Victoria's first female Aboriginal MP receives death threats over Australia Day comments - Polidicks

[quote=ABC News]Victoria's first female Aboriginal MP says she has been threatened with death and gang rape for her comments over Australia Day. [b]Greens MP Lidia Thorpe has previously called for flags to be flown at half-mast on January 26 to recognise the crimes committed against Aboriginal people.[/b] But her calls earlier this week were met with threatening emails and notes, which she has since reported to Victoria Police. One threat was slipped under the door of her electorate office in Northcote. "These are about rape, and these are quite graphic and detailed threats for me," Ms Thorpe said. "I'm a mum, I've had to ensure my children are safe. "My staff have been affected, my family's been affected. It's just unacceptable behaviour." The Greens have made changing the date of Australia Day one of their key priorities, after three Melbourne local councils moved to cancel official celebrations on January 26 this year. Federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the council decisions marked the start of what he hoped would become a national movement. Ms Thorpe said she would not be silent despite the threats. "I am not going to stand for this kind of behaviour and I'm not going to back down from the message that I'm trying to send out there to the people of this country," she said.[/quote] Read more at [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-20/aboriginal-mp-lidia-thrope-receives-death-threats/9345534[/url] For context for non-Australian members, Australia Day commemorates the anniversary of the arrival of the British First Fleet in 1788. As the arrival of the British resulted in severe hardships for Aboriginal Australians, with the effects persisting even today, their descendants and those sympathetic to the cause have been pushing for the Australia Day date to be changed, or at least for more recognition of the atrocities that have been performed.

I propose February 27th to honour the first execution. [editline]20th January 2018[/editline] Nah but seriously what other dates would make sense? March 20th for when Canberra was chosen as capital is too close to Easter and nothing else stands out to me as terribly significant.

Why not the date of independence? Unless you guys already have a day for that

[QUOTE=Tuskin;53066367]Why not the date of independence? Unless you guys already have a day for that[/QUOTE] We never really had a 'date of independence'. When the Australia colonies attained statehood and simultaneously federated in 1901, there were still extensive legal ties between Australia and the UK. In fact, the federation act had to be passed by the British parliament. Those legal ties continued until even as late as the 80's, with only gradual lessening of the ties in the interim. Eg Australian citizenship only became a thing in the 40's. The date of federation probably couldn't be used because it was the 1st of January, which is already a public holiday. The anniversary of the date of the passage of Australian citizenship law couldn't be used either, because ironically that happened on the 26th of January. The same date as the anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival.

Independence was the wrong word, I meant something similar to Canada Day which celebrates Canadian Confederation in 1867. Which really isn't Independence but the start of the path. Sounds like your federation was the same thing.

this is an issue that should have been solved years ago. how can the government say "we recognise and respect the traditional owners of the land" etc but completely ignore indigenous people when they ask for the day were we celebrate our great country to be changed to a different date that isn't tied to unspeakable violence and racism against their people? there's plenty of other proposed dates that would work so just pick one and do it already. [editline]20th January 2018[/editline] i've remained fairly neutral on the issue but this year i'm all for changing the date, the hardline cunts who refuse to acknowledge that there might be an issue with celebrating on the 26th need to fuck off.

They could celebrate it on the xth monday/friday of january. Also has the added bonus of guaranteeing the public holiday falls on a weekday. If it falls on the 26th then it'll be a coincidence.

[QUOTE=helifreak;53066346]I propose February 27th to honour the first execution. [editline]20th January 2018[/editline] Nah but seriously what other dates would make sense? March 20th for when Canberra was chosen as capital is too close to Easter and nothing else stands out to me as terribly significant.[/QUOTE] I feel like when the choice is a day which is tied to violence towards and oppression of Aboriginal people and "being too close to Easter", one of those things takes precedence.

The day doesn't have to represent a significant thing happening, it can honestly just be moved to Jan 27 and everyone will be happy except for racist bogans but fuck them.

