>
>
> DR REFSHAUGE'S RECONCILIATION/MILLENNIUM MONUMENT
>
> The recent Senate speech of Senator Ridgeway about indigenous deaths in
> custody is on a subject we should never let become a case of "out of sight
> out of mind".
>
> The NSW ALP government is building a new jail in Kempsey. Rather than
> addressing the racist criteria by which the monocultural system of
> introduced law operates to fill these jails - rather than reform - we are
> to get yet another means of removing First Peoples from society.
>
> Tell us the good news about "reconciliation" again, please, Dr Refshauge.
> "The inmates will be closer to their families!" This provides a true
> picture of the idea of reconciliation to be found in the relevant
> department of state, Aboriginal Affairs, in NSW at the end of the 20th
> century.
>
>
> RECALL WORDS OF PAT DODSON
>
> We should recall the words of Pat Dodson on this subject in his recent
> Vincent Limbiari lecture about the need to set these First Peoples free.
> Our silence on this issue at this time is participation in the acts of
> state which imprison First Peoples.
>
> While we remain in our comfort zones, our indigenous brothers and sisters
> are subjected to imprisonment as a sacrifice to the forcefully imposed and
> alien values. While we remain in our comfort zones we allow our political
> leaders to remain in their very very comfortable zone - a zone of illusion
> and pretence that all is well.
>
> All is not well - and it is clear that the message is not getting through
> to our political leaders by the usual means by which decent and
> intelligent folk communicate. It is time for a better means of getting the
> message to the political leadership.
>
> This will require us, groan, to come our of our comfort zones and align
> once again - and non-violently - with life.
>
> TRUE SPIRIT OF NSW ALP
>
> Building a new jail in Kempsey is sold to the public in the name of
> creating more local jobs.
>
> Here's a suggestion in keeping with the true spirit which is to be found
> in Dr Refshauge's approach to improving the living standards of Koories at
> this phase of the two century long colonial war against them and their
> culture: add the words "WORK MAKES FREE" across the entrance gate to the
> new Kempsey jail.
>
> And. yes, dedicate the new jail as a lasting "Reconciliation/millennium"
> monument by the Carr-Refshauge ALP government in NSW.
>
> THE MILLENNIUM TRUMPET SOUNDS
>
> Should we not be ceasing from making the ALP state leaders in NSW feel
> uncomfortable on this issue every time they appear in public - just the
> same as human rights groups demonstrate every time the Chinese leaders
> appear in public.
>
> At least the Chinese can point to a long history to justify their less
> than human treatment of Tibet's Buddhists. There is no such basis for the
> treatment of Australia's First Peoples by the colonial Western state here.
>
> And we should make a special effort to make these NSW state leaders feel
> uncomfortable on this issue during the year 2000 - as their corrupt
> Olympic Games circus gets underway to divert our attention from life's
> real issues.
>
> Come on everyone, out of your comfort zone and onto the streets. Hit the
> right note with your singing voices and these jail walls imprisoning our
> indigenous brothers and sisters are going to come tumbling down.
>
> Bruce Reyburn 15 December 99
> reyburn@mpx.com.au
>