Consensus, The Art of Manipulation

Social Commentary: (Please note) I am an experienced ‘educator’, group ‘facilitator’, and human/community services professional, having more than 25 years of working in this area. Policy and politics are par for the course in this kind of work.

In recent months, since the Rudd Government took office in our Federal Government, I have been more overtly concerned by the apparent ’smoothness’ of the political faces now ‘leading’ this country, and how there is no distinct differences from this Government (so-called political leadership), to that of its predecessors, be they Liberal or Labor, going back as far as the Hawke government.

The same ’smoothness’, smiling congenial faces, power-dressed to impress, can now be readily seen operating in numerous ‘leadership’ roles throughout most organisations, be that public, private, governmental, statutory, and or non-govt.

This trend has concerned me for many years; and why so many of my peers, associates, colleagues, and fellow citizens in general, seem to be going along with whatever political/policy changes are occurring, without any real challenge or open dissent, though they often complain, most often outside of the relevant forums/opportunities that they should be ‘complaining’ or ’speaking-out’ in.

I have participated in 100s of forums, meetings, conferences, think-groups, and the like throughout these years, and have often felt disturbed or disheartened at what I believed/felt should have been the outcome “got lost” somewhere in the process, or that I was “on my own” with whatever the issue was being addressed, or ‘discussed’.

In many instances, I truly did feel that ’somehow’ the agenda, or group had been ‘channelled’ (coerced) into a particular consensus — agreement and endorsement of an item that had been presented in such a ‘clever’ way, that it was more the motion of a meeting, without the accompaniment of the passion or emotion of the dialogue …

My ignorance (lack of knowledge, information) bothered me, as I couldn’t ‘name’, ‘understand’ or vocalise coherently why I would feel that things weren’t “quite right”, even though I was witnessing, experiencing such shenanigans time-and-again, on matters where the outcomes would often have major impacts (often detrimental) on many peoples lives and/or livelihood. It was if the ‘group’ couldn’t see, hear or sense that ’somehow’ the decision-making processes had been ‘guided’ to a preordained outcome.

Recently, in my constant quest of learning and researching, I came across The Delphi Technique and sensed I had now an answer (the formula and blue-print) to what had been ‘going on’ in most of those meetings and gatherings.

[I suggest if you're really interested, you do your own reading on Delphi, and then apply that to 'situations' of a political/employment/community nature, that you may have experienced.]

I also found a further article — correlated to that of Delphi — about sensitivity training:

” …Sensitivity training is based on research on human behaviour that came out of efforts during World War II to ascertain whether or not an enemy’s core beliefs and behaviour could be modified by the application of certain psychological techniques. These techniques have been gradually perfected over the years by efforts of business and industry leaders to persuade people to buy products, including the radio and television industry to ascertain how an audience [population] might [can] be habituated to certain types of programming. …

” The techniques perfected by behavioural scientists to change our core beliefs aim at sowing confusion in the minds of those who would oppose such change. This confusion is created by presenting logical contradictions as equally plausible, valid, and actionable. Those without a strong belief system, be it empirical, scientific, religious, or logical are especially susceptible to the urgings of those who seek change. Those who have strong enough belief systems that enable them to challenge, refute, and oppose this change are coerced by small-group encounter techniques to conform to the ‘majority’ view as determined and sown by a ‘facilitator’ and supported by the core group of ‘believers’ plus the newly recruited ’sheep’ who join the ‘majority’ group for fear of confrontation. If the challenger does not conform to the group pressure to adopt the ‘consensus’ view, s/he is further isolated from the group and/or discarded. S/he is never allowed to participate fully in the process thereafter. … ” etc, etc.

In my view, a classic example of such gross “manipulation” of the nation, was the recently held — by the Australian Government — “The Australia, 2020 Summit”, where processes and procedures were typical of the “Delphi” format. And of course the recent “Sorry” apology being enacted is another “consensus” stratagem.

I’ll leave it at that for now.

Aboriginal Is Not A Religion

Aboriginality re-in-forces and represents “the Law”, not the laws of Man as such,
but “the Principle” (or Law) of life and living.

We can all cite examples of the laws of government and religion — and thus of Man — and see how they have all-ways favoured the lawmakers, politicians, and religious enforcers, and thus one group against another. However, no matter how well intentioned, such laws discriminate, and in their application they usually empower the power-hungry at the further detriment and expense of the disempowered. Lawmakers, politicians and the pious as “power-brokers” make up a “triad of evil” that can be understood as all-ways saying, “these laws are for just-us” yet never ensuring nor enshrining justice. Also, such laws and teachings all-ways relate to the principles of humanism, which of their very nature cannot be inclusive of all life.

Aboriginal literally translates to the “absolute original” — the first known — below and beyond all other forms, and in the context of this country (Australia) and its original peoples (“the Aborigines”), it is not just a race or class of people, it can also refer to a state of being, a state of knowing, a Way of Living-Being — an adherence to knowing and living in a manner that maintains “ones” connection to all life — not just humans or “just-us”.
Aboriginal, in its essential implication, is not about separateness from some and acceptance to others.

The “ab origin” means “from the beginning” and trans-relates to the absolute-original-gene within the Aborigines of these lands, and in-term effectively recognises the “absolute original genesis” that is within all — the oneness, or source of beginnings of life that “links” all — “the original-gene-in-all” (genesis).

Aboriginal is the knowing of the origins and the Law of Life that is implicit in all of life, not “just-us”.