[QUOTE=Pat.Lithium;53066621]this is an issue that should have been solved years ago. how can the government say "we recognise and respect the traditional owners of the land" etc but completely ignore indigenous people when they ask for the day were we celebrate our great country to be changed to a different date that isn't tied to unspeakable violence and racism against their people? there's plenty of other proposed dates that would work so just pick one and do it already. [editline]20th January 2018[/editline] i've remained fairly neutral on the issue but this year i'm all for changing the date, the hardline cunts who refuse to acknowledge that there might be an issue with celebrating on the 26th need to fuck off.[/QUOTE] May 8 would be gold

Generally I think it'd be better to change the context of Australia Day rather than the date. Make it a day of mourning and recognition of how Indigenous Australians have been treated more than FUCK YEAH NATIONAL PRIDE WEAR THE FLAG ON YOUR THONGS AND DRINK SHIT BEER

[QUOTE=TacticalBacon;53067591]Generally I think it'd be better to change the context of Australia Day rather than the date. Make it a day of mourning and recognition of how Indigenous Australians have been treated more than FUCK YEAH NATIONAL PRIDE WEAR THE FLAG ON YOUR THONGS AND DRINK SHIT BEER[/QUOTE] But people don't want a day a mourning. They want to eat food, drink beer, and get fucked up wearing the nation flag as a cape. If they want a day of mourning why not hold it on the day they first killed some of the convict settlers (May 29), or the day the Hawksbury River massacre happened (Sept 1)?

Perfect solution: -keep the 26th as a public holiday memorial day -Put Australia day on the first friday of february. benefits include: -respect given towards indigenous australians -1 more public holiday per year (and always a long weekend too!)

[QUOTE=TacticalBacon;53067591] more than FUCK YEAH NATIONAL PRIDE WEAR THE FLAG ON YOUR THONGS AND DRINK SHIT BEER[/QUOTE] I thought you were joking but then I saw this ad for another article is literally half way down the article: [t]https://i.imgur.com/sk0rS9Z.jpg[/t] 'stralia

[QUOTE=Ta16;53068673]I thought you were joking but then I saw this ad for another article is literally half way down the article: [t]https://i.imgur.com/sk0rS9Z.jpg[/t] 'stralia[/QUOTE] Same way they banned guns, pass a law that forces all states to pass the same law.

[QUOTE=Ta16;53068673]I thought you were joking but then I saw this ad for another article is literally half way down the article: [t]https://i.imgur.com/sk0rS9Z.jpg[/t] 'stralia[/QUOTE] That's nothing [t]https://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/sites/sbs.com.au.comedy/files/styles/full/public/melb_140124_getty.jpg?itok=CoEG6bM5[/t]

Never been a fan of Australia day to begin with, honestly. It generally ends up being an excuse for all the loudest, shittiest, and most self-centered bogans to go all out with their "Aussie Pride!!!". "Aussie Pride" here meaning getting angrily drunk, picking fights, speeding down suburban streets going three times the speed limit in overly suped-up utes, and being as racist, homophobic and xenophobic as possible to everybody who isnt "true blue Aussie" - AKA: anybody who isn't a white, beer-bellied alcoholic football hooligan dressed in a stained singlet and board shorts. Can of VB and Victoria Cross tattoos optional, ear-rendingly obnoxious accent compulsory. Australia day tends to be an annual showcase of everything wrong with this country.

[QUOTE=Ona;53070119]Never been a fan of Australia day to begin with, honestly. It generally ends up being an excuse for all the loudest, shittiest, and most self-centered bogans to go all out with their "Aussie Pride!!!". "Aussie Pride" here meaning getting angrily drunk, picking fights, speeding down suburban streets going three times the speed limit in overly suped-up utes, and being as racist, homophobic and xenophobic as possible to everybody who isnt "true blue Aussie" - AKA: anybody who isn't a white, beer-bellied alcoholic football hooligan dressed in a stained singlet and board shorts. Can of VB and Victoria Cross tattoos optional, ear-rendingly obnoxious accent compulsory. Australia day tends to be an annual showcase of everything wrong with this country.[/QUOTE] That can be how it is here on the 4th of July in certain areas as well, I don't think this is really isolated to any nations's special date

[QUOTE=Tuskin;53066441]Independence was the wrong word, I meant something similar to Canada Day which celebrates Canadian Confederation in 1867. Which really isn't Independence but the start of the path. Sounds like your federation was the same thing.[/QUOTE] Australia's Federation 'Day' was January 1st, 1901, which unfortunately doesn't make things easier.

