Political Crossfire Forums

[Kindred]

A rather unfortunate event, on the same day that we stop to remember fallen soldiers, a news article pops up highlighting the racist nature of many of our own troops. It's a sad day for the Australian Army indeed.
Army faces KKK racism slur
Luke McIlveen
11nov04

AUSTRALIAN soldiers dressed up as members of the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate young black recruits just weeks before they were sent overseas to fight in the name of freedom.



http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11345917^662,00.html

[Nico]

It's not a good look, but sometimes soldiers goof off. Not saying that's the case, but I'll reserve opinion till the context is clearer.
Definitely not a good look. :-|

[Voice of Reason]

Quote: A rather unfortunate event, on the same day that we stop to remember fallen soldiers, a news article pops up highlighting the racist nature of many of our own troops. It's a sad day for the Australian Army indeed.

Give me a break! These were some goof-offs who put bed sheets on their heads. Who cares?

Now, if they have actually committed a crime then charge them. But until this happens...all we have is a picture of some goof-offs in dunce caps.

[Kindred]

Yes, gooh-offs in racist clothing, surrounding aboriginal recruits, one of which killed himself recently, and in the same geographic area racist propaghanda has been letterboxed.

[Tankgirl]

Voice of Reason wrote: Quote: A rather unfortunate event, on the same day that we stop to remember fallen soldiers, a news article pops up highlighting the racist nature of many of our own troops. It's a sad day for the Australian Army indeed.

Give me a break! These were some goof-offs who put bed sheets on their heads. Who cares?

Now, if they have actually committed a crime then charge them. But until this happens...all we have is a picture of some goof-offs in dunce caps.


I'm sorry, I think there is a little more to this than "goof-offs". This is absolutely intolerable in this day and age. Australia has an appalling record when it comes to the treatment of indigenous people. This type of action does nothing to improve relations between black and white Australians. I hope the people involved in this stunt are suspended immediately. This sort of thing disgusts me and I cannot see the humour in it at all. :x

[Kieran]

Tankgirl wrote: Voice of Reason wrote: Quote: A rather unfortunate event, on the same day that we stop to remember fallen soldiers, a news article pops up highlighting the racist nature of many of our own troops. It's a sad day for the Australian Army indeed.

Give me a break! These were some goof-offs who put bed sheets on their heads. Who cares?

Now, if they have actually committed a crime then charge them. But until this happens...all we have is a picture of some goof-offs in dunce caps.


I'm sorry, I think there is a little more to this than "goof-offs". This is absolutely intolerable in this day and age. Australia has an appalling record when it comes to the treatment of indigenous people. This type of action does nothing to improve relations between black and white Australians. I hope the people involved in this stunt are suspended immediately. This sort of thing disgusts me and I cannot see the humour in it at all. :x

I dont know if suspension is enough in this case, they should simply be fired and made an example of.

[Nico]

You guys may be right, but there's not a lot to go on just yet. The context is missing at the moment, though I agree that if it's the way it appears, heads gotta roll.

[Golddave]

I am F**K** outraged at how blown out of proportion this matter was. I was at Lavarack Barracks when this incident happened (Sept 2000).
I was albeit in another unit, this was meant to be a joke alas in extreamly poor taste. I am absolutely disgusted that the media decided to publish this story on Rememberance Day, you cannot tell me that this is coincidental. Afterall, it was our forefathers who sweated and bled for our right to free speech and free press. I guess the media forgot that.

[timmtc]

Its quite strange how all these events are posted with great timing. This event on rememberance day, the missing weapons just before the election, Fahrenheit 9/11 out on DVD just before the election. So strange isnt it?

[Golddave]

timmtc wrote: Its quite strange how all these events are posted with great timing. This event on rememberance day, the missing weapons just before the election, Fahrenheit 9/11 out on DVD just before the election. So strange isnt it?

Yeah well we all know who controls the media don't we but we better not say anything.

[timmtc]

LOL, I completely get your point, and I agree Golddave ;)

[Golddave]

timmtc wrote: LOL, I completely get your point, and I agree Golddave ;)

Cheers mate, I am glad you agree. I have beer to drink and must go,
adieous amigo. Atu Logu.

[eXploiTeD]

If soldiers are that culturally insensitive around their fellow soldiers, what will that imply for their treatment of foreign enemies?

[Golddave]

eXploiTeD wrote: If soldiers are that culturally insensitive around their fellow soldiers, what will that imply for their treatment of foreign enemies?

There is a difference between a joke and treatment of foreign enemies which is not a joke but a professional task as a soldier. I have handled foreign detainees before and Australian soldiers always act with the upmost professionalism and courtesy towards their fellow human beings.

[cap'n queasy]

Golddave wrote: eXploiTeD wrote: If soldiers are that culturally insensitive around their fellow soldiers, what will that imply for their treatment of foreign enemies?

There is a difference between a joke and treatment of foreign enemies which is not a joke but a professional task as a soldier. I have handled foreign detainees before and Australian soldiers always act with the upmost professionalism and courtesy towards their fellow human beings.
Racial intimidation is professional behavior? Curiouser and curiouser.
I guess it's better than hunting the aborigines like your forefathers did. That's progress.

[Golddave]

cap'n queasy wrote: Golddave wrote: eXploiTeD wrote: If soldiers are that culturally insensitive around their fellow soldiers, what will that imply for their treatment of foreign enemies?

