Stan Grant's speech on racism and the Australian dream goes viral

[Tennis]

The veteran journalist and Wiradjuri man, Stan Grant, has told a Sydney audience that racism is “at the heart of the Australian dream,” as he delivered a sobering speech about the impact of colonisation and discrimination on Indigenous people and their ancestors.

It has provoked a powerful reaction from Australians, going viral on Facebook with 712,000 views and 24,000 shares, and had been watched almost 15,000 times on YouTube by Sunday morning.

As part of the IQ2 debate series held by the Ethics Centre, Grant joined immigration lawyer Pallavi Sinha, Herald Sun columnist Rita Panahi and Australian actor Jack Thompson to argue for or against the topic “Racism is destroying the Australian dream”. The event was held last year, but the Ethics Centre only released the video on online on Friday.

In his opening address, Grant, who is also Guardian Australia’s Indigenous editor, argued that racism was at “the foundation of the Australian dream”.

“The Australian dream,” Grant said. “We sing of it and we recite it in verse; ‘Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free’.

“My people die young in this country. We die 10 years younger than the average Australian, and we are far from free. We are fewer than 3% of the Australian population and yet we are 25% – one quarter – of those Australians locked up in our prisons. And if you’re a juvenile it is worse, it is 50%. An Indigenous child is more likely to be locked up in prison than they are to finish high school.”

He spoke of his Indigenous ancestors, including his grandmother and great-grandmother, who were among those institutionalised in missions, where Indigenous people were forced into unpaid labour and abused. He referenced the “war of extermination” against his ancestors.

http://www.theguardian.com/australia...eam-goes-viral

So sad and so true. It was really disturbing to think about the things that have happened to indigenous people there. Australia really needs to do more. Much more.

It's great that he is getting so much support. The people who were there at the start should be living as 2nd class citizens.

[Very Tired]

Wait... other countries besides America have dreams?

[Feral Camel]

Wait... other countries besides America have dreams?

The Aussie dream was... to my knowledge becoming a home owner.

[PaladinBash]

That's because they break the law and have a culture that hates success, learning and 'being a white dog'. That's why they end up in prison and why nobody gives a shit about them. They're full of self-hatred and self-pity but aren't above blaming it on everyone but themselves. Anyone else in the world that claims oppression would BEG to have what Aboriginal people are given.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Amazing speech, very sound wisdom in these words.

[Wells]

The Aussie dream was... to my knowledge becoming a home owner.

I thought it was to survive your next encounter with a wild animal.

[Bushtuckrman]

http://www.theguardian.com/australia...eam-goes-viral

So sad and so true. It was really disturbing to think about the things that have happened to indigenous people there. Australia really needs to do more. Much more.

It's great that he is getting so much support. The people who were there at the start should be living as 2nd class citizens.

Oh go away.

If it wasn't for British colonists it would have been somebody else. Do you really think the 6th largest land mass in the world with so many rich resources would go untouched??? It was inevitable, it could have been worse, maybe it could have been better but I doubt it. I can tell you first hand with both rural and city aboriginals they are more of a harm to each other than us the white man will ever be to them. It's 2016, move on.

“My people die young in this country. We die 10 years younger than the average Australian, and we are far from free. We are fewer than 3% of the Australian population and yet we are 25% – one quarter – of those Australians locked up in our prisons. And if you’re a juvenile it is worse, it is 50%. An Indigenous child is more likely to be locked up in prison than they are to finish high school.”

They are locked up in our prisons because they commit so much crime. It's hard for an aboriginal especially youths to be locked up for any length of time if at all, its a revolving door policy with our court system. Hell the 2 aboriginal youths that broke into my home and tried to steal my car who that same night broke into 5 homes next to me and stole somebodies 4wd after they couldnt get my wrx sti (pin code to start it) got away scott free. Even two years later they weren't charged and they were known to police with their finger prints identified as well.

Case in point this recently viral video thats been doing the rounds on our media here which the parents uploaded themselves thinking their kids were in the right and that the cops were dogs and people would side with them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1-FOR1fp4

[Jockulation]

That's because they break the law and have a culture that hates success, learning and 'being a white dog'. That's why they end up in prison and why nobody gives a shit about them. They're full of self-hatred and self-pity but aren't above blaming it on everyone but themselves. Anyone else in the world that claims oppression would BEG to have what Aboriginal people are given.

People won't want to admit it, but that right there is the truth.

[Crackleslap]

In 2010, my parents and my brother we're travelling down the east coast/inland australia (from brisbane) Anyway after a long day of driving we settled in a motel in rural town in NSW. Me and my brother went out for some lollies and shit at a petrol station. As we were coming out, a group of Aborigines came out of a car and waved at us. My brother waved back. Then they suddenly swarm us because they thought my brother gave them the "finger" and they try to mug us and everything. So we sprinted backed to our motel and locked us self in and called the police.

