The idea is that whenever an argument is put up there is always something in the background which is not being spelled out, but is just assumed to be the case.They’re not something people talk about—they are just assumed to be some sort of foundational truth somewhere in the background.I tell you this because I have finally worked out the unexamined assumption behind the Voice argument.
We all laugh, we all cry; we all eat, and sleep and work; we have babies and we love our families—and the list of things that make our common humanity could go on and on.But now we are told this is wrong.We are divided, they assume, by our “racial essentialism”.The assumption in those words is that race is essential, that race is what defines us and race is what divides us.
Those of us who have worked with Indigenous colleagues have found them to be just like everyone else—fellow humans, with all the usual human characteristics, interests, enthusiasms and foibles. This is comforting, because it assures us that Australian can really be a united country—that we don’t need to be permanent divided by the doctrine of “racial essentialism”.