Aboriginal dolls removed from shop due to "cultural exploitation"

I reiterate -- anyone asked any of the Aboriginal people themselves yet how they feel about the dolls? Any of the tribes chimed in with opinions? Anyone other than one person's (out of hundreds of thousands) spouse?

Because all I'm seeing still is a bunch of white people crapping themselves. The one person who was asked -- and this is a MAJOR distinction I noticed rereading the article -- didn't identify as Aboriginal, but identified as being married to one. So, that brings up the question of why is her Aboriginal husband not quoted here? Could it be that < GASP > he probably doesn't agree with her on this, and thus wasn't included in the article because it didn't fit the motive of the article? That is quite a distinct possibility to consider, why else would you circumvent the Native & ask the non-native instead?

Think about it before beating your PC drums.

a reply to: Nyiah

From the SMH article..

After sharing the image on Twitter, Amy Brim told Fairfax Media, "My husband is [from the] Anmatjerre tribe in the Central Desert and the red headband is a symbol of initiated men.
"I feel like they've used our culture in a way that does not match the beliefs [or] lore of Aboriginal people," she said.
"If they knew anything about the history, they would know there's nothing 'lucky' about anything we've been through."

a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

After sharing the image on Twitter, Amy Brim told Fairfax Media, "My husband is [from the] Anmatjerre tribe in the Central Desert and the red headband is a symbol of initiated men.
"I feel like they've used our culture in a way that does not match the beliefs [or] lore of Aboriginal people," she said.
"If they knew anything about the history, they would know there's nothing 'lucky' about anything we've been through."


Read more: www.smh.com.au...
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

"I Feel" so your feelings were hurt or your husbands (Aborigine)? Ayn Rand devoted whole chapters in Atlas Shrugged about how the manipulators would use "feelings" and "hurt" to get their way

The problem with Aborigines and PC in Australia appears to be that its a floating target - never being able to pinpoint anything down until an objection is made or sums of money are involved due to them having no written codified laws, just Oral Tradition.

I remember that some claimed that their "dot" style of painting was copied and appropriated by forgers of their paintings.

I dont recall the Greeks and Italians claiming money every time any architectural landmark or housing uses Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns

originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

After sharing the image on Twitter, Amy Brim told Fairfax Media, "My husband is [from the] Anmatjerre tribe in the Central Desert and the red headband is a symbol of initiated men.
"I feel like they've used our culture in a way that does not match the beliefs [or] lore of Aboriginal people," she said.
"If they knew anything about the history, they would know there's nothing 'lucky' about anything we've been through."


Read more: www.smh.com.au...
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

I remember that some claimed that their "dot" style of painting was copied and appropriated by forgers of their paintings.

The dot style of painting isn't actually traditional Aboriginal art, it was a style not introduced until the 1970's.

It is unknown to many that Aboriginal painters introduced the dot painting technique in the early 1970s, stimulated by a white school teacher.
Dot paintings from Papunya have become one of the most important phenomena in Australian art.

creativespirits.info

a reply to: Chadwickus

a reply to: Nyiah

From the SMH article..


After sharing the image on Twitter, Amy Brim told Fairfax Media, "My husband is [from the] Anmatjerre tribe in the Central Desert and the red headband is a symbol of initiated men.
"I feel like they've used our culture in a way that does not match the beliefs [or] lore of Aboriginal people,

And thats where I think this is getting out of control. How can she claim the Aborigines culture as her own through marriage and speak on their behalf? Sounds like appropriation (colonization) mentality all over again.

Would she claim she is white ( and seek white sanctuary ) if she was found guilty of some minor infraction under tribal law?

"Spearing" comes to mind

www.creativespirits.info...

I got speared in the leg, too, for being cheeky. I got hit on the head, too, by all my old people. The spear came out of the calf of the leg. My old father did that. I was a cheeky bloke fighting the other fellas over some silly things I been doing in my young days. I was going with the wrong girls. My skin group is Milangka.

Source: www.creativespirits.info...

originally posted by: thejeremybenthem
Can we put these dolls on keychains and call them "Lucky Jews" ??


static.wixstatic.com...a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

This post needs repeating. Worse examples closer to the bone for americans could be used, but that would show a complete lack of respect for the lost and those who survived or had relatives that will never forget.
PC is one thing, but there is a point at which just saying or doing whatever you want becomes abysmally disrespectful.

These dolls were no doubt made in china (or some such), but how they got through commercial trade gauntlets is amazing, and being sold in an aust airport in QUEENSLAND...

I'd highly doubt they would have been approved with their current marketing 'strategy' if they'd been passed through the hands of, even one indigenous panel member...I'd say that's a pretty safe assumption - and I'm sure the holocaust museum in berlin doesn't sell 'lucky jew' dolls on a keyring.

