Originally posted by Malacasta
It amazes me how much anger there is towards a group of people who are a tiny proportion of the population, who have 3rd world health and living conditions, who have basically zero impact on anybodies day to day life, who haven't taken anybodies land or anything.
Firstly, please don't construe my post as anger or hostility towards the aboriginal people. I DO have respect for the aboriginal culture and its people and those of its decendants still alive today.

As Rosuav correctly surmised, a large amount of my frustration is from those that want to claim all the rights and benefits yet sponge off the government. In a large number of cases (refer to almost any news footage of protests or interviews on the topic) the most vocal are not even full blooded aborigines - if your lucky 25% or less. I believe the government policy is that you can claim your aboriginal heritage if you are up to 1/32 "aboriginal blood". Effectively this means the folks doing the complaining are just as guilty as me of "invading" and should therefore give themselves a stern smack across the ass.

Should we continue to help the aboriginal people? Absolutely. But the government has said "Sorry", now get over it and lets worry about moving forward happily for the next 200 years instead of sulking about the last 200

My position is similar for ANYONE who tries to play both sides of the system, and seems to care more about what they can get out of it than any real progress.

Not wanting to derail the thread but as examples (cause I know some folks like clear detail):

* Female firefighters who spruik about being treated as equals, while in the confines of their station lift their tops and proclaim "I have these and I'm not afraid to use them!" [for promotion, course opportunities etc..]
* Workers that beg on compassionate grounds to be stationed closer to home because their wife is having a rough time and they can't afford the extra travel time into the city - but then turn around and take "overtime" shifts, or volunteer for postings on penalty rates even though it is further than the city posting.
* Celebrities that get on a soapbox over animal rights issues without knowing what the hell they are talking about.

Back to "Invasion Day", at some point in moving forward both sides of a conflict have to put the past behind them and focus on the future not the past. The latest "debate" is just another example where that has not happened - and varies "notable personalities" have jumped on board to lend they're voice (and call me cynical, but in most cases I bet it is to boost their public image/popularity)