Germaine Greer writes on Aboriginal 'rage'

SYDNEY, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Feminist scholar Germaine Greer has upset some in her native Australia by saying the government should not try to prevent domestic violence among Aborigines.

Greer's "On Rage" suggests that Aboriginal men feel a deep anger over the loss of culture and land at the hands of European settlers, The Australian reported. She also said that Aboriginal women who support the domestic violence initiative would be seen as traitors.

"They can't get over it and it's inhuman to ask them to get over it," she said on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. program "Lateline" this week.

Noel Pearson, an Aboriginal leader, said he wants men in his community to take responsibility for preventing domestic violence and also believes government has a responsibility.

"It's not rage that's killing these communities, it is the sense of resignation that nothing can change," he said. "It can change; it must change."

Greer said that when Aboriginal women asked former Prime Minister John Howard for action on domestic violence "the defeat of black men was absolute."