Å99

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: thejeremybenthem
Can we put these dolls on keychains and call them "Lucky Jews" ??


static.wixstatic.com...a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

I'm sure the holocaust museum in berlin doesn't sell 'lucky jew' dolls on a keyring.

Oh, I think you just need to take a deep breath and calm down a little bit, I think your being a little over dramatic about it.

No Aboriginals are currently being round up in mass and gassed... Promoting Aboriginal culture to tourists(even if it is just pseudo Aboriginal culture), is good for the Aboriginal community and Australian economy as a whole.

I personally see nothing offensive about it .

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: thejeremybenthem
Can we put these dolls on keychains and call them "Lucky Jews" ??


static.wixstatic.com...a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

I'm sure the holocaust museum in berlin doesn't sell 'lucky jew' dolls on a keyring.

Oh, I think you just need to take a deep breath and calm down a little bit, I think your being a little over dramatic about it.

No Aboriginals are currently being round up in mass and gassed... Promoting Aboriginal culture to tourists(even if it is just pseudo Aboriginal culture), is good for the Aboriginal community and Australian economy as a whole.

I personally see nothing offensive about it .

More, or less dramatic than the energy you're devoting to banging on about how non-plussed you are about some little dolls, sweetpea?

No jews are currently being rounded up en-masse and gassed either - what's your point?

So, now that we all know you're not personally offended by it, we won't hear from you on this thread again?...great!

Å99

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: thejeremybenthem
Can we put these dolls on keychains and call them "Lucky Jews" ??


static.wixstatic.com...a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

I'm sure the holocaust museum in berlin doesn't sell 'lucky jew' dolls on a keyring.

Oh, I think you just need to take a deep breath and calm down a little bit, I think your being a little over dramatic about it.

No Aboriginals are currently being round up in mass and gassed... Promoting Aboriginal culture to tourists(even if it is just pseudo Aboriginal culture), is good for the Aboriginal community and Australian economy as a whole.

I personally see nothing offensive about it .

So, now that we all know you're not personally offended by it, we won't hear from you on this thread again?...great!

Well, I'm not making any promises... When it comes to my opinion, there's always more I could say.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: thejeremybenthem
Can we put these dolls on keychains and call them "Lucky Jews" ??


static.wixstatic.com...a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

I'm sure the holocaust museum in berlin doesn't sell 'lucky jew' dolls on a keyring.

Oh, I think you just need to take a deep breath and calm down a little bit, I think your being a little over dramatic about it.

No Aboriginals are currently being round up in mass and gassed... Promoting Aboriginal culture to tourists(even if it is just pseudo Aboriginal culture), is good for the Aboriginal community and Australian economy as a whole.

I personally see nothing offensive about it .

So, now that we all know you're not personally offended by it, we won't hear from you on this thread again?...great!

Well, I'm not making any promises... When it comes to my opinion, there's always more I could say.

I don't really care whether you want to make promises or whatever...your opinion has been stated, along with the subtext of faux PC fear, masquerading as an opinion, that goes along with it.

Being un-PC doesn't mean being disrespectful.

I have no doubt folk would love to just move on from the cancer of colonisation in its more ethnically cleansed forms - but that would require the 4th & 5th Gen white-bread progeny of Royal thieves and poor criminals to be a little bit thankful that the indigenous population had respect for the land front & centre - a land that was stolen (lucky?), families that were dismembered (lucky?), and a population that was until relatively recently, not considered human but fauna (lucky?)...

I worked for quite a while preparing and stretching canvas' from many communities. Fortunately, the real trad. art doesn't make its way into the hands of multimillionaires with a penchant for waving their junk around to make up for their real impotence as humans - the fact that the indigenous population (or what's left of them) are able to make a decent living, raise families while painting dot/hatch/amorphous paintings or whatever, and that the fruits of that labour goes to them, is as it should be - it's not like they stole a whole continent now, is it?

The dolls in and of themselves may not be offensive, the marketing however is woeful - but I'm also sure koori wouldn't mind some o that platic money goin their way care of dolls in airports - somehow, I don't think this is the case.

Å99

a reply to: akushla99

I have no doubt folk would love to just move on from the cancer of colonisation in its more ethnically cleansed forms - but that would require the 4th & 5th Gen white-bread progeny of Royal thieves and poor criminals to be a little bit thankful that the indigenous population had respect for the land front & centre - a land that was stolen (lucky?), families that were dismembered (lucky?), and a population that was until relatively recently, not considered human but fauna (lucky?)...

Yeah, the land was blatantly stolen by the English (who are now white Australians), but it was kind of inevitable. The land was always going to be stolen by someone at some time... That's just the fact of the matter.

Then when you comprehend the fact that it was always going to be stolen eventually... You can start to comprehend how "lucky" the Aboriginals were that it was the English who stole it, since slavery was condemned at that point in time by the English.

