White Settler Colonies vs Other Postcolonial Nations - Essay Example

Israel is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago…” To some extent Israel only regained its independence because of the guilt over the Holocaust. Because of the advancement of technologies, the Holocaust was documented through statistics, pictures, and some film footage. The difference in Australia was little tangible proof of the atrocities toward the Indigenous people, these people were terra nullius (no one lived there), and they were treated as “invisible”, living as hordes in tribal form. While Britain came building structures, setting rules, and demanding that the Indigenous people join their culture. As Israel, Charles highlighted, looks whole, even after being controlled and ruled by many empires, the Jews still kept their own culture. This culture was even recognized by the British. The difference is the publicity of the Holocaust versus the Indigenous Australians.

2. Why do they “complicate the dichotomy between Europe and the rest of the world”?
Because societies differ from one another, even if the societies seem to have some common features, such as their historical domination over indigenous populations and the processes by which older political ‘settlement’ are being unsettled in recent years in the face of dynamic and renewed indigenous challenge. They are not distinguishable from other kinds of (post) colonial societies (Curthoys, p.20).

3. Do you agree with Curthoy’s argument that Australians resist coming to terms with their colonial past because they see themselves as victims? Yes. Australians see themselves as victims, not oppressors. In non-indigenous Australian popular culture, people see themselves as victims of ‘large economics forces, middle-class elites, and powerful nations overseas. An example we can see through such as WWII and Anzac Myth which Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians at home, 25 April quickly became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war. The Australians are more passionate about this day than any other celebration.

4. Do you think that it is important that they come to terms with it? Why?
Yes, it is. The conflict between the settlers and indigenous people in the past has been forgotten. The Australians view the conflict as an event that is history, with no present connection with those people in the past. It is important to remember the past, but they need to think about the suffering now of the indigenous people of Australia as a greater priority. Great Australian is silent about its history (Stanner,1968), and could possibly wipe out the true events of its history. Since Australia is a democratic country, the people should speak for the indigenous. A lesson from South Africa when the Apartheid was banished must be an example. Even though the South Africans overcame the injustices of Apartheid, genocide still occurs in Africa like in Rwanda. Read More