Today’s dispatch is Unsolicited Services . Originally dispatched on 21 May 2015
Aangenaam om jullie weer eens te schrijven,
When my mother (Nakamarra) died, our oldest son (Japaljarri) sent us the following email:
Oma was wise, strong, kind and cheerful. These words are not enough: her wisdom, strength, kindness and cheerfulness inspired everyone who knew her. She was proof of how good people can really be. Her example would revive your trust in humanity, and her cheerful optimism would revive your trust in yourself. We will miss her and aspire to be like her. Good-bye Oma.
My mother belonged to that generation that often uttered wise relevant sayings. The one saying that sticks in my mind is “Doe wel en zie niet om” (“Do good, and don’t look back”- i.e. don’t hold out for gratitude, reward and/or recognition) which saying she claimed came from the Bible which she had studied in primary school.
My sister (Nungarrayi) and niece (Nampijimpa) both lived long years at my parents’ home and remember many of these Dutch sayings.
“Hij heeft lange tenen” (“He’s got long toes” i.e. they’re easily stepped on-“he is easily offended”)
“Doe gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg” (“Carry on as you normally do, which is insane enough”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-ASc0qkrM …. and your wise men don’t know how it feels to be as thick as a brick…
“Wie de schoen past, die trekt hem aan” (“He who the shoe fits, wears it”)
“Wie appelen vaart, die appelen eet” (“Who transports apples, eats apples”)
Recently I was made aware of:
“Ongevraagde diensten zijn zelden aangenaam” which Google Translate rendered as “Unsolicited services are rarely pleasant”
It immediately struck a chord with me. Countless unsolicited services have been visited upon remote Aboriginal communities since before and as far back as I can remember. There is a major unsolicited services industry that services remote Aboriginal Australia, not entirely unlike a bull services a herd of cows. Just as “engagement” has replaced “consultation”, so have “service agencies” replaced “community organisations”.
Poisoned damper has long ceased to be a weapon of ethnocide and forced assimilation. Semantics and euphemisms are now the weapon of choice.
We’ve long been in an era of weasel words and dog whistles. At the same time as the unsolicited services industry has sprouted such as the “governance training” industry, we have a state government countenancing the closing down of remote Aboriginal communities, with other state governments watching with interest.
So a friend sent me this quote from African American writer Toni Morrison “Black people have chosen, or been forced to seek, safety from the whiteman’s promise.”
Eric Clapton, Promises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3fc2WYUm4s
You refuse to take me for real
It’s time you saw what I want you to see
I’d still love you if you’d just love me
The last Dispatch quoted Mahatma Ghandi : “….has emasculated the people and induced in them the habit of simulation. This awful habit has added to the ignorance and self deception of the administrators….”
Many years ago Nyirrpi community was asked at a public meeting if they wanted a security fence around their school. The community members said no, they wanted a basketball court. This was repeated at several meetings. Months later the school was fenced. Years later Nyirrpi got a basketball court.
And now some easy homework. Read articles about Aboriginal policies etc. Find examples of ‘unsolicited services’.
Next (and not quite as obvious) find examples of the ‘habit of simulation’.
Next, another easy task, find examples of ‘ignorance and self deception of the administrators’
The annual Closing the Gap report by the Prime Minister to the Parliament, is as good a place as any to start your research.
Vriendelijke groeten, tot de volgende keer,
Frenk
Teach your children well….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vnYKRacKQc
“Doe wel en zie niet om”
PS- The Dispatches are emailed in batches of 70 addresses- No sooner did I launch the first lot, I received an email from someone that works for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. I’m forwarding it without comment:
“You (or your representative) are invited to attend a meeting regarding the upcoming changes to the RJCP programme. Meeting details:
When: Wednesday, 27th May at 2pm.
Where: Council Meeting Room.
As most of you would be aware, there will be changes to the RJCP programme commencing from 1 July this year. The purpose of the meeting is to provide local organisations and service providers with further information regarding the changes.”