Few years ago when I "came out", I started getting harassed online by an Aborigine I went to school with in primary school. I blocked him pretty quickly. Then gets his friend (white) to harass me. SO I blocked him too.

And another one I met. He was a brilliant guy and really good sports and generally had good times with him.

Just because 25% of the "prisoner population" is made up of aboriginals doesn't mean they don't damn well deserve to be there.

Anyway that's my take on the prisoner aspect.

[Doctor Amadeus]

That's because they break the law and have a culture that hates success, learning and 'being a white dog'. That's why they end up in prison and why nobody gives a shit about them. They're full of self-hatred and self-pity but aren't above blaming it on everyone but themselves. Anyone else in the world that claims oppression would BEG to have what Aboriginal people are given.

Break in your house, steal your stuff, kill most of your family, and then when I am good and ready and if you are a good boy, maybe I'll find you deserving of giving some of it back, WHEN I done with it or don't want it.

Then if you don't show enough appreciation, I will call you ungrateful.

[turboether]

The Aboriginal situation is complicated. History has put them in a terrible position. That unfortunate blight on history has bred a toxic mentality among a good number that they don't need any help, and that progressing along the western 'system' is a net negative to their cultural identity. In the end, it is their choice, and the feeling is you have to take a hands-off approach to their autonomy because the last misguided hands-on attempt to improve Aboriginal quality of life was called the Stolen Generation.

The bottom line is the Aboriginal Australians have all the rights and privileges of any other Australian, and more on top. This doesn't mean they will always take advantage of them in a positive way, and as the negative uses remain prevalent it is going to breed social resentment.

[derpkitteh]

sounds like the same bullshit spouted in america.

if there's more of you locked up, teach your children to follow the law.

[Notchris]

You could try giving them casinos.

[TheDestinatus]

You could try giving them casinos.

Oh yeah, I could see that working out. There are plenty of reasonable indigenous Australians, I've worked with a few, but the stereotypes aren't just a result of racism. Its not uncommon to run into unlawful individuals, I worked with one that was making $75k a year and he used to steal from coworkers all the time. Was caught doing it multiple times but was never fired because of what he was. My brother is married to an quarter indigenous women and her family is about as respectable as they come, father being a police commissioner.

They get plenty of benefits right now if they choose to take advantage of them. No university/education fees, welfare payments, jobs that only they can apply for which is basically our version of diversification. They don't even allow other people to apply. They had it rough, but unfortunately for them they claim to be 10s of thousands of years old as a civilisation and in all that time they developed spears and boomerangs. The world outside of Europe was open to conquest once people started to reach a point where they could do it easily, thats why the Americas are the way they are, Australia is the way it is and so on and so forth. The ones that live now have no reason not to succeed except self inflicted cultural issues.

[THE Bigzoman]

I thought it was to survive your next encounter with a wild animal.

Was gonna make a crack about every animal trying to kill you.

Got beat to it.

Dammit Wells.

[Fencers]

Couple of things:

The Australian dream? That's a thing? Well, I'll be goddamned.

"Goes viral"- pretty dubious claim. The story is so weak there is barely any return on Google for it and the YT linked has only like 50k views. There are reviews of Legos by an 8 year old with millions of views.

Frankly, this is not big enough to care about.

[Deleted]

The Australian dream going by Australias track record of deadly things it is ensure to go viral.

[dwightyo39]

The Aboriginal situation is complicated. History has put them in a terrible position. That unfortunate blight on history has bred a toxic mentality among a good number that they don't need any help, and that progressing along the western 'system' is a net negative to their cultural identity. In the end, it is their choice, and the feeling is you have to take a hands-off approach to their autonomy because the last misguided hands-on attempt to improve Aboriginal quality of life was called the Stolen Generation.

The bottom line is the Aboriginal Australians have all the rights and privileges of any other Australian, and more on top. This doesn't mean they will always take advantage of them in a positive way, and as the negative uses remain prevalent it is going to breed social resentment.

Sounds like the local NA population too.

[Deleted]

http://www.theguardian.com/australia...eam-goes-viral

So sad and so true. It was really disturbing to think about the things that have happened to indigenous people there. Australia really needs to do more. Much more.

It's great that he is getting so much support. The people who were there at the start should be living as 2nd class citizens.

Seriously, TennisAce, step away from the computer and please stop making new topics. Like holy shit friend, stop.

[Polar1]

Couple of things:

The Australian dream? That's a thing? Well, I'll be goddamned.

"Goes viral"- pretty dubious claim. The story is so weak there is barely any return on Google for it and the YT linked has only like 50k views. There are reviews of Legos by an 8 year old with millions of views.

Frankly, this is not big enough to care about.

Remember google gives you localized results.
And it's viral by the standards of a country with 20 million inhabs.
There's a dream for every nation. From my experience living in Brisbane, Aussies have a huge sense of Australian exceptionalism and they have a dream, but like in every big nation exceptions may apply.