...
Great read. Sometimes we just have to stop, slow down, and think! We all really need to get in touch with "our roots".
Then again there are those who just do not want to help themselves, and don't want any help from anybody else either.
If Xavier Rudd is trying to help bridge the gap between the two Australian cultures, I assume he means the 'whities' and blacks, as there are many cultures in Australia. Why then does he not play under the Aboriginal flag and the Australian Flag? To my mind that would have more of a bridging effect than one flag.
I’m not denoting him in any way I’m sure he has good intentions, however to have a bridge you must have at least two sides. Without at least two sides you have a bridge to no where.
Am I being too cynical, is age clouding youthful exuberance?
Hmmmm?
I totally agree with Rudd’s bridge towards reconciliation being education. “How” is the trick, he doesn’t offer any plan or modis operandi. I am afraid it’s just lip service.
I fail to see how saying ‘Sorry’ by a generation that did not perpetrate the misdeeds and atrocities can have any value.
The reason I refuse to say sorry is because I had nothing to do with the history that the Aboriginals want me to say sorry for.
John Howard on the other hand cannot say sorry because of the legal connotations and he may think along my lines.
There is no doubt “something” has to be done to assist the Aboriginals from their plight. As fellow human beings and a civilised community we are obligated to help.
What do we do and how, are the burning questions.
Then again if you do not have the will to help yourself you are dammed before you start, the old horse and water trick.
If Xavier has a working plan I would be interested in readig it.
yeh its the old twin edged sword i guess, you can bring up the issues as an artist, but then everyone expects you to put on the political hat and have the answers or a road map to an end.
i dont see it so much having to say "sorry", as more to saying "yes, we acknowledge that those past crimes and scenarios did happen, and we are here to meet you half way and go forward together". at the moment no one cares.
good point on the two flag presentation, i guess its again just his way of at least ... bringing the topic or issue up amungst his audience. all in all shouldnt we just drop them all, become a republic, a true one nation country, embracing every nationality here under a new flag? dreaming eh? ... maybe oneday. sure the aboriginals were here first, but they too "arrived" on the big brown land, as we all did.
nevertheless my main point was the loss of this powerful aboriginal knowledge, which seems so important for us in these times. to reconnect with the land and together as people.
big hurdles to climb, Rudd doesnt have a road map, but he's running in the right direction, over hills we dont want to look past.
S.
don Quijote, I so enjoy intelligent debate, I appreciate your fresh mind and it confirms I am becoming a cynical old man….Danger danger Will Robinson. Over time I have forgotten what a powerful tool music is and has been for hundreds of years, maybe thousands, to convey the opinions, experiences, feelings and beliefs of the weak to the powerful. So what Xavier Rudd is doing is nothing new. According to Wikipedia the oldest protest song on record is "The Cutty Wren" from the English peasants' revolt of 1381 against feudal oppression.
My cynicism is borne out ‘ho hum I’ve been there before’. I remember during the Vietnam conflict Bob Dylan produced landmark songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" "Masters of War" , "Talking World War III Blues" , and "The Times They Are A-Changin'". Protest singer and activist Joan Baez dedicated the entire B side of her album Where Are You Now My Son? to recordings she had made of bombings while in Hanoi. "Give Peace a Chance" and ""Imagine" by John Lennon. Cat Stevens left his mark on the genre with "Peace Train", as did Black Sabbath with "War Pigs" The Rolling Stones protested against police brutality with "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo and the list goes on. These were wonderful, powerful songs in their own right. I remember as if it were yesterday my feelings of “ Yes listen to this politicians” and although the songs had no overnight effects in hindsight I am sure they rallied support and had a galvanising effect on the general populace. May be they had some effect on shortening the war who knows. In defence of Xavier, he is doing what a vocal artist does, sing about injustice, just as sketch artists and painters use their medium, so perhaps I was a little harsh. His Heart may well be where his music is.
Sorry, however in this context to me means “Sorry” apologetic, pitying, repentant, remorseful, none of which are of any help what so ever to the plight of the Australian Aboriginal. To me rather than sorry, leadership and education are far more appropriate, sorry is looking back and myopic. Leadership from within by lucid intelligent people like Tania Major and broad meaningful education schemes implemented by governments are more appropriate.
When I came to this country in 1977 I developed a real and genuine compassion for the aborigines. As time has moved on I have become indifferent, I am tired of hearing “racist” used whenever something displeases a Native Australian. I am so over the “Stolen Generation”, it’s history (like the holocaust not only Jew’s died) the future is what Native Australians should be focussing on.
The culture is sustaining, it has lasted longer than any culture I know, work with it in the confines that now prevail, stop pointing fingers and get on with it.
The non Native Australians, in fact the rest of the world should study the Native Australian’s culture because this is how we the human race are going to survive, Capitalism, Democracy, Communism, Fascism, Feudalism and any other ‘isims’ are all dismal failures. If the Native Australians are to survive they are going to have to develop pragmatic intelligent leaders, the hard bit will be getting Native Australians to follow, ooooh there goes the cynicism again, must try to control it, bugga.
Tania Major is a bright shining light I just hope she can burn long enough to have meaningful input.
I used to be a staunch advocate for Republicanism, but I now firmly believe that things should remain a status quo. Our sovereign rights which we take for granted are able to be changed and eroded if we become a Republic, rights that are enshrined in the Australian Constitution. What are sovereign rights? We all have them. We are all profoundly attached to them. Too many to discuss here. Don’t take my word for it check for yourself. Its an interesting topic.
M.
from one little newspaper article, to this diverse pool of thought and information sharing. this is what this place is all about. thanks all for your efforts in putting thought to keyboard.
more to come.
S.
One final note on the topic of "Sorry". I don't mean to harp on..... however if one says sorry does this mean the other says "I forgive"?, We have had a sorry walk now a sorry song when can we expect a forgiveness walk and a forgiveness song, how long do we have to say sorry?
Just had to get that one off my chest, I'll now step off my soap box.....
M
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