Matthew Lindfield Seager
The Voice
Australia will vote tomorrow on a modest proposal to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a voice to the parliament and the executive “on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”. Unfortunately, it looks like the No campaign has sown enough fear, uncertainty and doubt to prevent us from taking this small step forward as a federation.
Australia has a long and dark history when it comes to our treatment of our First Peoples. It wasn’t until 1967 that they were included in the census and it was just 40 short years ago, in 1983, that our First Peoples finally received equal voting rights and responsibilities, after more than 80 long years of being denied a fair go and pushed to the margins. The No campaign say that this proposed change introduces race into the constitution, while conveniently ignoring the fact that racial prejudice has been baked into our constitution and our culture from the very beginning.
Our First People’s have spent years gathering consensus on a reasonable path forward towards reform that might go some way towards a more just and equitable future after centuries of injustice. They are asking for voice, treaty and truth and more than 80% of First Nations people support the change we are voting on (according to the only large-scale, representative survey that has been published).
Tomorrow we have a chance to vote yes and do what Proverbs 31:8 says:
Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.
In 1903, a member of the first Australian National Parliament stated that “it is impossible for the average aboriginal to understand any political question, or to vote with intelligence”. If the No vote succeeds tomorrow, I fear it will be because, 120 years later, that sentiment carries the day amongst a majority of Australians.
I’m enjoying the conversation, talks, food and location of RubyConf Thailand. Rubyists may even recognise a certain someone who gave the keynote talk, 30 years of Ruby History 🤩
Love that the organisers leaned into the “competition” with Rails World 😉
#rubyconfth
It’s not much to look at but I’m very glad for this little national treasure park just 5km from where we are living.
Final day (day 30) of #mbsept
(Is it cheating to use a collage?)
There’s a bit of a contrast between the undeveloped parts of our suburb and the new estates popping up
Day 29 of #mbsept
I love it when people build useful, thoughtful and bookmarkable tools like this highly configurable countdown timer. I was looking for a timer that would continue into the negatives; this one does that and so much more.
Don’t be put off by the plain appearance of the configuration page.
Today’s prompt is flare, suggested by me. I suggested it because it has multiple meanings and I thought I might be able to take a creative shot but this is the best I could manage today.
Day 25 of #mbsept
Belt drive for the alternator (I think 😉) in our 2009 Hyundai Tucson.
This is the first time I’ve had a phone with more than one lens so I had some fun experimenting with different angles and zooms.
Day 24 of #mbsept
A Day/Date in the Life of Micro.blog:
Just finished at my local Parkrun. Pretty happy with a sub-24 time on a hilly course.
Day 23 of #mbsept
This new road near me seems to be nearing completion, although there’s still a lot of work to be done connecting it to the intersection.
(Took this photo before I saw today’s prompt 🙂)
Day 22 of #mbsept
Fall, water, fall. (Can you tell I really struggled for inspiration today!? 😉 This was my backup photo in case I couldn’t think of anything else 🤷♂️)
Day 21 of #mbsept
Oof! Sun is beating down! 33°C (91°F) is pretty unpleasant weather for spectating the netball grand finals! Even more unpleasant for the players though!
Day 16 of #mbsept
Statue of King Gilgamesh. Donated to The University of Sydney by the Assyrian community on the university’s 150th anniversary (or sesquicentennial if you speak Fancy).
Day 14 of #mbsept
Glowing heater and screen, watching the Keynote live at 3am on a cool spring morning.
Day 13 of #mbsept
Retrospect. In retrospect I should have taken a photo of a historical display in the library at work but I’m pleased with the look of this photo.
Day 11 of #mbsept
[Water] cycle… thin bands of cloud (or is that smog?) over Middle Harbour, Sydney.
Day 10 of #mbsept
