Absolution
This week I want to talk about a topic which is all about walking that thin line – justification.
So, what about justification? Well, when justification results in an advantageous rewriting of history in this instance.
Some of you may be aware that I recently went to Tasmania, and our first few days we went on tours, and of course this involved listening to tour guides give you the abridged history of the region. Now as a captive audience you have no choice to listen, but halfway through the spiel on the indigenous population hubby and I were sharing confused glances. When we pipe up to query what was being related, we were ignored, and initial we thought we hadn’t been heard, but it appeared that what we were trying to ask was on the banned list.
Quick divergence here, as a kid I was taught that the indigenous population in Tasmania was completely wiped out when the colonists arrived, but this appears not to be the accepted history now. The tour guide told us that there were some deaths, but the majority were relocated onto an island off the coast. Then onto a smaller island, where unfortunately they perished in the extreme conditions. (Read here: colonists not responsible)
But wait there’s more, and this is where we got confused because he started talking about the indigenous populations’ current involvement in Tasmania. What current involvement? They’re dead, but no, it seems some of the females had left their tribes before the arrival of the colonists and settled down with whalers living along the coast, therefore the aboriginal population was still alive and well in Tasmania.
Talk about justification, some were still alive, so that means we did nothing wrong.
We heard this version of events at every tourist location we went to, and personally I don’t think the tour guides should be allowed to give a sanitized version of history. I think it belittles the damage which was done to the indigenous population and is a huge cope out.
I’d be interested in your thoughts.
© NopeNotPam
nope, not pam 
colonialists white wash everything Deb, appreciate you both standing up and asking for the truth!
Our local RSL pushes what a great job oz forces did in PNG, particularly on the Kokoda Trail, WWII against the Japanese. Now my Dad was there at the time and said nothing could have happened without the ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ … nickname for the locals who found the trail and carried our men out! When I asked about a monument to commemorate the Team effort I was totally ignored …
White fellas “use” everyone, acknowledge nobody …
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Just annoys me. Ignoring the truth is forgetting it. Forgetting it means you can’t learn from it
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exactly, well said! Thanks for voicing this issue 🙂
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You’re right that even if the government want you all to believe their version of the history, independent individuals shouldn’t be forced to tow their line.
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My view exactly. There needs to be an honest account of events
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Indeed very true.
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I generally agree with you. Colonials anywhere have a lot to answer for and you realise that they still control the narrative.
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Too true unfortunately
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One cannot erase history the good the bad and the ugly parts.
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Exactly 🙁
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I feel trying to erase history is a form of gaslighting the public
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That’s a very apt way of looking at it
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🥰
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Your post definitively made me think and this issue should be discussed. It’s paramount today
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