People sending death threats and the like are some of the shittier people around. But Australia day doesn't need to change.

[QUOTE=Jake Nukem;53071315]People sending death threats and the like are some of the shittier people around. But Australia day doesn't need to change.[/QUOTE] Why not? Australia day is literally a celebration of the day when Europeans landed on the coast of already inhabited land and basically said "Ours, now." Then proceeded to convert the entire continent into a penal colony, massacre and subjugate the native populace en' masse, introduce a whole heap of invasive species and illnesses, and generally do what colonial-era Europeans did best: utterly ruin everything for everyone who wasn't them. The Aboriginal people here are, to this day, subject to some of the worst racism and prejudice I've seen outside of a liberal propaganda piece. And this is persistent long after the Aus' government made a move to try and improve their situation. Even with dozens of laws and protections in place, the Aboriginal people get treated like dirt. Celebrating the day that white people barged into this place and claimed it through a literal bloody conquest is, in my opinion, kind of a shit thing to do. But hey, what would I know?

[QUOTE=Ona;53071331]Why not? Australia day is literally a celebration of the day when Europeans landed on the coast of already inhabited land and basically said "Ours, now." Then proceeded to convert the entire continent into a penal colony, massacre and subjugate the native populace en' masse, introduce a whole heap of invasive species and illnesses, and generally do what colonial-era Europeans did best: utterly ruin everything for everyone who wasn't them. The Aboriginal people here are, to this day, subject to some of the worst racism and prejudice I've seen outside of a liberal propaganda piece. And this is persistent long after the Aus' government made a move to try and improve their situation. Even with dozens of laws and protections in place, the Aboriginal people get treated like dirt. Celebrating the day that white people barged into this place and claimed it through a literal bloody conquest is, in my opinion, kind of a shit thing to do. But hey, what would I know?[/QUOTE] Y'all should do what we do here in the states: celebrate the day you stuck it to the monarchists and forced every last one of those tyrant-loving Tories out of your country at gunpoint :v:

[QUOTE=Ona;53071331]Why not? Australia day is literally a celebration of the day when Europeans landed on the coast of already inhabited land and basically said "Ours, now." Then proceeded to convert the entire continent into a penal colony, massacre and subjugate the native populace en' masse, introduce a whole heap of invasive species and illnesses, and generally do what colonial-era Europeans did best: utterly ruin everything for everyone who wasn't them. The Aboriginal people here are, to this day, subject to some of the worst racism and prejudice I've seen outside of a liberal propaganda piece. And this is persistent long after the Aus' government made a move to try and improve their situation. Even with dozens of laws and protections in place, the Aboriginal people get treated like dirt. Celebrating the day that white people barged into this place and claimed it through a literal bloody conquest is, in my opinion, kind of a shit thing to do. But hey, what would I know?[/QUOTE] We already gave them land back, what happened 200 years ago is almost irrelevant when we give them benefits and welfare beyond what your average person would receive. We celebrate the day Australia as a nation was created and that includes Aboriginals, do they not have access to better quality of life as a result? Do they not have access to better education, healthcare, etc? Have we not tried to repay them for what our ancestors have done? The people who are legitimately racist against them for no other reason than their skin colour are cancer, but celebrating a day our country was made is fine by me. As a matter of fact MOST aboriginals couldn't give less of a shit about it, just people wanna politicize it for gain of one form or another.

Before the white man arrived in Australia Aboriginals were not really all that cultured. Settles account that many tribes performed infanticide, cannibalism, violence towards women and the weaker males. I don't really think we should glorify the aborigines before colonisation. I'm not saying what the Europeans did 200-100 years ago was good, but I also don't think it was good before hand.

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;53071336]Y'all should do what we do here in the states: celebrate the day you stuck it to the monarchists and forced every last one of those tyrant-loving Tories out of your country at gunpoint :v:[/QUOTE] Nah, we also celebrate the same sort of day with 'we really got you guys by the balls when we ransacked your country, right? haha. Man, it's great we've got all this food this year on the land we stole; literally thank God for all these crops yielding big outputs rather than the natives for being OK with dying for our right to farm on it.' Thanksgiving.

