Are you proud to be Australian?
This question was posed by Larrakia woman Allyson Mills at the Rally for Justice for inmates of Darwin's Don Dale juvenile detention centre. My immediate reaction was NO. Since the rally I have been thinking about this question and seeing that yes and no are both very black and white answers and there are shades of grey when it comes to pride about being Australian.I don't feel proud of the ongoing abuse of human rights that is happening here in Australia. We saw it on Four Corners last Monday and we have been seeing it for a number of years with the treatment of asylum seekers. Clear breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a response from government that either denies or ignores these breaches or attempts to cover them up.
I do feel proud of the number and diversity of voices raised in protest against the injustices that are occurring. I do not feel proud of the racism that is still apparent in Australia. Despite education, despite the adoption of policies and legislation that aim to prevent discrimination, racism is alive and thriving. Yes, people are ill-informed and I think many choose to remain so. I do not understand why they choose to remain ignorant and it saddens me that someone like Pauline Hanson can be elected to the Australian senate. This highlights the polarised views that still exist in the community and the growth of the politics of hatred which has regained ground in Australia since 1996.
Considering the Australia of my childhood, I do feel something, maybe pride? maybe a sense of "rightness," when I see Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians standing together sharing their grief and outrage of the abuse of young people in care. I have this same feeling when I see a proud First Nations person share their personal achievements. I have it when I see young people respond to the fear-mongering and hate creating with reason and compassion. I have it when telling other people about the work of organisations and groups like ,Together for Humanity Reconciliation Australia National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
Maybe what I feel for Australia, rather than pride, is gratitude and hope. I'm grateful for the positive changes to our political and social landscapes over the past few decades and hopeful that the day will come when there is truly an egalitarian and compassionate society that is inclusive and just.
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Aunty Kathy Mills at Darwin's rally for justice |
