... and
from wiki (which also details the cultural custom involving name changes, etc) we can learn:
... was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, which in turn contributed to advanced renal failure, for which he received haemodialysis three times a week in Darwin. His condition was announced in 2007 following his attendance in January at a rehabilitation clinic, after years of drinking of beer, between one and four cartons, daily according to his treating psychiatrist ...
So, just like for all of us, yet another case of
"His life, his choice" and
"we reap what we sow", eh ?
I see someone has once again spent a little too much time in the sun with their tin medieval fighting helmet on again…
This man was a product of his environment, that is a fact I am not disputing. However I prefer to judge this man by his best moments, not by his worst. I am celebrating the fact he became tireless in his fight to break the negative cycle and close the gap regarding equality in health and educational opportunities in aboriginal communities.
As far as spirituality, you do understand that just like us whitefella’s not all blackfella’s believe in the same thing yes?
While I respect your extensive Wiki-knowledge, my knowledge and understanding of the differences and diversities of aboriginal people comes from, well – aboriginal people. As far as spiritual beliefs, I have found some aboriginal people identify as Muslim, some identify as Christian, others follow their tribal cultural beliefs, and some believe in nothing. While I am not saying my understanding of aboriginal culture is right, it is just my understanding based on my experiences.
I am very close friends with our Indigenous Liaison Officer for the Sunny Coast, coincidently we both worked together as cleaners for HACC and have both watched each other’s careers grow and blossom through educational opportunities we had working for QLD Health, which we otherwise would have missed, him being aboriginal and me being third generation welfare and I have learned about different tribal beliefs from him. I am also lucky to be friends with an aboriginal CNC who was the first of her family to ever study at uni, she is an inspirational lady who has a passion for cultural awareness and she is currently working tirelessly in preparation for NAIDOC week on the coast next month.
I am not sure what this means, in my experience aboriginal people are proud to be called aboriginal people and to be identified as aboriginal. I have actually discussed the topic of which is correct with my CNC friend and she said it was more to do with political correctness gone mad at the top level, where the powers that be decided what the majority of aboriginal people wanted to be referred to without actually ever consulting with the majority of aboriginal people, I am not sure if this is the case, but like I said in my experience the word aboriginal is not offensive to an aboriginal.
Our indigenous Australians do not currently have equal opportunities, like this man, I am passionate about doing anything I can to help bridge this gap. My nursing goal, once I have gained a bit over 5 minutes ward experience is to go to the Territory and to help educate women regarding women’s health issues and their possible choices, I figure that if it turns out you were right regarding your God babble and I was wrong, believing in science, your fair and forgiving God might cut me some slack and let me into heaven on compassionate grounds.