Close Encounters

VII

Paul F Walsh

Ignorance was walking down the street when he met Knowledge.

‘A YES vote would divide us, mate,’ Ignorance said. ‘We’re all equal here in Australia, mate, even the Aborigines.’

‘So, you’re voting NO to maintain your equality with Aborigines?’ Knowledge asked.

‘Well, when you put it like that …’ Ignorance hesitated. ‘I’m a little bit more equal than they are.’

‘So, you’re voting NO to maintain your superiority over Aborigines,’ Knowledge observed.

‘You’re not hearing me, mate,’ Ignorance responded.

‘Well, what are you afraid of?’ Knowledge persisted.

‘I don’t want them to take my house and backyard,’ Ignorance admitted.

‘So, you’re voting NO to things that have nothing to do with the referendum and will never happen.’

‘Exactly, now you’re hearing me, mate, loud and clear,’ Ignorance said.

‘So why don’t you want to hear their YES VOICE when you want all of us to hear your NO VOICE?’ Knowledge challenged.

‘Now, don’t be divisive, mate,’ Ignorance declared. ‘All Aussies are equal, especially the Aborigines, except some of us think they’re a little bit too equal, if you get what I mean.’

‘YES, I get what you mean, it’s not exactly a subtle point you’re making,’ Knowledge observed. ‘And that’s another reason I’m voting YES!”

Close Encounters VII