Out of all the positive commonalities that is shared among humanity there still remains an ignored taboo of both subdued and outright oppression that continues to permeate the fabric of our world. I never cease to be amazed and overcome with a sense of awe of mans inhumanity to man, and the notion of inferiority and second class citizenship. The reality remains that this strange and detrimental phenomenon finds a home in every hemisphere on the planet.

I most recently ventured to the continent of Australia by way of its gateway city Sydney. I journeyed not as a tourist nor a visitor but rather a trustee of humanity, justice and equality. I traveled with the understanding of the rich and unique contributions that individual cultures provide to the collective world. A complete contribution that cannot adequately be measured or given tangible value.

With much anticipation and expectation, I encountered during my visit members of the indigenous aboriginal people of Australia and their culture. I read and watched all of the major news outlets and coverage about their current plight within the continent. The widespread disparages that abound, even one mention of an aboriginal child who was denied hospitalization which eventually led to her death. Much to my amazement, I even listened in silence to an African American maintain that Aboriginals were “unmotivated,” what a western way of thinking, I thought!

Yet and still, I continued to be more intrigued with their history and state of affairs because in so many ways it remains synonymous with innumerable other indigenous cultures and people of color worldwide. On every continent you will find the same story of humankind’s ugly alter ego. The both unsightly and hideous disparities and treatment of people who continue to fight against all odds. The aboriginal plight in Australia attracted a particular and peculiar interest to me because they looked like me. In a number of ways as a people they continue to be treated like me. Collectively as a people, they continue to exist in such a world with continued struggles. There remains an interconnectedness that cannot be ignored by the world.

I observed at a distance the aboriginal culture intently and watched others observe their overall aurora and demeanor. In doing so it was apparent to me that despite their plight and or situation in a capitalistic culture in their own land, they somehow maintained dignity, pride and a peculiar happiness that yielded to no one. As fate would have it, while walking the shores of Sydney Harbor, I happened upon the thoughts of the American writer Mark Twain. His thoughts and opinions I think are not only that of Australia, but civilization. "Australian history is almost always picturesque; indeed, it is also so curious and strange, that it is itself the chiefest novelty the country has to offer and so it pushes the other novelties into second and third place. It does not read like history, but like the most beautiful lies; and all of a fresh new sort, no mouldy old stale ones. It is full of surprises and adventures, the incongruities, and contradictions, and incredibilities; but they are all true, they all happened."

BlackCommentator.com Guest Commentator, The Reverend D. D. Prather, is a noted Civil/Social Justice Activist, a native of Atlanta, Georgia and former National Member of the NAACP Board of Directors. Click here to contact the Reverend Prather.

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