Healing the Wound

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.

To say sorry is always a nice thing. It means that we have a humility to recognise any mistake that we've made. Without this humble recognition, it would be hard to build a better future as we are vulnerable to trap into the same mistake. However, it is not easy as it sounds to say sorry. Once we said it, we are taking the position on which we stand and we are no longer innocent. We are therefore acknowledging our guilt. This is perhaps what makes people reluctant to say sorry when they've made mistakes. No one wants to be feeling guilty as it may change peoples' view on themselves.

The Australian government's plan to say sorry to indigenous community for what has happened in the past is sort of humility. For a long time, the Aboriginal communities, human rights activists and like-minded people have been working really hard to put pressure on the government to say sorry to Aboriginal people.

In the past, aboriginal children were taken away from their parents by the government to be fostered out to white families. Some of parents could maintain a contact with their beloved ones but more likely there were large number of parents who had no clue on their children's whereabouts. Removing the children from their families is like pulling something down its root. The children have to give up most of their cultural identities. They were not allowed to talk with their own language, to have their traditional belief, and to contact the families. When they grew up, most part of their cultural identities disapperear.

The Stolen Generation is the name for children who grew up during that grim period. One of my history lecturer told me the reason why stolen generation was chosen over, for instance, lost generation. It signifies the struggle so that someday aboriginal society could regain it again.

Some might argue that it is inappropriate to ask the current goverment to say sorry for what happened in the past as the current government did not involve in that event. It is true that the horror took place before us. However, it is important to remember that the existence of the contemporary society and goverment can not be separated from the past. This is not to say that the nation moved forward linearly. Rather, it shows that the past and the present are inextricably linked. To forget the wound that the Australian government cause on its society, means to accept that the flawed morality once became the ground of the nation.

13 February 2008 will be an important date for Australians. Officially, the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will apologise to Aboriginal people. It will a historical moment and important remedy for the wound of the nation.

Below is a lyric of the song Took The Children Away by Archie Roach, an aboriginal singer who was taken away when he was a child.


This story's right, this story's true
I would not tell lies to you
Like the promises they did not keep
And how they fenced us in like sheep
Said to us come take our hand
Set us up on mission land
They taught us to read, to write and pray
Then they took the children away
Took the children away
The children away

Snatched from their mother's breast
Said this is for the best
Took them away
The welfare man, the policeman
Said you've got to understand
Cos' we'll give to them what you can't give
And teach them how to really live
Teach them how to live they said
Humiliated them instead
And they taught them that and taught them this
And others taught them prejudice

Oh took the children away
Oh the children away
Breaking their mothers heart
Tearing us all apart
Took them away

One dark day on Framlingham
Came and did not give a damn
My mother cried go get their dad
He came running, fighting mad
Mother's tears were falling down
And my Dad shaped up and stood his ground.
He said you touch my kids and you gotta fight me boys

Then they took us from our family.
Took us away
Yeah took us away
Grabbed from our mother's breast
Said this is for the best
Took us away.

Told us what to do and say
Taught us all these are white man's ways
But then they split us up again
Gave us gifts to ease the pain
Sent us off to foster homes
And as we grew up oh we felt alone
Cause we were acting white
And feeling black
One sweet day all the children came back

Yeah the children came back
Yeah the children came back
Back where their hearts grow strong
Back where they all belong
The children came back
Said the children came back
Oh the children came back
Back where they understand
Back to their mother's land
The children came back
Back to their mother
Back to their father
Back to their sister
Back to their brother
Back to their people
Back to their land
All the children came back
All the children came back
Yeah the children came back
Yes I came back.

New Look!

I played around with templates and ended up having my comments disappeared! Not good really. But haloscan is getting a bit annoying. It takes one century for new comment to be up. Well, decision has to be made and here is mine: i will keep this new look and sacrifice my comments--albeit i miss reading them.

On the weekend, i was unrealistically happy. For a long time i have been waiting to see The Police concert and that night my wait was over. Three genius men rocked Melbourne and pampered their fans' ears with syncopated reggae beat of their songs. In short, it was awesome. 'Message in the Bottle', 'Every little thing she does is magic', 'Roxanne', you name any of their songs that sat on the top chart, they sang it.

I will post some more soon! Have been busy to write an article for online magazine.

Nymphomania

If we ask random people on the street this question: what do you call a woman who sleeps with many men?, the most likely answer would be a slut. Sometimes we might hear the word nymphomania mentioned. These days, we tend to hear less that fancy word nymphomania than slut when it comes to describing female sexual behaviour.

