January 26th 2025

[Skeppersap]

This is the sort of realism we need to take into account before whinging "What else do they want"

I am admittedly staunchly conservative, and I have a strong perception that the left side of politics force their view on to others. And I detest this. I am proud we live in a strong democracy where the opinion of everyone counts equally!

But that does not mean I am not compassionate. I have argued with South of the Yarra a fair bit, and I have little doubt that he/she doesn't particularly like me. But their post was harrowing and poignant, poetic in a way. And I genuinely feel for the pain he/she has been through.

It will not change my fundamental belief that everyone is equal, and that we as society should be striving for equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome.

But I genuinely wish South of the Yarra the best.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I cant see how the rallies are actually strengthening the cause now to be honest

It strengthens the cause amongst those who are already sympathetic to justice for First Nations people. People do not turn up to rallies and listen to the speeches if they don't give a stuff about the issue the rally is about. I suppose the idea is that by listening to the perspective of First Nations activists, they become more committed to the idea.

The march afterwards is probably more about influencing the average person, since it's visible and audible in multiple places and gets much more media coverage. I think some of the chants in the march would be acceptable to the average person (What do we want? Justice!), some could go either way (Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land) and some might not go down well (chants about the racism of the police).

 

[schneebly111]

The protests today are just another nail in the coffin for Labor.

Well done to all the selfish twats who shut down CBD businesses today.

Businesses made the choice to shut. The protest was peaceful.

ALP support Jan 26 - Albo was at the official ceremony in Canberra which Dutton refused to attend

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Effectively persuading the centre however may be needed to tip polling to a place where politicians take notice.

Which for better or worse is convincing the suburbs that it's a good thing to change.

Theyre the ones most resistant.

Come up with a communication strategy there and do not let it get to insults and name calling. It doesn't help and just galvanises people the other way.

It's all doable it just requires effort.

For those who are wedded to January 26th because they want to celebrate that date specifically, I actually don't think there's anything I can say at this point to change their minds, they know full well how First Nations people feel about it and they don't care.

People's minds can be changed. It just needs good communication and a good message.

 

[Fluro Boots]

For those who are wedded to January 26th because they want to celebrate that date specifically, I actually don't think there's anything I can say at this point to change their minds, they know full well how First Nations people feel about it and they don't care.

the aboriginal community aren’t all against the current date either. It’s a very divided issue in all camps.

 

[Goroyals22]

Businesses made the choice to shut. The protest was peaceful.

ALP support Jan 26 - Albo was at the official ceremony in Canberra which Dutton refused to attend

How dare Dutton spend the day in his electorate like he has the past 20 years.


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[Dogs_R_Us]

The teals now represent the decent folk on the right

So why do they continually vote with Labor and the Greens?

 

[peetoo]

So why do they continually vote with Labor and the Greens?

cos a large part of their vote comes from labor and green voters?

Anyway blame the rabid right of liberals for that. Ley was talking about colonising mars today? Delusional?

 

[Xtreme]

What a fantastic day, good weather, BBQ's galore!!!

Fantastic day to be an Australian

 

[Johnny Bananas]

the aboriginal community aren’t all against the current date either. It’s a very divided issue in all camps.

No community ever has 100% unanimity over something like that. But the majority of Aboriginal people do want a change.

Most Indigenous Australians want date and name of Australia Day changed, poll finds

Just 15% of Australian population overall want the national holiday to be held on another date

www.theguardian.com

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

The teals now represent the decent folk on the right

Pretty much.

The non-teal right is basically the bar scene from Star Wars these days.

 

[Gough]

Pretty much.

The non-teal right is basically the bar scene from Star Wars these days.

You'll be accused of being elitist if you're not careful.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

As a Stolen Generation Aboriginal, today does cause me to pause for solemn reflection. I think about the brothers and sisters that I never saw again (deep research found they lived sad and tortured lives). I reflect on the fact my birth mother took her own life as her children were taken from her. I reflect on the physical and emotional pain I went through in the 'hell camps' and the incredible journey I have taken to get to where I am today. I reflect on the fact that I don't even know when I was born. I reflect on the little Aboriginal children who are in our families care and the many Aboriginal students we home school. Every day, I tell myself you are not doing enough, you must do more. I torture myself every day trying to figure out how we can close the gap and how we can empower Aboriginal people to take their lives back and be proud of who they are. So many beaten and battered. I pause and contemplate not to be a victim as it has been suggested in the last 5 pages, but to ensure we move forward and never repeat the mistakes of the past. It is fantastic to have a day to celebrate who we are as Australians and that may be many different things to many different people. It is great to have a day where we celebrate all that is great about our country. I just don't understand why it has to be on a date that causes so many Aboriginal people pain.

Beautiful post among some of the dismaying boorishness on display on here today.

I wish you well mate.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

They spoke a lot about the suffering of their ancestors and the ongoing effects on their lives. A few spoke of the solidarity between themselves and other people who have endured suffering like the Palestinians. I think none of that would be very contentious to those who are neither for nor against the cause of First Nations sovereignty.

I suppose a couple of things stood out to me as potentially being contentious.

