Never-everendum

A breaking of the silence, guest article by Steve Jones

"Frankly, the voice is a proposal so pathetically understated that I'm amazed most Indigenous people are settling for it... I helped design it as something so modest that no reasonable non-Indigenous australian could reject it. More fool me." - Noel Pearson

These words by Noel Pearson, one of the Voice architects prior to the result, echoed what a lot of blackfullas had thought from the start. But when any questions, queries, or concerns from blackfullas were raised on social media, they were met with a front line Yes campaign protection of anger, dismissiveness, or total rejection through blocking on whichever platform the questions were asked. Some mob were even labelled racist for not wanting to support it without further information, if you can believe it. So blackfullas with concerns were labelled trouble and completely bypassed as the reconciliation train was on a schedule.

Among the other concerns of blackfullas were the consequences of a No. Consequences that it seems the Prime Minister, ALP and those in charge of promoting the Yes campaign either didn't forecast or perhaps they just thought they were worth taking a punt on. Another concerning consequence was that a vote on whether a voice ‘to’ parliament (not in parliament) could be enshrined in the constitution, would end up being manipulated and twisted into by conservatives, racists and by media with bullshit and disinformation. It's realistic to say this is how it played out, but how the fuck did we not see this coming? Let's face it, they've got form. The government were even asked by some to shut the referendum down as it had the potential to cause harm, but those concerns were dismissed and then train kept a rollin’.

The crap that was getting thrown on the tracks by the right wing No campaign was so Trump like that I'm not surprised white australia ate that shit up. There were even Neo-Nazi's marching, spilling racist chants and encouraging people to vote No and the majority of the place agreed with them it seems. Led by Jacinta Price, Warren Mundine, Peter Dutton and that one nation thing, the message from the right wing No may as well have been if you vote yes these blacks are coming for your house, your children, and then you'll all be shipped back to England. Now as dreamy as that sounds, it's not even close to what the people were truly being asked to vote on. It was the equivalent of a P&C committee at school that wouldn't even be given the keys to the canteen. And, sure they'd be able to ask the principal if we could put coke in the bubblers, but ultimately it was up to the principal to say yay or nay.

The government side of the Yes campaign had such an evangelical feel to it. Exodus chapter 8:1 "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharoah and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go". Walk with us, journey with us, fill your offices with dot paintings brrrtttt. The begging, the pleading to be included in the master's rule book was so sad, and to witness your culture's self-determination being marketed as needing white approval was horrendous. The need for

Now the government could've tried to legislate a voice to parliament and once up and running successfully have a referendum. Once white people were shown that there is nothing to fear. But no, what happened instead was a nation that was built on and continues to thrive on racism decided to vote on our worth as Aboriginal people. And the result although predicted still fucking hurts.

Another consequence, and I can only speak for myself here, was the silence from non-Indigenous friends. I didn’t see this one coming and don’t care how they voted given the information that was likely obtained from media, but they all know who I am, what I stand for and what the last year or so leading into this referendum has been like for us. It’s just what you do when a friend may be in pain, you let them know you’re there. With the majority of the country not wanting us to be heard and the silence around here in the wake of the result, I can’t remember ever feeling this lonely.

Since the result there was a call for silence from YES23 and I understand they must be hurting, but so are all the Aboriginal people who’s existence has been under the microscope, then ripped apart by this process. So instead of an apology to mob who never asked nor wanted to be put through this shit, they’ve decided to lay complete blame on the No campaign and bail out. Unlike Lidia Thorpe who gets knocked down and fronts up every single time, their ‘leadership’ seems to be severely lacking.

Whether you agreed with the proposal, wanted a referendum or not, on the exact same day this nation voted not to give blackfullas a voice, they also ridiculed Aboriginal players for not singing the anthem when the Kangaroos took on Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup. Ironically the call came from a former Australian captain who also never used to sing the anthem prior to a game.

So is it that the anthem isn’t being sung, or who isn’t singing it that’s the issue?

We know!