There is a huge different in term of meaning between slut and nymphomania. Slut is a social label which is used to denote sexual libertine females. Sometimes it is used in parallel with prostitutes. On the other hand, as fancy it may sound, nymphomania is scientific word ascribed to an excess of sexual desire in female. Nymphomania was categorised as disease rather than merely deviant sexual behaviour. Despite this difference, still there is a tendency to confuse these two words in every day use.

In nineteenth century during which a conservative sexual mores prevailed, nymphomania became a huge concern for the newly emerging medical science. Many works were dedicated to diagnose such thing. Medical science worked within the nature of male chauvinist perspective. As a result, female sexual behaviours were analysed and then constructed according to males’ vision on female. Although, science back then recognised male’s overindulgence on sex, which was called satyriasis, only female sexual behaviours that was perceived as menacing the existing values. Interestingly confusion was found within medical experts as to what constituted nymphomania. Many experts had different definitions on nymphomania. Nevertheless, the concept of nymphomania constructed by medical science was able to produce ‘the truth’ about women.

According to historian, Carol Groneman, who studied the term nymphomania in nineteenth century Europe, “the concept of nymphomania constructs a female sexuality that is totally out of control, both literally and figuratively: out of the control of their husbands, mothers, and doctors; and out of the control of the "natural laws" that supposedly determined women's passive response to male desire” . In an interview with salon.com, Groneman explained that the term is not “defining anything real”.

As the time went on, the relation between men and women has changed. It is relatively equal than what happened in nineteenth century or to be precise, more opportunities are open up for women to compete with their opposite sex. Similarly, the conception itself has changed. Instead of tagging women with a huge lust nympho, people favour a sort of general term: sexually active.

Despite this change, it’s not that easy for women to sleep around or to have a frequent fiddle in order to release their sexual urges. Society, to some extent, still sees sexually active women in a very subjugating manner. The expression, ‘only a slut who sleeps with a lot of men’ is often accepted as truth.

The C-Word

My name is a CUNT! So simple. Every one can find me where I am. I am located down under the women’s bellies and it is adjacent to my friend rectum. It’s basically not a great spot for me but being in between two thighs offers me sort of protection.

I am not called that way everyday. It’s only in certain circumstance my name is allowed to say. Sometimes my name CUNT is mentioned during a vigorous and raunchy sex. But not in every sex as the sound of it may be a turn-off for some who are comfortable with old-romance-style of sex. Certain ages can’t say my name either. It is extremely taboo for them to say it. So it’s not a word for kids, say adults the rule-creators. It’s the worst language in English language. Actually I have different names other than CUNT. But my other names have different meanings for those who are using it. When they’re a bit polite and curious, I am then called VAGINA, which supposedly doesn’t carry an offensive meaning. VULVA is another name that is used in a very different manner. Another time, I am called PUSSY. I don’t really know exactly (not even more and less) what is the connection between a name for a kitten and genital. Only context rules out our similarity, I suppose.

My name CUNT can be barometer for people. When people are using it, the others will suggest what kind of emotional state the speakers are at. Sometimes the use of my name CUNT is related to social background. The more people say it, the more likely they get labelled uncultured. This is the worst part that I don’t really like. My name CUNT is used and given a bad meaning. When a person is called a CUNT means he/she is really bad, awful and disgraceful. I am not sure why do I get this meaning. Is it because of my look? I don’t think my look is that bad. Women can be proud of having me and men can be crazy for me. So why is it, my name is used to describe something really terrible. In different context, my name can also be used as term of endearment. Ah you are such a funny cunt! But again it still implies vulgarity. They loathe me and love me at the same time.

I am certain that I am not the ugliest and grossest organ in human body. People will hear their lovers are caling me beautiful. Contrasting to others organ, I have the appeal. But still that doesn’t change anything. If it is because the location where I am at, I don’t think that is entirely the case. Not all organs in the easiest spot to see such as face are having attention.Beautiful eyes, gorgeous legs, nice boobs, sexy lips, excellent hair, and so on. Never did I hear people commenting on ears. Wow, that girl has fantastic ears! What? I know the perception of beauty encompasses any aesthetical aspects experiencing by the viewers. But with ears are different! People are less likely to have experienced a delirium aesthetical satisfaction with ears than they have with me.I deserve more than them.

So far I can only complain. I can’t make appeal to reconsider my name CUNT to be removed from vulgar category in English language.