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Support for reconciliation

By Margaret Wenham

2 June 2004 - Community leaders and representatives from more than a dozen faiths came together in support of indigenous Australians at a National Reconciliation Week event in Brisbane yesterday.

Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Baha'i were among those at the Multi-Faith Centre at the Griffith University's Nathan campus to lend their spiritual "witness" to reconciliation.

Some like Master Yi Lai, abbess of the Fo Guang Shan Chung Tian Buddhist Temple, spoke of the meaning behind the doctrine of reconciliation relevant to their faith.

"If there was harmony between countries and harmony between races, how splendid this world would become," she said.

The key to reconciliation in Australia was for non-indigenous people to appreciate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture "with gratitude", Master Yi said.

Others, like Laurie Rosenblum OAM, said the Jewish community had been behind reconciliation for more than 40 years as was demonstrated by their activities in supporting the push in the 1960s for Aboriginal people to vote.

But he said not a great deal had been achieved since.

"Our first contribution back in 1966 was for full enfranchisement, but since then we have made no real progress in restoring these proud, intelligent and skilful people to their rightful heritage," he said.

"We owe them a lot. Let us fix it."

Kate Pascoe of Soka Gakkai International Australia said she was "outraged and angered" at the past humiliations indigenous people had suffered.

She said racism and discrimination was still evident in Australian society.

Professor Toh Swee-Hin, director of the Multi-Faith Centre, said there were many indicators that the marginalisation of indigenous people continued.

"We need to ask politicians why it is that so few of the 'Bringing Them Home' report recommendations have been implemented," he said.

Aboriginal leader and academic, Boni Robertson, thanked the religious leaders for their support but said she was tired of hearing the word "reconciliation" and said there was nothing to reconcile while there was no recognition of the true history of Australia.

"We are expected to forget and go forward, but how can we go forward without any recognition of the truth?" she said.

Other National Reconciliation Week events include a forum tomorrow at the Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm, titled: Reconciliation: Together we're doing it! Are we?

Source: The Courier-Mail

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