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Dream Time Horoscope is no laughing matter
Gningala Yarran-Mark (LLB)
T
he offending article, the subject of this article for the First Nations Telegraph, is Prosh Newspaper distributed by the University of WA Student Guild to raise funds for charity. Previous editions have used satire to poke fun at the establishment, but this kind of nonsense goes to a whole new level. The feature in the newspaper was labeled - “Dream Time Horoscopes� - much like the horoscopes you would read in any newspaper or magazine only this
one was going way beyond the boundaries: 1. Rainbow Serpent - the reference to low prices at the petrol bowser is a reference to petrol sniffing and implies that this might be an outing to be enjoyed. 2. Emu Spirit - is in reference to alcohol consumption with the assumption that Aboriginal persons regularly partake of alcohol beverages. 3. Jerry Can - makes reference to gambling implying that it might be a great way to while away the evening.
4. Youth Experience - is a direct reference to the Stolen Generation. 5. Winfield Blue - makes light of political campaigns in Aboriginal Australians history by way of tent embassies. 6. Lickerland - references to late night escapades one might imply is a reference to burglaries with the implication that this might be a recreational pastime of Aboriginal Australians. 7. Mabo - implies that Aboriginal Australians are Page 1
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“gifted” with large parcels of land even when they don’t deserve it. This kind of commentary was around with (Sir) Charles Court (Premier of Western Australia) in the early 80’s when the Land Rights movement was gaining momentum. This kind of commentary ridicules the name of an amazing pioneer and advocate who mounted the most amazing David and Goliath struggle in the courts to obtain the recognition of Native Title in this country that would see an end the the legal fiction of “terra nulius” - land belonging to no one. Eddie Mabo (pictured right) should go down in the annals of history alongside the likes of Martin Luther King, Ghandi and Mandela as a man who fought for the rights of Aboriginal Australians and won, with dignity despite the fact that he didn’t live to see his fight come to fruition. Some might argue that this paper was produced in “good humour” - buying into the larrikin spirit of Australians who like to laugh at themselves. My response to that is, where does the Race Discrimination laws state that overt racism is acceptable when it is heavily shrouded in “humour”. Race Discrimination laws in this country disallows the distribution of this kind of racial smut. To add insult to injury the perpetrators of this crime - YES I called it a crime because that’s what we are looking at here ladies and gentlemen - made the following comments; 1. The final print slipped through the editorial cracks - despite the fact that the Editor was photographed sitting back whilst the paper was going to print. I would argue that he knew EXACTLY what was in the paper about to be distributed across Perth and neighbouring communities Page 2
2. The paper did not mean to offend - well lest just say that Hitler wasn’t the rogue that history portrays him as shall we - that certainly wouldn’t sit well with our brothers and sisters from the Jewish community would it. How more offensive could this distribution be described as? This is a blatant barbed affront to Aboriginal Australians and it was meant to offend. How many more times should Aboriginal Australians be the brunt of racially motivated, highly offensive materials being directed at them all in the name of “good fun” or Aussies just having a laugh at themselves? I for one am not laughing. I am incensed, outraged and disappointed.
I am proud of the fact that I am part of the Alumni of such a prestigious institution, namely the University of Western Australia; a University that prides itself on the pursuit of excellence and yet this most prestigious of institutions allows for the pains of the past to be revisted upon its Aboriginal faculty and Aboriginal student body. No apology will suffice in this instance. The perpetrators should be brought to justice and the University should deny them entry into University as a way of standing up to protect the rights of the innocent who have not sought to bring this establishment into disrepute. To view offending article click on http://goo.gl/dRHvR