Letters to the Editor
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Blackpaw is Right
This sad story has more to do with white guilt and multiculturalism than misogyny or chauvinism.
The main article asks the question whether the attackers of a white ten year old would get off so easily. Fair enough. But you should also ask whether nine white Australians would get off with a slap on the wrist after such an attack. The answer to both questions is no.
Sexual and domestic abuse of women and girls is rampant in Aboriginal society. It is a HUGE problem. Beacuse of white guilt over historic suppression of Aboriginal culture and Australia's strong pc movement (just as strong as that in the States), it is very difficult to even talk about the issue sometimes, let alone do something about it. White Australians are fearful of being labelled racist and ethnocentric in legal situations involving Aborigines-- to the point of being unable to apply normative western standards even in cases like this one. The dynamic is compounded by the tendancy to blame western culture for any and all problems with indigenous people. To suggest that historically patriachal and repressive (to women) Aboriginal culture is as much or more to blame for high rates of domestic abuse than alcoholism and ennui caused by white political and economic oppression is anethema.
This is an extreme example, but less extreme situations involving the same issues and feelings happen every day. Rather than punish offenders or unequivocally condemn such behaviors, a "teaching" attitude is adopted, and even that has to be parsed for appropriate cultural sensitivity.