Posted by Sigismund on December 8, 2008, at 18:45:12
Malcolm Fraser was the Liberal (and therefore conservative) PM of Australia from 1975-1982.
On a show last night there was some old footage showing him meeting some Aborigines somewhere in the desert when he was PM.
Mr Fraser (without his suit coat) approached the Aborigines who were sitting in the dirt.
Then he too sat down in the dirt with them, looking faintly ridiculous in his clothes, and his craggy patrician reserved manner.At that point I wept.
Wondering why, all I could come up with was the feeling of gratitude for conservatives like Mr Fraser and (yes) Kevin Rudd, and a feeling of shame and anger for the last 10 years.
I know symbolism is never enough; it certainly wasn't enough for the Aboriginal people.
But it is absolutely critical, even so.
poster:Sigismund
thread:867580
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20081115/msgs/867580.html