• MindTraveller@lemmy.ca
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          5 months ago

          A lot of Aboriginal Australians would object to the idea that the land here is “their space”. Aboriginal ideas of land ownership are very different to white ones. For most aboriginal tribes, the relationship with land isn’t a property relationship like white people would understand it. It’s a spiritual connection of interdependence. You might say that the people don’t own the land, the land owns the people.

          Nobody made the land they live on. Well, except for the Dutch. So how can you say land that has existed for millions of years longer than you is yours? Did you steal it? The white people in Australia sure did. They justified their colonisation with the idea that since aboriginals didn’t have a white idea of land ownership, the land belonged to nobody and was free for the taking. But the reason many aboriginals wouldn’t describe their relationship as ownership is because they don’t believe land can be owned. The concept is nonsense. And those white people sure didn’t cultivate a spiritual connection with the land the way things are supposed to be done around here.

          • Mango@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Well the fact of the matter is that force of arms dictates “ownership”. Owning something means you control it.

            I didn’t mention ownership though. You’re coming at me with a bit of a chip on your shoulder. “Maintaining your space” means taking care of your boundaries, keeping distance from others when appropriate, and generally keeping safe however you see fit. Mowing your lawn and shaving your face are the same this way.

            I love the Dutch. They’re real life team magma!

            • MindTraveller@lemmy.ca
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              5 months ago

              Lawns were invented by rich white people as status symbols, because it’s ostentatious to own land that serves no useful purpose. I criticised the white concept of land ownership, and you responded that you didn’t mean white land ownership, you meant white land waste. Honestly, I don’t see the difference.

              • Mango@lemmy.world
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                5 months ago

                You’re doing an excellent job of missing my point and trying to make me feel bad for my race, but the stuff you’re saying here means nothing about me. Take care of yourself, k?