The Voice vote:

[eddiesmith]

[watt price tully]

[stui magpie]

[think positive]

They said that about #skynet too!

[stui magpie]

[What'sinaname]

[think positive]

[David]

I think you’re always going to get the wrong end of the stick if you see this as a group of people in an otherwise equal society seeking special privileges. That’s not the history of this country, however, and not the history of Indigenous people’s existence here.

I think we all know what that history is: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were here first, had their land taken from them by force (and sometimes via outright massacres, as recently as the early 20th century), and were then treated as (literal) second-class citizens for much of the past 200 years, with governments – made up of white people, elected by the white majority – often directly intervening in their lives, to the extent of forcibly removing children from families, making rules about who they could marry and imposing special laws on them.

You can’t address the profound disadvantages currently faced by many Indigenous people in so many areas without regard for that historical context, and how it bleeds into the present day. And what’s being asked for at the moment, strongly and clearly, is that – unlike how things were in the past – Australia’s First Peoples have a say in their own destiny for a change, and on the policies that will impact on it. The Voice to Parliament may be an imperfect model for that, but it at least enshrines that advice, puts a formal structure behind it and ensures it can’t be ignored.

Some people – like those on here who think it’s funny to ironically post an acknowledgement of country as their signature – may well be hostile to Indigenous people and their interests. They will obviously vote no. But for those of us who value respect and empathy, there should be a willingness to exercise some humility and listen, be open to more integrated decision-making on issues affecting Indigenous people, and carefully consider whether we have an opportunity here to push the country in a better direction.

[watt price tully]

^ Succinct and eloquent David.

[think positive]

you forgot judgemental

voting no doesn't mean someone is hostile or racist.

for the people i have spoken to its a trust issue. we simply don't trust we are getting the whole, or the ending story.

[stui magpie]

I agree, obviously people who are racist will vote No, but the vast majority of those who do won't be racist, they'll have different reasons.

I'm happy to provide whatever info I can to help allay fears from misinformation, but I'm not going to get into arguments, be judgemental, or try to change anyone's beliefs.

My Mum is going to vote no. I tried to have a discussion but she believes what she believes so I left it.

As I've said before, I think the proposed wording for the constitution is perfect (or close to it). Yes the Government will fck up the implementation, that's a given, but the good thing about the model is that when they do, there's capacity to change it until they get it right, for the time.

My simplistic view is that either way it will have zero impact on me, but the capacity to cause good for the First Nations Peoples is far greater than any capacity to cause harm, to anyone.

[think positive]

Cheers Stu I get where you’re coming from. I still have wiggle room but I’m not exactly sure what I’d need to hear to change my mind.

So good to read an opposing post that is non judgmental.

[David]

[think positive]

You came across IMO as insinuating it

[Magpietothemax]