'We never meant you harm': Australian Indigenous leaders lament referendum loss

Guardian News

14 Oct 202302:27

Summary

TLDRThe speaker addresses Australians who voted 'no' on a proposal, emphasizing the Aboriginal people's peaceful intentions and their desire for change. Despite the rejection, they pledge to continue fighting for justice and equality, acknowledging the emotional toll this campaign has taken on Indigenous communities.

Takeaways

😔 The speaker acknowledges a period of grief for the nation, expressing disappointment over a lost opportunity.
🙏 A direct appeal is made to Australians who voted 'no', asking for understanding and emphasizing that Aboriginal people mean no harm.
🤔 The speaker is bewildered by the rejection of a moderate and fair proposal aimed at addressing long-standing issues.
🔄 The campaign is not just about 'yes' or 'no', but about unity, justice, and the Australian people as a whole.
💪 Despite the 'no' outcome, there is a commitment to continue the fight for justice and not to accept defeat.
🌐 The campaign's weight is recognized, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the impact of the result is acknowledged.
🏆 The speaker respects the democratic process and the decision of the Australian people, even if it's not the desired outcome.
🤝 The message is about inclusivity and the desire for a change that benefits all parts of the community.
🔍 There is a focus on addressing the disadvantage and disenfranchisement that a portion of the community faces.
📉 The speaker highlights the failure of successive governments to effectively address these issues, indicating a systemic problem.
🌟 The proposal presented was practical and aimed at making real change, suggesting a missed opportunity for progress.

Q & A

What is the speaker expressing grief about?
-The speaker is expressing grief over the loss of an opportunity for change, specifically in relation to the rejection of a proposal that would have benefited the Aboriginal people of Australia.
What does the speaker request from Australians who voted 'no'?
-The speaker requests understanding and recognition that Aboriginal people have never intended to harm or take anything from other Australians.
What is the speaker's view on the Aboriginal people's intentions towards other Australians?
-The speaker asserts that Aboriginal people have never and will never mean harm to other Australians and have never wanted to take anything from them.
What is the speaker's reaction to the rejection of the proposal?
-The speaker is bewildered by the rejection, as they see it as a missed opportunity to address the disadvantage and disenfranchisement faced by a portion of the community.
What does the speaker describe the proposal as?
-The speaker describes the proposal as moderate, fair, and a practical way forward for addressing the issues faced by Aboriginal people.
What is the speaker's stance on the outcome of the vote?
-Despite the outcome not being what the speaker hoped for, they respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process.
What does the speaker suggest will happen if the vote was 'no'?
-The speaker suggests that if the vote was 'no', they and others will not accept defeat and will continue to fight for justice and change.
How does the speaker acknowledge the impact of the campaign on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
-The speaker acknowledges that the campaign has been a heavy weight to carry for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that the result will be hard to bear.
What is the broader context of the 'yes' or 'no' campaign mentioned by the speaker?
-The broader context is about the Australian people coming together to address issues of justice and inequality, not just about a simple binary choice.
What is the speaker's final message regarding the democratic process?
-The speaker's final message is one of respect for the democratic process and the decision of the Australian people, even if it is not the outcome they desired.
What is the main theme of the speaker's message?
-The main theme is the pursuit of justice and change for Aboriginal people, the importance of understanding and unity among Australians, and the commitment to continue the fight despite setbacks.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Reflection on National Grief and Rejection of Change

The speaker begins by expressing a collective sense of grief over a lost opportunity and addresses Australians who voted 'no' with a hardened heart. They emphasize that the Aboriginal people have never intended to harm or take anything from others, and they call for understanding and recognition of the Aboriginal people's desire for change. The speaker is bewildered by the rejection of a moderate and fair proposal aimed at addressing the longstanding issues of disadvantage and disenfranchisement faced by a portion of the community. Despite the outcome, they pledge to continue the fight for justice, acknowledging the emotional toll the campaign has taken on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and respecting the democratic process that led to the current result.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Grief

Grief refers to the deep emotional response to loss, often associated with sorrow and mourning. In the video's context, the speaker is calling for a collective national grief over the 'lost opportunity' to bring about change, indicating a sense of disappointment and regret over the rejection of a proposal that the speaker believes could have been beneficial for the community.

💡Aboriginal

Aboriginal refers to the indigenous peoples of Australia, who have a history and cultural heritage that predates European colonization. The script highlights the Aboriginal people's peaceful intentions and their desire for recognition and justice, as the speaker addresses those who voted 'no' and emphasizes that Aboriginal people have never sought to harm or take anything from others.

💡Disenfranchisement

Disenfranchisement is the state of being deprived of a right, often in reference to political rights or the right to vote. The video discusses the ongoing disenfranchisement and disadvantage faced by a portion of the community, suggesting systemic issues that have persisted despite efforts by successive governments to address them.

💡Moderation

Moderation, in this context, implies a balanced and reasonable approach. The speaker describes the proposal that was put forth as 'moderate and fair,' indicating that it was not extreme but rather a sensible attempt to address longstanding issues within the community.

💡Practical

Practical refers to something that is sensible and feasible, capable of being implemented effectively. The speaker mentions a 'practical way forward,' suggesting that the proposal was not just an idealistic vision but a concrete plan that could have been realistically pursued.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who can exercise it directly or through elected representatives. The speaker acknowledges the democratic process that led to the outcome, showing respect for the collective decision-making of the Australian people, despite the outcome not aligning with the speaker's hopes.

💡Justice

Justice is the principle of fairness and the establishment of what is deserved or right. The video's theme revolves around justice, as the speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Aboriginal people and the need for societal change to correct these imbalances.

💡Adversity

Adversity refers to difficult or unfortunate circumstances. The speaker mentions that the campaign has been a 'heavy weight to carry' for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, indicating the emotional and psychological toll that the struggle for recognition and change has taken on them.

💡Recognition

Recognition is the act of acknowledging or identifying something or someone as valid or important. The script implies a call for recognition of Aboriginal people's rights and history, as part of the broader theme of justice and equality within Australian society.

💡Community

Community refers to a group of people living in the same place or having particular characteristics in common. The video script speaks about the community in the context of addressing the disadvantages faced by a specific portion of the Australian community, highlighting the collective nature of the issues at hand.

💡Campaign

A campaign is a series of planned activities aimed at achieving a particular goal or outcome. In the script, the campaign is about raising awareness and advocating for change, with the speaker expressing disappointment that the 'yes' outcome was not achieved but also determination to continue the fight for justice.

Highlights

A period of grief is necessary for the nation to grieve the lost opportunity.

A direct appeal to Australians who voted 'no' to understand that Aboriginal people have never meant them harm.

The opportunity for Australians to make real change was presented but not accepted.

The speaker expresses bewilderment at the rejection of a moderate and fair proposal.

The campaign was not just about 'yes' or 'no', but about the Australian people and justice.

Despite a 'no' answer, the speaker pledges to continue the fight for justice.

The campaign has been a heavy weight for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The speaker respects the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process.

The speaker acknowledges the emotional impact of the result on the Aboriginal community.

The speaker emphasizes the ongoing struggle for addressing the disadvantages faced by a portion of the community.

Governments have repeatedly tried to address these issues without success.

The speaker calls for understanding and unity in the face of disenfranchisement.

The campaign was about the collective effort of the Australian people towards justice.

The speaker is disappointed but respects the democratic outcome.

The speaker reassures that the fight for justice will not cease despite the current setback.

The speaker acknowledges the importance of the democratic process in shaping the nation's decisions.

The transcript highlights the emotional and social implications of the referendum's outcome.