A few speakers were openly socialist, and spoke of the capitalist system as inherently colonial and exploitative of First Nations people. One went so far as to say everyone participating in the colonial capitalist system was making their living off the backs of Aboriginal people.

I don't think is incorrect exactly, as the Australian economy is indeed built on exploiting mineral and agricultural resources that were gained by a land being stolen, and the people living on that land either being massacred or sent to camps. But, the people who are here now have little choice but to make their living as best they can in a system they didn't create. I can see how people would feel annoyed hearing that their efforts to simply survive in the modern economy with all its cost of living pressures, make them exploiters.

Another speaker was angry that the colonial system had facilitated so much immigration that the country was now overpopulated, creating ecological problems. Some people will agree with that, though I don't, I think our resource-intensive way of living is more to blame for ecological issues, and the feelings of overcrowding are less about the overall number of people in Australia than about how we've failed to distribute the population over more than just the same 5-6 big cities.

My feelings aside, there are a lot of recent immigrants who are made to feel by mainstream discourse like they are at fault for current economic pressures because they emigrated here. Discussions around the downsides of immigration often don't take care to separate the architects of immigration policy from the immigrants themselves and treat them all as the problem. So I can see how recent immigrants would similarly see this as another group blaming them for having the audacity to exist here.

One speaker asked for a million dollars a year for every First Nations person. That simply isn't going to happen. I do think there's an argument for redress of stolen land and cultural destruction, and First Nations people should have more of a say in how money is spent for them than simply being dictated to by governments that were mostly voted in by non-FN people. But that level of spending just isn't going to happen.

But as I said before, this was all being said in a context of pain and trauma from the historical suffering of First Nations people and the problems they still have to live with today. The specific wording isn't that important, the broader points are, that the modern economy still runs on exploiting the environment and the land that was stolen, and First Nations people were never making those decisions or receiving much of the benefits.


Of course they are, and sometimes that's okay. Not every single time and space has to be about changing people's minds. Some events can be simply about centring and listening to First Nations peoples' perspectives, seeing as those perspectives are not given space in mainstream discourse on the other 364 days of the year.

Terrific report. Thank you.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

the Australia day protesting imbeciles can find something else to whinge about next week.

That’s a pretty grotesque way to describe a lot of people who are going through ongoing pain and disadvantage.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

cos a large part of their vote comes from labor and green voters?

Anyway blame the rabid right of liberals for that. Ley was talking about colonising mars today? Delusional?

So they can’t be classified “right”. What is “right” on their platform? They promoted themselves as an alternative to the Liberals - more something or other. Seems it was false advertising. They haven’t achieved anything of substance for their electorates.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

You'll be accused of being elitist if you're not careful.

Guilty as charged Your Honour.

I firmly believe it is our patriotic duty to be better human beings than the bar scene from Star Wars.

 

[10571z]

Why are there Palestine and Pride flags at the protest. The mind boggles.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Because as Susssssssssan Ley said today Australia in 1788 was as uninhabited by humans as Mars is today.

The awful truth is people on the other side of the debate do not see you as a human.

I took this as meaning under a Dutton Government the nation would be re-instating 'Terra Nullius" as a point of law.

 

[schneebly111]

Why are there Palestine and Pride flags at the protest. The mind boggles.

A few, but mostly indigenous symbols.

But why are there so many union jacks at “Australia Day”?

 

[Goroyals22]

Why are there Palestine and Pride flags at the protest. The mind boggles.

Mostly carried by the white activists who were out for a walk and just joined in….

Gives them their exercise before the next rent a crowd outting.


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[Dogs_R_Us]

Mostly carried by the white activists who were out for a walk and just joined in….

Gives them their exercise before the next rent a crowd outting.


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They have the same aims - delegitimise and tear down Australia. And replace it with……. They never say.

 

[CM86]

They have the same aims - delegitimise and tear down Australia. And replace it with……. They never say.

"They"

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Mostly carried by the white activists who were out for a walk and just joined in….

Gives them their exercise before the next rent a crowd outting.


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Here you go with the “rent a crowd” horseschitte again.

Determined not to see they might actually believe in justice and human rights for all, aren’t you.

What exactly unnerves you so much about the notion of someone making (oftentimes considerable) sacrifices in their life to attend a protest on a topic about which they feel strongly?

(If it was a cause you agree with, would they suddenly cease to be a “rent a crowd”? I suspect so.

Or are you genuinely troubled by any public expression of passion? Here’s the thing. I have strong feelings and opinions on politics, but I’m not much of an activist for a number of reasons. But I’m fine to leave the protesters to their protests without feeling the need to try to undermine their sincerity.)

 

[MPMonkeys]

Why are there Palestine and Pride flags at the protest. The mind boggles.

It’s pure stupidity.
Most indigenous people (not the inner city ones) are rabidly anti homosexual and not much more to be said about Hamas opinions on gay people.

Then you have the Palestine protestors who are actually occupying the old Judea that somehow think they are aligned with genuine Australian Indigenous peoples.

Everyone sees through these idiots. Barely a brain between them.

Keep on protesting though. The more public they are, the more nails go into the Labor/Greens/Teals coffins.