Frank,
There is no truth, just a situation. Buy a bike, I'll take you on a
ride so you can see the situation first hand it is not good but also
it's not as bad out there as might be told from the headlines ... you
will see first hand what is being tried out. It's a bit like me and my
kids, I stumble along and occasionally they teach how to do my
parenting a little better. Of coarse it is bigger and more important
problem that me and my kids. I have found the folk doing the most are
often black, often older but not always (but some whites, in my
experience older whites) and they make little or no noise but are more
effective with wise words than a christian or psychologist with multi-
million dollar funding.. The thing is there are good and bad people
out there so we do not need to throw more than money, we need to throw
time and thought after all we live in their country. Make no mistake
there is more than enough money, too much. The number of psychologists
out there doing research is astounding, all earning good salaries with
hardship benefits, etc.. Yet none seem to have answers.
Before I had been out there on my own I would have said "they need
education" and that was valid but so wrong and now I realise that
"white Australian" education and "First Australian" education are so
different it is not as simple as the Minister thinks or maybe he knows
but does not have any answers.
One thing I can tell you. The kids who are in control and living life
have self esteem, the minority kids who are out of control and to be
brutal dying .. don't. Why? I suspect the answer in Oodnadatta will be
different to Kununarra. The only thing I'm sure of is that it involves
trust. White folk don't trust, Abo's trust.
beers,