On Captain Cook statue
If I thought it may make a difference to tear down Captain Cook, I would sign the petition in an instant. However it won’t, it would be mere petty virtue signalling by a minority. Bringing down someone’s history or culture, agree with it or not, to promote another’s beliefs and culture, is nothing to do with reconciliation.
The Snake, Redlynch
History is history, it cannot be changed. The statues are part of that history. Leave them where they are. Humans have moved on, life has changed, but history is still history, it’s part of who we all are. Alice. Palm Cove
Leave Cookie alone, that is what the kiddies used to call him. The Captain Cook statue on Sheridan St has been there for almost 50 years and is part of our Cairns. There is enough negativity, unpleasantness and copycatting going on in the world without adding to it. Lighten up and let him be. It’s interesting that it’s a woman from Brisbane who has started the e-petition with thousands of signatures. I wonder how many are actually Cairns residents. Good on you Graham Johnston for showing some common sense.
Sandra, Mt. Sheridan
Cannon Park and play there. If anything it’ll remind people of the clowns that made these bad decisions in the first place.
Scottie, Bayview Heights
Danny O’Shane (CP, 15/06). I have a relative, a young Aboriginal single mum. She works hard, six days a week to support herself and her two small girls. Please don’t bundle her into your “beg, borrow or steal to maintain our (indigenous) lives” pigeonhole. It offended her. She doesn’t consider her “earth” has been taken from her. If you are specifying community indigenous people Ernie Dingo, Eddie Mabo, Jacinta Price, Mandawuy Yunupingu and Noel Pearson, to name a few, have a different story from yours to tell. They didn’t waste their lifetimes lamenting the past. Their approach to the “battle” to be won is far more likely to succeed than activism, violence and the tiresome, counter-productive “poor me” mantra.
Tony, Bayview Heights
As the owner-builder of a humble house I gave the architectural plans to an appropriate tradesmen for quotations. In my case I went with the cheapest price knowing they were proven reliable and competent builders. Locals and friends were preferred of course but in some cases it didn’t work out, I wonder why. When it comes to taxpayers money it would be illegal to act in any other way, I would think.
Realist, Cairns
Deb Frecklington. Don’t pass the blame of your failed leadership on backroom deals and bullying. The latest poll puts your leadership against Palaszczuk in the high 20 per cent. How dismal. Best you face reality for the betterment of the LNP, stand aside gracefully and let David Crisafulli lead the party to victory in the October state election.
GLAD, Mareeba
Please, Bob Manning (CP, 15/06), you cannot fix tourism by adding a tax. All that will do is make life easier for bureaucrats who don’t have the skills or imagination to run a tourism business.
Ric, Brinsmead