There is a difference between a joke and treatment of foreign enemies which is not a joke but a professional task as a soldier. I have handled foreign detainees before and Australian soldiers always act with the upmost professionalism and courtesy towards their fellow human beings.
Racial intimidation is professional behavior? Curiouser and curiouser.
I guess it's better than hunting the aborigines like your forefathers did. That's progress.

I shouldn't even justify this with a response but here goes, how did you draw the ridiculous conclusion of using racial intimidation on POW's via the information shown on this post? Thats F**K** stupid. My forefathers did not hunt aborigines you ignorant dickhead.

[cap'n queasy]

http://www.curriculum.edu.au/democracy/ddunits/guide/g3c_eng_law.htm
Quote: Most white men on the frontier did not think the killing of Aborigines was a crime. This case had only got to court because of unusual circumstances. The Aboriginal people who were killed had been camped at Myall Creek cattle station. They were not living in the bush and spearing cattle. They were working part-time on this and other stations. The murderers, who had been roving the district looking for Aborigines to kill, found easy prey at Myall Creek. The Aboriginal people were rounded up and led off to be slaughtered. When the station overseer returned, he wanted to know what had happened to them. He found the pile of bodies and alerted the authorities.
I don't know if hunting aborigines for sport is true or not. But I have heard it happened.
I don't see how you can fail to realize that dressing in KKK outfits is racial intimidation. If it wasn't why do it in the first place? What other purpose is there for it?

[Golddave]

cap'n queasy wrote: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/democracy/ddunits/guide/g3c_eng_law.htm
Quote: Most white men on the frontier did not think the killing of Aborigines was a crime. This case had only got to court because of unusual circumstances. The Aboriginal people who were killed had been camped at Myall Creek cattle station. They were not living in the bush and spearing cattle. They were working part-time on this and other stations. The murderers, who had been roving the district looking for Aborigines to kill, found easy prey at Myall Creek. The Aboriginal people were rounded up and led off to be slaughtered. When the station overseer returned, he wanted to know what had happened to them. He found the pile of bodies and alerted the authorities.
I don't know if hunting aborigines for sport is true or not. But I have heard it happened.
I don't see how you can fail to realize that dressing in KKK outfits is racial intimidation. If it wasn't why do it in the first place? What other purpose is there for it?

Your talking about the Myall Creek Massacre, which happened outside of Bingra in country NSW, I have been to Myall Crk Station so I know the area well. The aborigionals actually killed a white man and it was a revenge killing, no I do not agree with it. I was talking to people who knew about the KKK episode when it happened (Sept 2000) it was supposed to be nothing more then a joke but it was a bad joke and in extreamly poor taste.

[cap'n queasy]

Golddave wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/democracy/ddunits/guide/g3c_eng_law.htm
Quote: Most white men on the frontier did not think the killing of Aborigines was a crime. This case had only got to court because of unusual circumstances. The Aboriginal people who were killed had been camped at Myall Creek cattle station. They were not living in the bush and spearing cattle. They were working part-time on this and other stations. The murderers, who had been roving the district looking for Aborigines to kill, found easy prey at Myall Creek. The Aboriginal people were rounded up and led off to be slaughtered. When the station overseer returned, he wanted to know what had happened to them. He found the pile of bodies and alerted the authorities.
I don't know if hunting aborigines for sport is true or not. But I have heard it happened.
I don't see how you can fail to realize that dressing in KKK outfits is racial intimidation. If it wasn't why do it in the first place? What other purpose is there for it?

Your talking about the Myall Creek Massacre, which happened outside of Bingra in country NSW, I have been to Myall Crk Station so I know the area well. The aborigionals actually killed a white man and it was a revenge killing, no I do not agree with it. I was talking to people who knew about the KKK episode when it happened (Sept 2000) it was supposed to be nothing more then a joke but it was a bad joke and in extreamly poor taste.
Well, I'm sorry I insulted Australians I didn't mean it the way it came out. I can't blame everyone there for the actions of a few people. Sorry.

[Golddave]

cap'n queasy wrote: Golddave wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/democracy/ddunits/guide/g3c_eng_law.htm
Quote: Most white men on the frontier did not think the killing of Aborigines was a crime. This case had only got to court because of unusual circumstances. The Aboriginal people who were killed had been camped at Myall Creek cattle station. They were not living in the bush and spearing cattle. They were working part-time on this and other stations. The murderers, who had been roving the district looking for Aborigines to kill, found easy prey at Myall Creek. The Aboriginal people were rounded up and led off to be slaughtered. When the station overseer returned, he wanted to know what had happened to them. He found the pile of bodies and alerted the authorities.
I don't know if hunting aborigines for sport is true or not. But I have heard it happened.
I don't see how you can fail to realize that dressing in KKK outfits is racial intimidation. If it wasn't why do it in the first place? What other purpose is there for it?

Your talking about the Myall Creek Massacre, which happened outside of Bingra in country NSW, I have been to Myall Crk Station so I know the area well. The aborigionals actually killed a white man and it was a revenge killing, no I do not agree with it. I was talking to people who knew about the KKK episode when it happened (Sept 2000) it was supposed to be nothing more then a joke but it was a bad joke and in extreamly poor taste.
Well, I'm sorry I insulted Australians I didn't mean it the way it came out. I can't blame everyone there for the actions of a few people. Sorry.

Thats ok mate.