notso
12th February 2008, 06:27 PM
What a fantastic day, to see a welcome to country ceremony happen at Parliament house.
This was made even more special because of the inclusion of Torres Strait Islanders.
Ngambri elder Matilda House Williams spoke about acceptance and the sooner we accept the traditional owners of the land, then maybe we might be on the path to accept others in our community that have been also forgotten.
There is much work to do within the Gay and Lesbian community especially around HIV and AIDS vilification and self representation. Equality for women and easier access to IVF programs. Acceptance of equality with our significant other partnerships. The homeless issue for those members of our community in drug addiction and who live with co infection issues on a daily basis. Youth suicide and advocacy programs to empower the younger men and women left on the streets because they have been forced to leave home due to their sexuality.
There is much work to do and on the eve of this important landmark on Australia's history we can turn the page and get on with the hard work of reconciliation.
The chapter of the white Australia policy and the injustice towards the Aboriginal nations well not be solved with just a simple gesture of saying 'Sorry' but it is a significant start on the load road to recovery.
When John Howard said 'you change the government you change the country' how right he was.
I see a Chifley inspired light on the hill, a beacon of hope that one day Australia might start to look more inwards at ourself and consider the notion of 'the other' within our society so that we can make positive changes in the areas listed above.
This was made even more special because of the inclusion of Torres Strait Islanders.
Ngambri elder Matilda House Williams spoke about acceptance and the sooner we accept the traditional owners of the land, then maybe we might be on the path to accept others in our community that have been also forgotten.
There is much work to do within the Gay and Lesbian community especially around HIV and AIDS vilification and self representation. Equality for women and easier access to IVF programs. Acceptance of equality with our significant other partnerships. The homeless issue for those members of our community in drug addiction and who live with co infection issues on a daily basis. Youth suicide and advocacy programs to empower the younger men and women left on the streets because they have been forced to leave home due to their sexuality.
There is much work to do and on the eve of this important landmark on Australia's history we can turn the page and get on with the hard work of reconciliation.
The chapter of the white Australia policy and the injustice towards the Aboriginal nations well not be solved with just a simple gesture of saying 'Sorry' but it is a significant start on the load road to recovery.
When John Howard said 'you change the government you change the country' how right he was.
I see a Chifley inspired light on the hill, a beacon of hope that one day Australia might start to look more inwards at ourself and consider the notion of 'the other' within our society so that we can make positive changes in the areas listed above.