To EstudioChispa: Eyes

[delpeoples]

Hi Russ

Thanks for the nice critique. He is a wee cutie for sure. Such magical eyes. As my countryman Klaudio (Daddo) wrote much more eloquently, those eyes take us back 60,000 years to the Dreamtime.

I pray that this little man has a wonderful, long and fulfilling life. A life that we all have a right to. The sad truth is that - thanks to the appalling treatment of his people by my people - this beautiful little man will have so much more to overcome in life. Despite all the political platitudes and the mis-directed money thrown at the problem; the odds are still stacked against him in terms of health, living conditions, education, career and life-expectancy.

As a criminal lawyer, it breaks my heart to see his people over-represented both as inmates in prisons and as victims of violence and sexual assault. Their young people crippled by alcohol and drugs. They were all but completely wiped out by our country's first genocide 200 years ago, their land taken, have been promised great things by politicians with nothing delivered, marginalised and ignored by the majority of white Australians. And yet they still accept us. We have such a long way to go towards reconciliation, but we've made a start.

I honestly think that as the Western World gets crazier and more manic everyday, it will be the ancient wisdom, grace of our indigenous peoples that will save us.

If you like the music of Animistix, have a look at this clip called Treaty by Yothu Yindi here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7cbkxn4G8U.

It's one of our first rock songs sung in the Yolngu language and was written after the failure of our government to honour its promises under the Barunga Statement. The Statement was signed by our Prime Minister in 1988 and vowed to formalise the rights of Australia's indigenous land owners by 1990. Needless to say, it was never fulfilled..

Thanks again, have a great day
Lisa

[EstudioChispa]

Ay! You turn me on to Mandawuy Yunupingu and I find out he passed two weeks ago! As we say here in Texas, "Crap!"

I'm afraid the legacies of colonialism -- oppression of native peoples, drawing national boundaries with no regard to the people there, etc., etc. -- will vex us for some time. As we say in Texas, "It seemed like a good idea at the time." ;-) <= just kidding there, of course!

And CRIMINAL LAWYER, you say? I'm wondering more about that "evil twins" thing... I've just quit after 28 years as member of the bar here. Never did criminal work, although I did antitrust prosecutions (as civil cases) for the state attorney general for 8 years. Spent the last 10-12 years specializing in real estate law. The worst part of the profession is having to deal all day with other lawyers. <= not kidding there

Have a great evening (or morning) over there!

Russ
Austin, Texas