Welcome to Country?!

Just because it’s not going to hurt you, doesn’t make it necessary.

I rest my case

For all the virtue signallers out there, it should be remembered that 'Welcome to Country' was started by Ernie Dingo 20 years ago, it was never an indigineous custom before then. Further, when does this all end? Are we to expect it every time we get on a bus, or walk into a supermarket? How many of the virtue signallers actually do anything about indigineous culture, other than pushing it down the throats of others?

Virtue signalling by way of saying others are virtue signalling.

Next you'll want me to take a knee...

so over all these racist rubbish & sick of seeing the black Australia flag as well.

I'll admit to being a bit think, but if you're flying from Melbourne, for example, to Cairns, how many 'countries' do you fly over? Which one(s) will welcome you? Which to acknowledge? I know there are big 'clan'/'tribe'/'skin colour'/etc (whatever the accepted term is) maps displayed in Qantas lounges, but this "being respectful" thing now seems to have jumped the fence and taken the fence with it. Instead of token "respect", maybe it's time for putting some practical money where the mouth is. Talk is cheap, and too often quite woke.

I don't know enough about the "Country" issue (as a non-Australian) so I am not going to venture into that minefield. But aspects of this debate make me so angry.

Context: I've been a strident D&I activist for many years, despite being "male, pale and stale". I set up D&I Committees both at my previous employer and my current one.

However, I think the whole "woke" culture is now completely out of hand.

I *agree* that black lives matter, of course they do, as much as mine or anyone else's, but I don't agree with the way the BLM movement is heading. Cancel culture is to me as abhorrent as racism, sexism, and virtually any other -ism. I detest virtue signalling too. The current woke movement embraces both, amplifies both, and frankly (IMHO) creates more division.

I deplore the fact that Churchill's statute in Parliament Square was defaced with accusations of racism when he did more - arguably - than any other person in Europe to defeat (racist) fascism. By all means add explanations and give context and explain that the person whose achievements are being celebrated was flawed - either by the standards of the time or by the *different* standards of today. While you're at it, recognise that standards and values change and explain that too.

John Cleese recently pulled out of an appearance at the Cambridge Union (the premier debating society at England's *second and inferior* Ancient University (guess where I went)) because a former invitee had been cancelled as a result of having previously impersonated Hitler. Cleese pointed out that he had himself impersonated Hitler (for comedic effect) and "cancelled" himself before anyone else did it, expressed regret to those students who wanted to speak with him and suggesting that he would be happy to do so if they could find a less woke venue. Good for him.

Let me go back to my point that I am active in D&I. At a former employer I actively campaigned (successfully, I am glad to say) for our Diversity Committee to be renamed Diversity and Inclusion Committee because to my mind inclusion is actually MORE important than diversity. If you are inclusive, diversity will follow. Not, necessarily, the other way around. Cancel culture is the opposite of inclusion.

Perth Airport is following suit:

'Boarding gates at domestic terminals will show the commonly used name of the destination and the name used by the traditional custodians.

The screens will rotate between the commonly used place name and the Indigenous name.

A flight to Adelaide will be displayed as Adelaide/Kaurna Country and flights to Newman will be Newman/Nyiyaparli Country.'

When will it all end?...

Where will it end? Hopefully with a kinder and more educated generation of Australians that celebrates and is proud of their Indigenous ancestry and history.

Like it or loath it - we're seeing a generational change thankfully, and some will choose to embrace it and others will see the sky falling in. I just get confused when people think this 'woke' generation are too sensitive, whilst they themselves get hot under the collar about a simple acknowledgement of country that will take 5 seconds.

Oh dear god! They are using indigenous place names! The world is ending.

Or, alternatively, you should just suck it up and stop being a racist

Good grief, I never thought that expressing an opinion different from yours would be considered racist. As I posted previously, next you’ll want me to take a knee…

You are explicitly complaining about indigenous place names being used in a way which is inclusive and does not harm you in any way. You are demonstrating prejudice based on the ethnic and cultural origin of these names. It’s textbook racism.

Crikey - you're like a dog with a bone...

It’s all a plot by Alan Joyce. But your sharp correspondent has spotted his cunning plan and it’s not what you think!

Under adverse possesion laws, after welcoming all those sleepy late night passengers to country for 12 years by purporting that they are acting on behalf of aboriginal people. Qantas will apply in the courts to take ownership of Australia. Very very devious Alan.

As a minimum. First nations should license the delegation process to enable non aboriginal qantas staff to make the welcome on their behalf and a smoking ceremony should be held whereby the traditional trading of landcruisers takes place.