Engendering Cultural Responsibility
by Deb Hawken
As a woman, I personally resent the implication that there is something
dubious or less than trustworthy about the confidences of women. I also
resent the implication in the paper by Wenche Ommundsen that there is
something less than reliable in having an emotional response to a book. The
experiences of Sally Morgan and her relatives are too horrible to not have an
emotional response. I do not think that the fact that “My Place” evokes the
structure of a detective novel in any way weakens the intellect of the people
who read this text or lessens the magnitude of loss caused by the child
removal policies. I do not think that Wenche Ommundsen gives readers enough
credit.
If for any reason you doubt the historical accuracy of the events recorded in
“My Place”, please take the time to look at other information available from
our web site. The report entitled “Bringing Them Home” is particularly useful
because its authors spoke to more than 500 Aboriginal people whose lives have
been directly affected by the child removal policies. You can find this
report under the Historical Background category on our web page.
But don’t take my word for it. Go ahead. Read “My Place”, learn about
Aboriginal culture, look at how the dominant Australian culture has treated
Aboriginal peoples, and then decide for yourself.
Return to Stolen Generations - The Break-Up of Aboriginal Families
Email: debonator@hotmail.com
