Comments on: Get Off My Rock http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/ looking for alternative explanations Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:43:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: waltzingaustralia http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-8052 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:13:03 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-8052 I very much agree with your comment that we are not required to accept opinions or religions that we consider to be incorrect. People seem to have the idea that tolerance means thinking everyone might be right, when in reality, it’s according people the right to believe what they wish, even if it’s completely wrong. I do like your observations about the difference between the natural object and the man-made objects (cave paintings in this case). Intellectual arguments aside, I am surprised that the local Aborigines are willing to give up the considerable revenue stream provided by tourists visiting the Rock. Also, like you, I’m saddened by the thought that the very wonderful and rewarding climb, which I’ve managed to make on two occasions (though 20 years ago, when it was still okay) is not likely to ever be repeated. (And, as noted above in the comment from jen, it’s a good thing most of us have a greater ability to forgive and forget, as no one would be allowed to visit anyone anywhere, as everyone has been hideously wronged by someone at some point in history.)

]]> By: sandrar http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-8009 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:16:42 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-8009 Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

]]> By: jen http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-7778 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:30 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-7778 Yes, well, racial guilt for past atroctities causes all sorts of stupid decisions to be made. And I’m manfully (womanfully?) resisting the urge to bring up the Holocaust here, and I just blew it. Oh well.

]]> By: Simon Holloway http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-7774 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:08:01 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-7774 Yes, that would be purely destructive I think. And if the government wished to make climbing the rock impermissable because of the threat of erosion, then that would be fine too. I suppose that what I object to is the fact that, while the activity of tourists may be corruptive, the reasoning behind the legislation is that that the Aborigines somehow “own” the rock and that having people climb it is disrespectful to them.

]]> By: jen http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-7773 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:01:41 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-7773 Just out of curiosity, would you feel differently if the people coming and going were actively hacking pieces out of the rock to take home with them? Although then it’s not so much a case of religious observance as not destroying awesome things.

]]> By: Simon Holloway http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-7772 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:18:44 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-7772 I agree, but that just comes back to the issue of respecting things that people made. The Aborigines are not descended from anybody who made the rock itself, and so their squirmishness regarding its use by non-Aborigines must remain a personal issue for them and stay out of legislation.

]]> By: jen http://benabuya.com/2008/06/28/get-off-my-rock/#comment-7771 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:46:45 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-7771 I was under the impression that it’s not so much the standing as the climbing and associated erosion. Well that and the religious cave paintings near the bottom.

But I would say that people should be allowed to climb as long as they stay away from said cave paintings

]]>