[Marxism] 'Marxist Intervention' on colonial legacy - warning

[cwarren]

I would be very careful of this 'Marxist Intervention' site, as it seems 
to perpetuate the 'peaceful' intrusion by British imperialism into 
Australia.  This line is loved by Australian capitalists ideologues.  
For example it states;

"Early contacts at Sydney Cove seem to have been largely friendly, and 
there are reports of amicable relations between explorers and blacks in 
other parts of the continent. We are told that Phillip was well-disposed 
towards Aborigines and that he tried to apprehend a white convict who 
killed one. But the local blacks soon learned that when basic issues 
were at stake, the whites would use brutal force against them, as the 
colonial authorities did against their own lower class."

It also seems to foster the Imperialist cover story that smallpox, 
deployed in 1789 against Aborigines, was in fact introduced from the 
Celebes by Macassan seafarers.  This false theory is also peddled by 
capitalist ideologues.

Australian orthodox Marxism has had a long tradition of defending and 
advancing Australian Aboriginal rights, even against Australian secret 
police attempts to disrupt such activity.  Australian History, 
generally, is in turmoil as it has long been censored by capitalism in 
the interests of validating the current regime of property in Australia 
and whitewashing massive infamies from the recent past.

Although I do support O'Lincoln's objection to the characterisation of 
Australian 'native peoples' as drunk, demoralised etc.  But Marxist 
Intervention, based on akademica, does not develop a credible Marxist 
view (it may in the future).


Chris Warren
Canberra





Tom OLincoln wrote:
> Either Lueko or Lou wrote or quoted this (I had trouble working out 
> which): "While the native peoples of Australia, drunk and demoralised, 
> survive in shanty towns or reservations, those in Palestine have had 
> some capacity to struggle against such a fate"
> This is one-sided to say the least. There was and is sustained 
> Aboriginal resistance. To read about it go to Marxist Interventions, 
> and look under "Aborigines" at the items called "Resistance" and 
> "Struggle".
>
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