I mean, lets face it, if Australia had of been colonized by the newly established American colony at that time, then things could have been a lot worse for the Aboriginals.

That's life though! People like to fantasize about how brilliant it could have been, if only just. But in reality it could have probably been far worse, if things turned out differently.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: akushla99

I have no doubt folk would love to just move on from the cancer of colonisation in its more ethnically cleansed forms - but that would require the 4th & 5th Gen white-bread progeny of Royal thieves and poor criminals to be a little bit thankful that the indigenous population had respect for the land front & centre - a land that was stolen (lucky?), families that were dismembered (lucky?), and a population that was until relatively recently, not considered human but fauna (lucky?)...

Yeah, the land was blatantly stolen by the English (who are now white Australians), but it was kind of inevitable. The land was always going to be stolen by someone at some time... That's just the fact of the matter.

Then when you comprehend the fact that it was always going to be stolen eventually... You can start to comprehend how "lucky" the Aboriginals were that it was the English who stole it, since slavery was condemned at that point in time by the English.

I mean, lets face it, if Australia had of been colonized by the newly established American colony at that time, then things could have been a lot worse for the Aboriginals.

That's life though! People like to fantasize about how brilliant it could have been, if only just. But in reality it could have probably been far worse, if things turned out differently.

Well, we can hypothesise on whatevers forever...but they never happened...so, the 'lucky' meme doesn't apply, as in - it wasn't a reality...but you're quite welcome to use inane arguments comparing something that did happen to something that never occured in aust. I'll allow you leverage of that 'fantasy'.

Does a country/continent need to be 'stolen'? That's a miniscule gamut to operate on - and doesn't indicate the kind of intelligence that should have come from a 'civilised' mind. There was nothing civilised about it...just like there is nothing either civilised or intelligent about branding the effigy of a stolen nation, lucky...

Å99

@Subaeruginosa

While you're operating on pure speculation - would you consider yourself 'lucky' if the musilman usurped the 'white australians' land, performed the same invasion now - complete with conversion, reservation/ghettoisation and/or removing your childfolk screaming from their mothers? Would you really consider yourself lucky?

Oh wait! That is what many western nations are afraid of, and with good cause...still, there are no jewish doll keyrings being sold at niether the musee holocaust, nor at Tel Aviv airport as 'lucky jews'...


Å99

I find all this PC stuff just too confusing, to the point my head may explode!

On the one hand, we have the lefty bleeding heart PC crowd up in arms over issues like this, citing cultural exploitation, whilst at the same time pushing for mass immigration, "multiculturalism" and the destruction of cultural identity.

I wish they'd make their bloody minds up!

a reply to: akushla99

Either way... Aboriginals are now living in one of the most wealthiest countries in the world, with the highest minimum wage in the world, which has an extremely generous welfare system.

I may be "hypothesizing on whatevers", but lets face it, it could have turned out a lot worse than it currently is.... right?

originally posted by: Britguy
I find all this PC stuff just too confusing, to the point my head may explode!

On the one hand, we have the lefty bleeding heart PC crowd up in arms over issues like this, citing cultural exploitation, whilst at the same time pushing for mass immigration, "multiculturalism" and the destruction of cultural identity.

I wish they'd make their bloody minds up!

Forget the language...PC or otherwise. Aretha Franklin said it best, RESPECT...

No respect, in context, with labelling an indigeous doll 'lucky'...

Å99

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: akushla99

Either way... Aboriginals are now living in one of the most wealthiest countries in the world, with the highest minimum wage in the world, which has an extremely generous welfare system.

I may be "hypothesizing on whatevers", but lets face it, it could have turned out a lot worse than it currently is.... right?

Who knows? That never happened. What did, did.

Å99

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: akushla99

Either way... Aboriginals are now living in one of the most wealthiest countries in the world, with the highest minimum wage in the world, which has an extremely generous welfare system.

I may be "hypothesizing on whatevers", but lets face it, it could have turned out a lot worse than it currently is.... right?

...and correction - they were living in a wealthy country already, just not the kind of shlong-waving wealth you're talking about.

And finally - If my grandma had wheels, she'd be a bicycle...

Å99

Dunno how anyone is meant to move on when dwelling on the past with a massive chip their shoulder is all they can do.

Happy to take white man's "sit down" money though...

originally posted by: akushla99

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: akushla99

Either way... Aboriginals are now living in one of the most wealthiest countries in the world, with the highest minimum wage in the world, which has an extremely generous welfare system.

I may be "hypothesizing on whatevers", but lets face it, it could have turned out a lot worse than it currently is.... right?

...and correction - they were living in a wealthy country already, just not the kind of shlong-waving wealth you're talking about.

And finally - If my grandma had wheels, she'd be a bicycle...

Å99

hmmm would it help if i pumped up the tyres and gave you a gentle push off