We dream of things that never were and say: "Why not?"

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Good Evening!

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From thousands miles that stretched north of us, the first British people reached the Ngarrindjeri lands – on the banks of the river Murray, – almost two centuries ago. They were followed by the first other settlers in South Australia, – encroaching on both the lands and entitlements of the Ngarrindjeri  people, – and many others elsewhere in Australia.

Many of those amidst the Ngarrindjeri lands, had to give up not only their safety but also their hope. Many lost their lives,   already by far outnumbered, – just before the first European’s set ground on this continent in the southern hemisphere.

Some would say that the Smallpox epidemic which arrived before was provoked to settle the pathway for British domination. Others would say that those comments or sentiments are not in line with what history says. However, both in history and in the world of today, we see things being provoked to change the direction of the future.

From countries across the globe people settled in Australia , – often under harsh circumstances. They also struggled with poverty, not rarely despair, – to build their lives in a different country. Not rarely European convicts, – ill treated at home already before setting sail to this far away corner of the wold.

 

Many made it, some did not make it! 

Many still make it!

Most of the people who came to this country were eventually successful and pushed forward to the country which we call Australia today, – still a country closely linked with the British Crown, and some of the British traditions.

All this started  some two hundred years ago, – at a continent more ancient than the original and aboriginal people itself.-

Today, – most Australians live in the cities near the Pacific Ocean – where over 90% of the people are able to live without ever seeing Aboriginal faces. Often they live their lives in comfort and safety, which is the legitimate desire of people living in Australia. Not rarely they have to do without those comforts, without at times even the adequacy of good education, the safeguard at least in part of building a decent and independent future.

Still too many Australian citizens live in the mediocrity of a British orientated country where both Parliament and systems of government are based on what was once copied from England. England great as a country within the context of Europe, but England as well being inflated to be the ongoing reference for the future dynamics of Australia, the last still trying to find its own identity in the Pacific region with a multicultural society not having any strings anymore with the UK, – apart from trade and friendship.

Speaking about the original inhabitants of this continent and their restrictions we can simply say this:

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a “formal apology” on 13th February 2008 to the “stolen generations” of indigenous Australians who have been taken away from their parents. This was the right thing to do. But we are not there as yet as an Australian people, – and the road to justice is long.

The dynamics are not always easy, – and easy are not always the dynamics of history.

History is a collection of both justice and injustice, – as it proves all over the world. We have however a free choice how to manifest ourselves in the direction of increasing justice, – how to bend the Australian Ark for its own history, for its own identity, into the pending future, – with safety and with speed.

National justice within such mission is able  flourish in this time, in generations to come.

We all cherish this country for various reasons and whilst many people lost their dreams and value for their identity, – as a country we should progress  towards a more unified identity.

This is what you can do as a people.  – as a nation.

Respecting  British history for what it offered over the many years in the past,  people of the future and in the far and extended corners of Australia,  are neither related anymore to the British traditions in politics,  – nor are they related to the British Crown.  The last has been the history of the British in the past, and for certain it can’t be the future of Australia with its own identity,  a culture still finding its way across the far-stretching borders between both the Indian Southern and Pacific Ocean.

The original people who belong to this land, – have survived both in language and culture, both in sharing ritual practices and sharing dreams.

They had and still have their crafts. They had and still have their dreams, their spiritual beliefs – still closely in touch with nature, – like we all have our dreams at different varieties. But we have all our dreams now on this continent, born in both freedom and Australian space,  – respectful for both its diversity and its own culture,  the last different from any other.

Some would say there is a pending challenge in Australia, which we can’t postpone, but have to embrace. Have to embrace it as the past is rushing to the future,- and amidst our own choices, and insistence and perseverance, – we do decide the outcome of our collective history – as one Nation.

At some day – and this day will come in the forward movement of both history and the future, – the Ngarrindjeri people besides other groups in Australia will go up the mountain of hope  – and leave the despair of many of their children without hope or dreams to the past.  And move forward!

And together we shall defend the afflicted among the people, and save the children of the poor.

The day will come!

It is the day that people will figure out what they hope for as one nation, and live in that hope, – right under its roof. It is the day that all people have both the choice and the opportunity to use their talents and genius for the great good of culture and Australian society, – if they belief this is the right thing to do.

 

It is the day that people have the courage to take off their hat and toss them over the walls of existing barriers  and prejudice.

It will be the time for justice amidst the lands and the hills of Australia.  – with a future based on strength, with a future of being a peace-loving country.

A nation being a buffer of positive leverage and both cultural and economical exchange with our neighbours from both the east and the north, – besides maintaining positive ties with old allies. But more independent and interdependent than ever before.

The liberation of people of one Nation starts with the liberation of the dreams, existing in the hearts of people. It starts with the liberation of the talent and genius hidden in the genes of those who take all part in the process of bringing Australia to the next frontier. A frontier with the seeds of historical justice,  where neither genius nor future can’t be lost in the endeavours we face as a Nation in a changing world.

