Try to look like you care, Howard
01.10.2007
A LEADING indigenous academic has challenged John Howard to show genuine concern for Aboriginal children instead of appearing scared he would ``catch a disease'' every time he holds a black baby.
Chris Sarra, a former Queenslander of the Year who revolutionised primary school education for children in the state's Cherbourg Aboriginal community, said the Prime Minister should not be surprised that many people were sceptical of his newfound concern for Aboriginal children and suspected it could be an election stunt.
In a speech in Adelaide, Dr Sarra said there was a desire by some Aboriginal people to cling to ``an undignified victim status as a means of survival''.
``We are not hopeless, pitiable, despicable and evil people,'' he said. ``If the Prime Minister is so intent on shining the light on all of the evil ones in the disastrous circumstance relating to the wellbeing of our children, then he should look in the mirror and ask himself why he ignored this crisis for all of his time in government.
``He should not be surprised when many are sceptical and suspicious that his actions are not truly motivated by love for Aboriginal children, but rather some cheap election stunt or some unscrupulous land grab.
``I challenge the Prime Minister to attend to this, which is a concern for all Australians, in a way that is beyond politics, but indulgent in what is right.
``I challenge him to approach an Aboriginal child on his next visit to a remote community, and rather than stand stiff like a scared statue thinking he is going to catch a disease, or (his) watch is going to be stolen, but to hold that child close so that he feels their heart beating close to his, then look into theirbrown eyes and say, `You and your family are my family; I can see you need help and we are going to help your family and your community to fix things here and make it right for you'.''
Dr Sarra, whose brother Zac is a Queensland magistrate, also slammed attitudes to child sexual abuse in communities, and accused ``flash white lawyers'' of pretending there was ``a cultural dimension'' to such abuse.
In the past, Dr Sarra, who strongly believes that Aboriginal dysfunction will be addressed only through Aboriginal people exhibiting leadership and taking control of their own problems and solutions, has argued against the solutions proposed by Cape York Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson, such as withholding welfare from parents who neglect their children or do not send them to school.
Some of Mr Pearson's proposals have been included in Mr Howard's unprecedented move to end child abuse in NT Aboriginal communities.
In last week's speech in Adelaide, Dr Sarra said: ``Show me an Aboriginal man who says it is OK to have sex with a child, and then I will show you a man who should be in jail. What I can also show you is white police and white magistrates who lack the courage or commitment to deal with such matters in a way that they would in a regular community.
``I am sure those of you who know Aboriginal communities will have faces coming to mind right now of people who you know that are very solid citizens, loving passionately their communities, yet drowning in the dysfunction they are made to endure.''
``We know of Aboriginal people working as education assistants in schools -- often described as the most valuable asset to the schools -- fielding the hurt, confusion, anger and frustration of children from communities trying to cope with day-to-day life, and then trying to learn.''
