Australia's Gillard dragged from protest

[Princess Luna]

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been dragged to safety by a personal security guard during angry protest in Canberra against the celebration of Australia's national day.

Gillard stumbled and was caught by the security guard as riot police helped her force a path through a crowd of rowdy protesters at a Australia Day ceremony on Thursday.

She appeared distressed as she was pulled away from the protesters but was unharmed. She later remarked that she was made of "pretty tough stuff" and commended police for their actions.

Some 200 supporters of indigenous rights had surrounded a Canberra restaurant and banged its windows while Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott were inside officiating at an award ceremony. Around 50 police escorted the political leaders from a side door to a car.

Gillard stumbled, losing a shoe. Her personal security guard wrapped his arms around her and supported her to the waiting car, shielding her from the angry crowd.

Reactions mixed

The protesters had been demonstrating for indigenous rights nearby at the so-called Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a ramshackle collection of tents and temporary shelters in the national capital that is a center point of protests against Australia Day.

Australia Day marks the arrival of the first fleet of British colonists in Sydney on January 26, 1788. Many Aborigines call it Invasion Day because the land was settled without a treaty with traditional owners.

Abbott appeared to be the target of protesters, who chanted "shame" and "racist" outside the restaurant. The Tent Embassy celebrated its 40th anniversary on Thursday.

Abbott had earlier angered indigenous activists by saying it was time the embassy "moved on". Gillard was unharmed and later hosted another Australia Day function for foreign ambassadors at her official residence.

"The only thing that angers me is that it distracted from such a wonderful event," Gillard told reporters. "I am made of pretty tough stuff and the police did a great job," she added.

Reaction from protesters afterward was mixed, with some saying police assaulted them and that Gillard and Abbott were never in danger.

They also made conflicting claims over who had Gillard's shoe, a Midas high-heel made of blue suede, and if it would be returned.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/01/2012126134351533287.html

Celebrating a bunch of thieves, rapists, and murderers, being dumped on a island and subsequently decimating the local people. I concur, such a wonderful event.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I make sure to bring up the Australians-as-descandants-of-rapists-and-murderers meme whenever I meet an Australian. Well, that and requisite comments about kangaroos, wombats etc.

Unfortunately I'm from an equally stereotypical place, so...:(

[Princess Luna]

I make sure to bring up the Australians-as-descandants-of-rapists-and-murderers meme whenever I meet an Australian. Well, that and requisite comments about kangaroos, wombats etc.

Unfortunately I'm from an equally stereotypical place, so...:(
Are you saying Australia wasn't founded as a penal colony? Honestly I don't know that much about Australian history, and I feel like a dick now.

[Red Commissar]

Are you saying Australia wasn't founded as a penal colony? Honestly I don't know that much about Australian history, and I feel like a dick now.

There were colonies already established in Australia before convicts began being shipped there. This day is supposed to commemorate when the British first landed in what is now Sydney. During the 80 year period when many convicts were transported, there was a total of some 160,000-170,000. What they were convicted of varies, some did heavy crimes but many others were for different types of theft and property related crimes, some even could have been seen as 'political prisoners' in a way. Most of the population growth of Australia owed itself to usual immigration though, in this case a Gold Rush, similar to how the west coast of the United States's population (especially California) boomed in a similar manner.

There was also a considerable number of orphans and 'street tramps' among those sent to Australia, as well as other British colonies, often times filling . Read more at "Home Children (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Children)".

The British sending convicts and such to colonies wasn't unique to Australia- US shared some of this with people getting sent to the colonies as an alternative to serving time in a Debtor Prison- for the British this also served as a means to alleviate overcrowding. But like Explosive Situation I like to bug my Australian contacts with that aspect, much as they make fun of my backwoods.

Long story short, it wasn't founded as a penal colony nor does it owe the majority of its population too. It does have a history with convict transports though- but that didn't begin until someways into the establishment of the colony.

Like Native Americans here though with regards to commemorations of the foundation of various colonies, like Jamestown, the Aboriginals don't view the day as warmly. To them it was the beginning of a long process of destruction, through killings, disease, and forced assimilation. So some might view the day differently- that's where the great thrust of protests aimed at the government during that day came from regarding Aborigine rights (again, considering the context of what the day is celebrating), along with the other criticisms against the government, as the article points out.

So I guess in a way your little comment about "thieves, rapists, and murderers" could apply in a different context.

[Welshy]

On reddit the people who commented on this story have said some of the most disgusting things. Pretty much everything from insinuating that the aboriginals taking part in the protest are mentally ill to the aboriginals losing credibility. Also there were claims that the aboriginals are treated as equals to the people of european ancestry and the typical welfare queen/king accusation.

[Yazman]

On reddit the people who commented on this story have said some of the most disgusting things. Pretty much everything from insinuating that the aboriginals taking part in the protest are mentally ill to the aboriginals losing credibility. Also there were claims that the aboriginals are treated as equals to the people of european ancestry and the typical welfare queen/king accusation.

The plural of "aborigine" is "aborigines", not "aboriginals". Common mistake that a lot of people make for some odd reason. Not trying to be a grammar nazi but getting the demonyms right is important :P

Anyway, Australia is an extremely racist country, arguably the most racist in the developed world. For all the shit talking people here do about the US, the US is still far, far beyond Australia when it comes to progress in combating racism.

[ckaihatsu]

Many Aborigines call [Australia Day] Invasion Day because the land was settled without a treaty with traditional owners.




[There were] conflicting claims over who had Gillard's shoe, a Midas high-heel made of blue suede, and if it would be returned.


The shoe is just the beginning...!

[Revolution starts with U]

The plural of "aborigine" is "aborigines", not "aboriginals". Common mistake that a lot of people make for some odd reason. Not trying to be a grammar nazi but getting the demonyms right is important :P

Anyway, Australia is an extremely racist country, arguably the most racist in the developed world. For all the shit talking people here do about the US, the US is still far, far beyond Australia when it comes to progress in combating racism.

It makes me wonder if that has anything do with Aussie being ranked the 3rd most "free market" economy in the world :rolleyes:

[ijrjrnz]

It was a terrible thing for Julia Gillard to have been scared yesterday. She had nothing at all to do with what Abbott said.

[Hiero]

The plural of "aborigine" is "aborigines", not "aboriginals". Common mistake that a lot of people make for some odd reason. Not trying to be a grammar nazi but getting the demonyms right is important :PFor some strange reason I was always told to say "Aboriginal" as the plural. Like "Aboriginal people" as 'Aborigine" was considered offensive. This was later emphasied at uni. However then other people, white and Aboriginal use Aborigines and Aborigine.

I generally use the region specific, "Koori" as I am on the East Coast.

Anyway, there use to be talk about making the tent embassy a perment fixture, but more a symbolic building detailing Aboriginal fight for rights. I doubt many politicians will be supporting that through parliament.