An Apology to Aboriginal Australia

In regards to what had happened to the aboriginals during the time period of making the rabbit-proof fence, the Australians owe the Aboriginal Australians an apology. When we all realize and think about what had happened to the Aboriginal Australians back then, it must have been the most painful and fearful moments of their lives. Throughout those time periods, these people went through such pains of being torn apart from their families and went through so many fearful things that were unnecessary, especially for young children. If we think from our perspective of how our kids might have been taken away or we could have been split apart from our parents at a young age, we can slightly realize the terrible times they had to go through and survive. As seen in the film, Molly, her sister and the cousin was taken away, they were literally getting torn apart from their mom and although the parents were begging and screaming the man had no heart and just forced the girls into the car. Also, the way the Australians spoke to the Aboriginal Australians was shocking. For example, when the British man puts the little girl into the car he says, “Stay still or I will lock your mom up!” these sorts of languages are not appropriate to use to especially the little ones. The man was threatening the child in terms of her mother and through this we can imagine how scared she must have been. The aboriginals kept going through this pain because the British kept taking away the children like they took away Molly again and also her children after. In result, Molly had to make the long trip again with her children, but yet they came back again and took Molly’s child. Although the British thought they were doing the right thing and kept going with stealing the aboriginals’ generations, it was still the most terrifying and unpleasant moment of their lives so the Australians should at least say sorry to the Aboriginal Australians.

Rabbit Proof Fence- Protagonist Molly

Describe the character of Molly and discuss whether you think she is a hero or not. Give reasons to support your opinion.

Today during humanities class, we watched a movie on “The Rabbit-Proof Fence” about a true story that happened to Molly and her two sisters. Reflecting on the movie, I thought through about Molly’s characterization and whether she is a hero or not. A hero is someone who takes action for something that is necessary and someone who thinks and takes care of others first. In the film, Molly proves as being a hero when she decides to escape from Moore River. On the last night before she leaves, she thinks about everything that had happened so far in the Moore River. Once she has her thoughts together, she decides that the place is bad and that these people have bad influences. Therefore, she makes up her mind to escape and leave the place with her sisters to go back home to her mother. This is heroic because Molly had escaped the place in order to keep her sisters and herself from danger and all the unpleasant things that might happen. Throughout this film, Molly is characterized as a brave girl who likes to take risks and explore. She is also shown as a good tracker as her grandmother tells her so in the beginning of the story. This helps her later on to escape the Moore River trying not to be caught. In his film, Molly takes on a huge responsibility in replacement of her mother to take care of her sisters and make sure they survive to meet their family again.

Colonization- Ethnocentricity

How did the ethnocentricity of the British and the First Australians cause conflict between the two groups?

The ethnocentricity of the British and the First Australians caused conflict between the two groups. Once Pemulwuy killed McIntyre, this was when the strong friendship of Governor Phillip and Bennelong changed. Governor Phillip was in rage and under a lot of stress. He seeks for revenge and to kill every aboriginal. However, Bennelong does not understand why Phillip is mad and McIntyre was the one going around their land and shooting the aboriginals. This conflict created war against Governor Phillip and Bennelong. Further throughout their lifetime, when the settlers move to new land, the British thinks it is fine to take over the land of the natives and make it suitable for their own life. On the other hand, the natives were upset and unhappy with what the British were doing because they were taking over the natives' land without asking for permission or discussing with them. This, again, created a war between the British and the natives. Throughout the lives of the British and the First Australians, there were varieties of conflicts they had to face from ethnocentricity.