Aboriginal really cannot be interpreted logically, nor rationalised or intellectualised, no matter our need or reason to do so; It is an experience and a “knowing”, as It is original, and therefore beyond the limitations and confines of words themselves.

In my case, even though I had a “Christian” father; a Muslim Grandfather (maternal); an Anglo-Germanic Australian Grandfather (paternal); an Aboriginal-Irish Grandmother, I remain uncomfortable and “disturbed” whenever I am being imposed upon to describe who am I. I could say I am all of these and yet none of these. I could also say without confusion that I am one-of-all; an absolute original (ab-original) that is all.

In effect, in our contemporary language, “origin” means just that — the point of beginning — to which in a 3 dimensional world/reality such as ours, the coordinates or point of origin is mathematically written as 0,0,0. At that point and beyond no-thing can make sense, and being “ab-origine” cannot “make sense” either.

May I suggest that none of us stop at any particular religion; continue the search for your origene, your “aboriginality” reality — go through and beyond any religion that you may embrace to the source, to the Seed, beyond the separateness, the split, the alien-nation, and the limitations of humanism — go to the Law, the Principle, not the war of Saddam-Islam or Adam-Christian or Abraham-Judean or any “other” that binds and limits Aboriginality in this country (Australia) or within one’s Self.

Go “deeper” into, not further a-way from The Law, the “Dreaming”, the Tjukurritja Tjukurrpa; The “Dreamtime Story”.

This is my expression and understanding … for now.

Salaam in One
Djubba (David John) Akbar (27 Feb 2003)

This is an abbreviated Version of a longer Commentary I wrote some time ago. Full Version here.

Your Child Belongs To Me

For quite some time now, as I have consistently advocated and spoken-out for and of behalf of the maintenance of indigenous (Aboriginal) culture — at least its fundamental core values, beliefs, and ways of experiencing/living life — I have felt that this “Cause”, this fight I have lived is a losing battle — and that I am witnessing and experiencing acculturation* in its worst manifestation — the eradication and/or the ultimate elimination of the differences between Aboriginal (indigenous) culture/s and that of the mainstream.

In my attempts to understand the why & how so many are being so rapidly and readily converted to the dominant, mainstream culture and lifestyle, I have searched for the facts and information that could give me answers to why this was happening, and why so few seem to notice or even care.

“It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” ~ Sherlock Holmes in “A Scandal in Bohemia

The following quotations, are indicative of some of the reasons that are insidiously embedded within the collective — not by accident or as some-kind of natural process but by design and calculation — by, for, and from an elite few, spread throughout the world, who have been able to ensure that “their way of life” is the only way of life that is on offer.

“ … certain segments of the population must be programmed to be robotic drones, incapable or unwilling to think on their own. In this scenario, the “individual” is the enemy of the state. Individual thinking and choice are not conducive to “peace and progress” and not permitted. Only by being part of “The Team,” can the individual (follower) accomplish objectives or “outcomes.” Of course, these “objectives and outcomes” are directed by the bureaucracy. This phase of population training is currently being accomplished by the public school system with such programs as “outcomes based education,” and the introduction of New Ageism into the classroom. One has to remember that Adolf Hitler pioneered a similar tactic with his Hilterjugend and state-sponsored school system. To quote the Fuhrer, “When an opponent declares: ‘I will not come over to your side,’ I calmly say ‘your child belongs to me already. Who are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing but this new community.’ ”

~ Roberts, Craig; The Medusa File; Consolidated Press International; Tulsa, OK; 1997; p 9

It is this sort of information, that more readily helps me to try to better understand what is the real motives for political manoeuvrings and policies, that continue to attack and belittle Aboriginal cultural values and lifestyle, by such recent strategies as economically penalising Aboriginal parents in remote communities if they “fail” to ensure their children’s attendance at school [referred to as welfare quarantining]. Also Read More Here and here

What is essential is that we create a seamless web of opportunities to develop one’s skills that literally extends from cradle to grave and is the same system for everyone — young and old, poor and rich, worker and full-time student.

~ A Human Resources Development Plan for the United States; National Center on Education and the Economy; 1992

So, given that Australia is seen by some (including yours truly) as the 51st State of the US of A, it is little wonder that are political and collective motives to “close the gap” is no more than a publicly supported ploy to eventually ensure the further if not total demise and deconstruction of cultural difference, with more and more Aboriginal people becoming ‘educated’ to the same values, goals, and aspirations of that of their fellow “dumb-downed” average citizen.

“Every despot throughout history realised that to gain control over their citizens they needed to control the textbooks. They don’t care what we “old folks” think as long as they can mold the minds of the young.” ~ Debbie O’Hara

“Assimilation in any other name still means cultural destruction” ~ DjA

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*acculturation: the adoption of the behaviour patterns of the surrounding culture; “the socialisation of children to the norms of their culture”

Talk To The Hand !

Was working with a traditional Aboriginal woman the other week. Went to p/u to take home from a “women’s business” program in our local district.

She had her young grandson with her, visiting from the Central Lands area. His English was somewhat better than hers, so I asked if he’d interpret for me where needed as I discussed a few matters with his Grandmother.

He was more interested in listening to the rap music on the car stereo, and when I persisted in asking him what his Grandmother had said, he turned to me, in his american mannerisms and hip-hop speak and said, “Talk to the hand” !

Oh yes, how far we haven’t come, and somewhat saddening to see and hear. (At least for me.)