[QUOTE=Firgof Umbra;53071467]Nah, we also celebrate the same sort of day with 'we really got you guys by the balls when we ransacked your country, right? haha. Man, it's great we've got all this food this year on the land we stole; literally thank God for all these crops yielding big outputs rather than the natives for being OK with dying for our right to farm on it.' Thanksgiving.[/QUOTE] Thanksgiving is a shit-tier holiday though. I have yet to hear of anyone blowing their hands and dick off with illegal fireworks on Thanksgiving. July 4th? Totally different story.

I don't really want the date to change but damn do the racists make me feel bad for having that position.

[QUOTE=Ona;53071331]Why not? Australia day is literally a celebration of the day when Europeans landed on the coast of already inhabited land and basically said "Ours, now." Then proceeded to convert the entire continent into a penal colony, massacre and subjugate the native populace en' masse, introduce a whole heap of invasive species and illnesses, and generally do what colonial-era Europeans did best: utterly ruin everything for everyone who wasn't them. The Aboriginal people here are, to this day, subject to some of the worst racism and prejudice I've seen outside of a liberal propaganda piece. And this is persistent long after the Aus' government made a move to try and improve their situation. Even with dozens of laws and protections in place, the Aboriginal people get treated like dirt. Celebrating the day that white people barged into this place and claimed it through a literal bloody conquest is, in my opinion, kind of a shit thing to do. But hey, what would I know?[/QUOTE] It doesn't celebrate what the British did, it celebrates that the country as it is now, was formed then (Not even the date they first landed either). Its like asking the US to not celebrate their independence on that date because a lot of people died for the declaration to be signed, they don't celebrate the people dying, they celebrate the result of it. Same deal, we don't celebrate the genocide of indigenous Australians on that date (its not even when that sort of thing started, the British were peaceful at first so its literally pulling at hairs to find a date to connect those actions to) so why should we change the date. If the complaint was "we want Australia day to also officially recognise the hardship that was put on the indigenous Australians" then fair enough, we should recognise that but ironically through changing the date there would be even less recognition of what they went through, which is the exact opposite of what those pushing for this change want. This seems to mostly be a media/political gain thing anyway, most media outlets jumping on the bandwagon have, for every other year past, put up heaps of articles about how best to get shitfaced or where the sickest parties are going to be but suddenly they all, conveniently at the same time, come to the conclusion that this is suddenly a problem now when it previously wasn't. They don't give a fuck about what the indigenous pops want they just care about views/ratings and that sweet $$$ [quote] Australia day tends to be an annual showcase of everything wrong with this country.[/quote] A vocal minority causing issues and making a problem no one wants nor cares for, now where have I heard that before :thinking: Majority of people don't go out into the streets to start fights, they have bbq's with their mates.

[QUOTE=Jake Nukem;53071353]We already gave them land back, what happened 200 years ago is almost irrelevant when we give them benefits and welfare beyond what your average person would receive. We celebrate the day Australia as a nation was created and that includes Aboriginals, d[B]o they not have access to better quality of life as a result? Do they not have access to better education, healthcare, etc? Have we not tried to repay them for what our ancestors have done?[/B] The people who are legitimately racist against them for no other reason than their skin colour are cancer, but celebrating a day our country was made is fine by me. As a matter of fact MOST aboriginals couldn't give less of a shit about it, just people wanna politicize it for gain of one form or another.[/QUOTE] on paper, yeah, but there's a racism problem towards indigenous people despite everyone saying "we apologized, what more do they want?". they are often not taken seriously and end up being treated like shit by government organizations who are supposed to be there to help them. if you think there isn't a racism problem against indigenous people go on the street and ask 10 random people what they think about aboriginals. [editline]24th January 2018[/editline] and i don't believe that australia day is a celebration of the invasion by england, no one is fucking celebrating that. which is why it shouldn't matter what date it is on, its a celebration of our great country. if there's enough people who want to change it, fine, if not keep it on the 26th until there is enough people complaining. australia day is more than a date on the calendar.