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Hello Australia - I'm not sure how I arrived here . . the last thing I remember I was following links looking for examples of subcultures I know nothing about. Not because I enjoy that sort of thing: because I'm doing my son's undergraduate sociology paper. Anyway. Now I'm completely confused because obviously everyone in Australia isn't weighing in on forums on the merits of "Native Australian" culture (that is what they prefer, is it not?) I did find an interview with a NA author who was all in a tizzy about some other NA author's misrepresentation of NA cultural beliefs. But as I know nothing about NA cultural beliefs, the whole matter was really lost on me. I don't know whether it's ironic or illustrative that so many of "you" are really pissed off about what "you" believe is a real problem in your country? (I'm not being flip here; I really don't know)But I do know that virtually all of the . . conservative (?) feelings about NA welfare abuse; lack of motivation; hatred of white people; affinity for burning their own buildings; alcohol and drug abuse: just remove "Aboriginal" and insert "Black" and you've gone from Australia to the U.S.!! I do have to add though, that with a few notable exceptions - the Aryan Nation; the KKK; the Latin Kings and maybe the Hell's Angels - almost no one admits to those opinions any more. I'm not sure if they've wandered over to the left or if they have gotten tired of the issues - my guess is that they realize just how close we are to being outnumbered. White people, I mean. So maybe they are trying to earn brownie points for when it actually happens. You folks probably know that in much of our South and in our big cities we are the minority now. I happen to live in a kind of sheltered corner of Connecticut in New England where a non-white face sticks out like an Elm tree on the Serenghetti. But I have lived in Texas and Florida and it's just statistics: nothing more, nothing less. The issue of back-pay for slavery is not talked about in the mainstream yet. Most people don't realize it's wending its way toward our Supreme Court and when it does, I'm pretty sure the "I-didn't-keep-any-slaves-so-why0-should-I-pay" argument will kick in. I certainly haven't kept any recently: but my family did, so I guess I'll be the one paying the "retribution". I think - sincerely - that most American Blacks believe this money - if it ever materializes - will just come to them in the form of a check; kind of like an income tax refund. Or a welfare check. Depending on which side of the fence you sit on. From the little I've read, that will not be the case. Yes: some will come in the form of tax credits. Which I personally think is the ultimate irony. And some of it will come as free or subsidized college tuition and grants and loans for business start-up: which will be given with a viable plan, just like everyone else has to have. The only difference is that these will be given BECAUSE the recipient's ancestors were slaves. And that applies to a LOT of American Blacks. A LOT. I'm not sure how we'd pay for it: probably we'd borrow from China. That seems to be in fashion right now. The problem in the U.S. - if I may be so bold - is that we haven't grasped the concept that you can't get blood out of a turnip. Once we do, things should start looking up. Or China will repossess us and we'll all have to go live there and wear those pointy hats while they come here and live in our raised ranches. Anyway. If anyone would like to enlighten me, I certainly would appreciate it. And so would my son't sociology professor ;) Through the Looking Glass I go . . . .
AlisN1dlan
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