Thought this might be of interest to people. ================================ >Seize the Time - says respected Aboriginal Rights activist Terry O'Shane > >On the eve of the referendum, Terry O'Shane, one of the most senior and >respected activists for Aboriginal and human rights for more than 30 years, >has issued a passionate and very personal plea to indigenous people to >vote "yes" for a republic. > >In doing so, he has taken issue with other prominent indigenous leaders >who earlier this week issued an open letter to the public and media, urging >indigenous people to vote down the republic question. > >If we as Aboriginal people oppose racism in all its forms, institutional and >direct, then we must raise our voices in unison and vote "YES" for the >Republic and "NO" for the preamble. > >I fear the continuation of the Monarchy, and all the problems that have >arisen from the use of the "Crown. " And I'm concerned we may see it's >continuation because some of my people are supporting the "NO" vote. > >In the list of those people who support a "NO" vote are a lot of my personal >friends - people that I have enormous respect for and some whom I consider >as my closest friends. > >On this issue I'm afraid we'll need to agree to disagree. > >It defies understanding that indigenous people may well help maintain a >British Monarch as Head of State for "our country ", simply because >neither party spoke to us about the Republic or the inclusion of our rights >in any new Constitution. > >This is precisely what their advocacy for a "No" vote this Saturday >means. > >If that is the outcome, they are aiding and abetting the perpetuation of >the great racism we have been made to live under. > >This country was claimed under the doctrine of "Terra Nullius" on behalf of >the British Crown. > >1992 saw that evil lie exposed in the High Court's decision on "Mabo". Since >then, against all opposition, we have been making incremental progress, >slowly but surely. > >The latest step forward was the decision by the UN 's CERD committee, >criticising the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act by the Howard >Government, when it enacted its 10 point plan. > >We need to get rid of the Monarchy and with it the legal fiction of Crown >Land. > >So I am asking all Aboriginal People to vote "YES" for a Republic and "NO" >for the preamble on Saturday. > >My position is that I will follow the direction that many good people have >set for us and continue to set. > >My life has been dedicated to the elimination of all forms of racism. > >If I remain silent now I would be complicit in the perpetuation of those >things that I have opposed all my life. > >We will, by increments, develop better quality of life for future >generations of Indigenous people, if we attack the evils of racism when the >opportunity is with us. > >This is one of those times. >Sieze the Time. > >Terry O'Shane: Tel 0417 764 992 >5 November 1999 > >Craig Sproule >A/g Administration Manager >Office of Public Affairs - ATSIC >Ph: 02 6121 4952 >Fax: 02 6282 2854 >E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
