It is now ten years since our army invaded Northern Territory First Nation settlements at the forefront of the Howard/Brough ‘Intervention’.  That this ‘Intervention’ is ongoing is testament to the inherent racism of our country.  Lionel Fogarty’s extraordinary poem “Philosophies Exterminated”, examines the Intervention with clarity and passion.  Put these words in your head then go for a walk, take a nap, anything to let them settle into a picture of your unconscious making.  This picture is Lionel’s gift.

Philosophies Exterminated

As laws contemplate isolation, seasons cries
Has contained company flames personality.
We connection general disinterest within<
The intellectual process.
Squeal; labelled manipulated judgements
Are made by boulders by lawyers.
The destroyer now galloped empowered<
Ongoing developments.
Northern Territory seems not the dreaming potential,
As the current over used neglected are outdated trickle inescapable.
Elemental suffering are not limitative.
Perpetually was perfect for the governmental,
Orienting condition.
Lifelong innocents are balance to vote for attachments.
Unconditionally appear if friends are adversary interaction.
As laws wall entire existence, we find tolerance policy lacking.
Betrayal interpret was the surged stunned silent when laws looks,
To touch the community of the Territory.
Imitation repeated intrusion by takes a life for exasperation laws.
In contemplate bloody recalling the stories did not work.
Punishment composited arose matter of facts,
The transgression veins were perversely evil symbols,
When literally the Blackfellas intactness because township.
Valid crowns of sovietisation gave more association for us to
Resistance, even to rewrite.
Place near campsite were deliberately moved and caused
indifference.
Devastate habitats made barrier over encroaches so outbreaks can
escalate.
Expensive plots was now the forces,
Reducing load of crop diseases went on to share remotes.
The moral eye was to negotiate,
The prominent was to hear memorable
Yet simplistic approaches caused monstrous crimes of slaughter.
Importance subject from dimension came to confront predators,
To written laws over laws.
Arguably financial languish on Aborigines negates for the
Whole world endangered to greed.
Extreme candidates were expert on how native Australians are to
parent,
An investigation of what viruses the virus hazards.
As laws made by natives no; but play it out?
Has the write it down no; but play it out?
To philosophies our own exterminating.

Lionel George Fogarty, published in “The Intervention”, edited by Rosie Scott and Anita Heiss,  Newsouth Press, Sydney 2016.