EDITOR’S LETTER: from the desk of The Weekly’s Nicole Byers
What are those people shouting about, Mumma?” A simple question asked by my nearly five-year old as we watched the recent demonstrations on TV. But, if I’m honest, one I found not so easy to answer. What is the right way to explain the ridiculous concept of racism to someone whose only judgement on skin colour is a wish that we could all be rainbow hued like the Trolls in her favourite movie.
2020 has been the year of tricky kid questions. “Why is the park locked up? Why can’t I hug Nanma?” And “When will this ‘silly virus’ be over?” But it’s not just children who are questioning things. Our altered way of living during isolation, along with the tumultuous economic situation, has thrown up all sorts of questions. Questions about how we live and work, questions about how we communicate and about what is really important to us.
We keep hearing how businesses have had to ‘pivot’ to ensure a successful future, but there are also many individuals and families regrouping and resetting – either through necessity or desire.
Perhaps the knock-on effect is that society itself may be headed for a reset. In a recent email, former Governor General Quentin Bryce told me, “my hope is that this year, despite the challenges of COVID, our country will push on with the struggle for justice and equality for our Indigenous people.”
Seeing the global urgency around matters of racial equality in recent weeks, it might be a case of ‘with help from’ rather than ‘despite’ COVID that we see a much-needed leap forward.
It was Quentin’s other desire, the one that her fellow Australians read the Uluru Statement From The Heart, that inspired my decision to print it in the pages of this issue, as one way of demonstrating The Weekly’s ongoing support for our First Nations people. On page 10 you will see the statement in full. It is an invitation for all of us to walk with Indigenous Australians and show our support. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so; if you have, share it with those who haven’t.
At home I will continue to answer any curly questions as honestly as I can. I will educate my daughter about our country’s past and present, and be buoyed by the fact her teachers are doing the same. And I will continue to be encouraged by her everyday displays of empathy and compassion.
It is trite but it’s true – education is the key to a better, fairer future for everyone. If we can learn from the mistakes of the past then we can create a new way forward for the generations to come.
Enjoy the issue.