Outrage from Abbos regarding Abbott's remarks about welfare bludgers

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/afl/mathew-stokes-writes-open-letter-to-australian-prime-minister-tony-abbott-saying-he-isolated-indigenous-communities/story-fnsjoosu-1227281252893


GEELONG midfielder and Territorian Mathew Stokes says Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is dividing Australians with his comments on remote Aboriginal communities. 
 
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, published on the Geelong club website on Friday, Stokes says comments on the "lifestyle choices" of Indigenous Australians "empower the ugly side of our society".

"For what it's worth, I don't think Mr Abbott was deliberately being racist, but one comment from someone in such a powerful position can cause so much damage," said the Cats dual premiership star.



Stokes' open letter follows four Hawthorn players protesting the closure of remote Aboriginal communities last week.
MATHEW STOKES' OPEN LETTER:

A couple of weeks ago, the Australian Prime Minister made some comments about the lifestyle choices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living in remote communities. I don't know Mr Abbott and I am not really into politics and neither are my mates yet the day after those comments were made, that was the topic of conversation amongst us.

The comments from my circle of mates ranged from ignorance, misinformed and that old Australian way of using humour to get away with some pretty offensive statements. I thought to myself at the time, if that is coming from the mouths of my mates – many who are educated and have some understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues - imagine the conversations going on at smoko all over the country!

So my open letter today is not about politics, or a commentary on what we as a country do right or wrong. It's not about past decisions made, dollars spent or programs funded. It's about the damage caused by one single statement. It's about the disharmony that can come from one man's words.

The fact our Prime Minister is acknowledged as having done so much work in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - for him to make the remarks he did, as the leader of our country – what must the world think of us? His words have isolated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders even more than they are already.

We, as Australians are made up of so many different religions & cultures, but we have such a divide from our First Australians and comments like this have ability to drive us further apart. I was fortunate to grow up not having to deal with too much racism but many people I know have had this in their lives. It saddens me to think that by the time I bring kids into this world, not much will have changed.

I am a strong supporter of the work being done to close the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-indigenous Australians and there is much great work being done, but comments like those made recently by our PM only serve to empower the ugly side of our society. For what it's worth, I don't think Mr Abbott was deliberately being racist, but one comment from someone in such a powerful position can cause so much damage.

So this is my attempt to use those comments to draw attention to an issue important to me. Not as an AFL Player, but as a proud Aboriginal person and a proud Australian. I love our country and it concerns me that comments like this can impact, not only in offices in Canberra, but in our very own communities.

These are my thoughts, right or wrong, this is my opinion. I am willing to cop the criticisms this letter may bring but it's all worth it because I'm passionate about issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

One good thing to come from this is to see many Australians – of all backgrounds – come out to support the Close the Gap, Not Communities message. I encourage people to continue to listen, show respect and care for each other.



EaeaeaeaH! Now get dat Mista Abbot fella to shart urp! Get all da pepple back into us mob playin' fooddy and bein' da heroz in awr communiddy and get da the pepple tinking abowt foody .. nod dis Polidics stuff. Day miwt stop us mob from gedding free $hit!?

[Rev.Cambeul]

Just imagine if several hundred White people got tired of living in the city and wanted a sea change in the desert amongst the blow flies. Let us also imagine that a philanthropic property owner in the outback wanted to donate a considerable acreage to these desert dwelling sea changers.

Now, should the tax payer - not the government, but you and I - should we fund their life style choice? And should the government, at our expense, go to the trouble of building homes, schools and other required facilities for the township? And if those desert dwelling sea changers should, for whatever reason, choose to destroy the township, should the government be required to rebuild that township?

Hell No!

It's the same with these Abo garbage heap hamlets. Either shut them down, or leave them like wild grapes on the vine to survive or die by their own efforts.

Delenda est Abo.

@Cailen.

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

If the Abbos are "so connected to the land". Cut off their power and their water.. let them live in these places by traditional means and work, build and maintain these places themselves! If they moved outside that part of land to places where there was legitimate work or study that doesn't make them any less of an Abbo. They have the mechanisms in place to give them cheap accommodation and study grants and easy access to apprenticeships.. WHAT THE HELL IS THE PROBLEM?