A prominent Yes campaigner for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has accused No campaigner and Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price of "hate" for First Nations people after she called welcome to country ceremonies "divisive".
It is less “might makes right” than “might is reality” when it comes to sovereignty in my view.
Look at our anti-protest laws and tell me with a straight face that our sovereignty is granted by the people and not by the States ability to enforce its will through the exclusive use of violence within its borders.
As for your suggestion of violent rebellion, well that’s exactly how sovereignty is taken but if you’re being realistic we both know that isn’t possible.
In my opinion this talk of sovereignty only harms public opinion of reconciliation efforts.
Tell me, in Arnhem land if someone is murdered which legal system deals with the murderer? Your answer tells us all we need to know about the reality of sovereignty.
I can tell you that in Tiwi the disconnects between who deals with what crime is a constant source of conflict between elder leadership and federal police. Quite often the police said ‘oh it’s black on black violence, you lot sort it out.’
The talk of reconciliation is literally dealing with issues like this. Sovereignty. Traditional Law. Cultural Recognition. Until it’s dealt with there can be no true reconciliation.
I totally get what you’re saying with regards to the state’s exclusive right to violence but in a lot of places this murkiness between what the law says and what people do is such a powder keg.
PS. I’m not downvoting you, or even trying to be rude or abrasive, just trying to lend you my own perspective and experiences.