Thread: Should tourists climb Uluru?

Originally Posted by squizzyhunter

As a surfer I take offence to this parallel with religion ��

I agree about the "we" that should exist in our society but have to disagree with the seismic jump in interpretation of tourist definition.

Whispering: the tourist def'n thing and telling you all you got it wrong was a bit more tongue in cheek than is apparently realized.

The "we" thing is the key point though. "We" are either all tourists (Domestic as opposed to overseas tourists) or "we" are all not tourists - for the discussion at hand. Who was here before Uluru?

I don't accept the argument that you, as a domestic tourist to Uluru, are somehow no different to foreign/overseas tourists and as such have less rights to walk on Uluru than those who live near Uluru. Point: Where is the line drawn? How close to Uluru must you live to not be seen as any other "tourist"?

I do think a valid discrimination can be made between foreign tourists and locals on holiday. I call into question any discrimination amongst the "we" Australians - no matter how far your home in Oz is from Uluru.

I think a lot of people are really OVERTHINKING in this thread now....

Originally Posted by sheerluck

The point has been missed. Vlad described Uluru in a rather dismissive fashion in his post as "just a big rock", where it has already been made clear early in the thread that it does have major cultural significance. I was merely attempting to draw parallels with places of either religious or personal significance, the question of ownership does not necessarily arise.

That's what I said put Chops put it much more eloquently.




In any event I'm not going to take any further part in this discussion as it appears to me that some people can't accept that others have different views. That is, if I disagree with their "don't climb the rock' then it MUST be me who is wrong.


I'm off to read about Land Rovers....

Originally Posted by VladTepes

That's what I said put Chops put it much more eloquently.




In any event I'm not going to take any further part in this discussion as it appears to me that some people can't accept that others have different views. That is, if I disagree with their "don't climb the rock' then it MUST be me who is wrong.


I'm off to read about Land Rovers....

Agree,.....but you ain't wrong at all my friend, because you are right in that We can all have differing opinions, and you are also right in that some, as they have demonstrated, cannot accept that.
What I find rather silly, is the people who cannot accept that there are other opinions than theirs, and so make vitriolic, derogatory, "personal" comments, try to make a lot of "noise" to get their point across, get the thread closed etc.....just decreases their credibility in my eyes.
In this case, we have had enough sensible people of various opinions, to have a great discussion.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by strangy

Climb it as often as you can.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Why not go back further. Everybody should return to Africa.
World-first genome study reveals rich history of Aboriginal Australians - Science News - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

As long as we can take our Land Rovers.

This has been an interesting conversation. Once again it points out the fact never tell an Australian he can't do something. I need to make this point. It is not my intention to say people must not climb Uluru. And indeed, it is not in the interests of some indigenous people to say that. After all, it is money in their pockets. Or, some ones pockets, at least. The point I am trying to make is, try to learn about the culture, and respect the old ways. Those who say the indigenous people must assimilate, and be like us, without the discipline of the old ways, be careful what you wish for. Any one who has lived in the Territory, or North Qld. , will know what I mean.

Bob, I have a question for you.
Despite what you may think, & despite the fact that We disagree, maybe you may choose to believe that I have been giving this issue some thought.
So, I've been doing a bit of "googling", and I have discovered that some of the signs around The Rock, placed there on behalf of the Anangu People say, words to the effect, "Please don't climb", "We'd prefer that you did not" etc. I have read that these words are sort of a "characteristic" of Aboriginal People who do not like to use the word "No". Is this correct?
Anyway, with respect to that, if those words remain, and that is all there is to disuade climbing, I would say there will be no end to it.
Pickles.