There will be the day that even Australia,- will not be linked anymore with the British Crown, and some of the inflated other traditions, – and on that day a new generation of Australians will select an Australian President, – some decades down the line.

It is the day that the Ark of Australian history will bend towards the realities of today and the future, the realities of a different culture, – and fulfil the unique identity of a new nation born out of traditions far older than the British Crown!

When that day comes, – it will be the day  that historical justice finally prevails and that with all the work and talents to be developed beforehand, – Ngarrinjeri and other genius won’t be lost , – as at some day Australia may have eg a President with his or her own Ngarrindjeri or other roots in the future laying ahead.

Like history shows this happened in different countries as well.

Justice shall flourish in this future with the fullness of peace, – speaking within new legislation developed in a Senate based on the qualities of people working together for a common future, rather than the often dysfunctional activities we witness today. Respectful differences are good to fine tune future dynamics in the right direction for stirring this country to the next level, with law enforcement based on proper laws and adequate people to carry them out. With an Australian President chosen by the people and for the people, with both legislative branch, executive branch separated amidst an independent branch to apply the laws Australia deserves, – the last which applies to all of us regardless our differences. 

As a country we need to show candor and honesty in the level of influence we have abroad, in the critical choices we need to make for the future with direction and purpose, – without too much illusions but with healthy convictions.

Speaking  about wars and the disturbing facts in Afghanistan, including the events leading to it,  – after as well both wars in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq –  we are fully entitled to say:

War, – often is pointless, and needs to be prevented with all reasonable efforts on the required international platforms for discussion and dialogue. The perception that major war within seconds could destroy everything what has been achieved during more than 100 generations of work by human is based on the fact of what is available now in terms of nuclear and chemical destruction.

What the US does perceive as national security is not always similar with  Australia’s perception on national security, and we don’t always need to be involved in US military endeavours abroad. Terror is a danger and will be a danger at any time for all times, but the means by which this terror needs to be defeated is subject for healthy discussions as how to do this without causing more damage than intended, – or without causing potential escalating war’s which would defeat the purpose when “speaking softly with a strong stick” could do the job.

With high level military intelligence and selective actions,   the prevention of terror based on international cooperation  is more effective than using a huge war machinery and abusing human rights at places where there are more people innocent than culprits.

Whilst such considerations may be complex at times, under all circumstances we need to act with wisdom and restraint, – being proactive as well at the earliest possible opportunity to prevent harm at an early stage.

Our Gross Domestic Product is over US $ 1.5 trillion, but it counts apart from the service sector contributions to ill selected war’s. Apart from the agricultural and mining sector it counts for the costs of air pollution as well. The energy dependency in terms of oil and petroleum is around 80% and we have a an estimated budget deficit of a $45 billion forecast. Whilst exporting commodities, importing various  manufactures are still on the increase.

Australia is still scoring high in the worldwide quality-of-life index,  but both poverty, chronic diseases, healthcare costs and the extinction of native species are clearly on the increase as well, – besides a future of raising seawater levels and global warming, including increasing brutal forces of nature.

Climate change and water security are interlinked, the last being  underestimated as due to floodings and rainfall related with changing El Niño patterns.  However, long-term drought will be likely again within the  Australian horizons without any productivity on creating water reservoirs, – whilst the issue of water is likely to become critical in the future.

Besides this, the question of save energy supply for the needs of the many is not allowed to serve the pockets of the few, being allowed to make short cuts in favour of nuclear decisions  where the combat of nuclear disasters on this continent outside times of war can only be successful by not going nuclear.

Australia has to stick to its political promise to look to the future, a future with changing dynamics, both with challenges and opportunities, both with areas of hope and danger.

This is the next frontier for Australia!

And so today, – we are not forgetting that the quality of courage, – and determination, and perseverance will not be forgotten in Australia, – as this next frontier is based on this particular courage and this particular determination of both the people of this continent and its politicians.

It is the quality of both the art and speech, –  the people to get a whole nation moving to the next frontier of being an independent Republic. Strong in its foundations.  Strong in its beliefs and expectations  to have quality in its leaders, – today and tomorrow. – Strong in its beliefs of justice and equality among different cultures, – both within and without.

Strong in its belief not to shrink for the responsibilities, – both at home and abroad. Strong in its commitment to get proper education in place at all corners of this continent, – with equal rights and opportunities for everybody.

This is the day we can say: we gained Australia and we did not lost it at the altar of poor politics, – on the altar of unfinished business at a cost of the future!

This is the day we are still waiting for!

Thank you!

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http://paulalexanderwolf.com/2013/01/06/we-dream-of-things-that-never-were-and-say-why-not/

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http://paulalexanderwolf.com/2011/04/19/our-future-lies-in-our-children-as-well/

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