Uluru--If I go I will climb

by JC

I've read quite a lot about whether and why to climb Urulu or not. There are a lot of reasons why conscientious people decide to climb it and why others not. Most of them--whatever is their decision--have their point.

I haven't seen anyone using my arguments to climb Uluru, so I've decided to share them:

Cultures and traditions in history change during the years, decades, centuries and people have to accept other cultures, learn from them and be enough openminded to accept other points of view. In this case, I think it applies both ways, not only tourists from aborigines but also the other way.

If aborigines understand that foreigners climb "their" mountain in a respectful way they shouldn't be upset by that. Tourists should be clean and leave no trace behind them. I am pretty sure aborigines can understand that the magical feeling being embraced by nature at the top of the mountain is a way of understanding nature and most important, respect it. If I spend my time researching about aborigines and why I shouldn't climb Urulu, and will even ask them when I am there (I might change my mind, who knows), I also expect them to hear my arguments and learn how some of us see things in a different way.

I am from a European country and lot of things are changing due to immigrants coming from Africa. People where I come from, at the beginning were not very happy with all these inmigrants bringing different traditions and behaviours, but little by little are starting to understand (especially the young generations whose some of their friends are children from those inmigrants) and accept that things can change and traditions can be mixed (like music or any other art), and don't need to be unchangeable. I am very happy for that.

Then, we are talking about a natural wonder that shouldn't belong to anyone in particular but to everyone in general. That's another reason why I think everyone should be allowed to enjoy the rock in their own and respectful way. I know the aborigines have been there for a long time and white people arrived to that land not that long ago, but still, this is a wonderful rock and shouldn't have an owner. Imagine that we couldn't climb other natural wonders because some tribes (let's say in Africa) don't like it.

I think we don't need more bans in this world but try to open more minds, always respectfully. The arguments against climbing it, even if they have their point, I found them a bit paternalists.

My two cents.

Comments for Uluru--If I go I will climb

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I will meet you at the top!
by: Berroff

Intelligent, interesting, respectful & open minded!
These were the kind of people I met on top of Uluru 2 years ago, and I think you are no exception. It is well worth the climb, if you're prepared to ignore or endure some stupidity in various forms & shapes. (Ref. my Frequently Unanswered Questions).



Interesting viewpoint
by: Hugh, Arizona, USA

You're the first person I've heard saying that Aborigines need to learn from other viewpoints, it can't all be one way. I wonder if we are really doing the Aborigines any favors by cocooning them and walking on eggshells around their myths and taboos. I know they have suffered horrendous abuses in the past and any decent person would want to make amends, but it seems to me (correct me if I'm mistaken) that the federal and state governments have given up on integrating them into mainstream society, and instead are trying to preserve them almost like zoo animals. This ensures that they will be trapped in a cycle of poverty, lack of education, alcoholism and dependence on the government. It's also frustrating for both tourists and Aborigines when national parks are turned into "reservations", because there is an inherent conflict between the goals of preserving an exceptionally beautiful landscape for all humanity, and cocooning Aborigines so that they continue leading a way of live that is unchanged for 40,000 years.

Here in Arizona there are many places of outstanding beauty that are run by Native American tribes, such as Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, and others such as the Grand Canyon that are national parks but have spiritual significance to Native Americans. The federal government and the Native Americans working together have generally struck the right balance. The Native Americans are proud to welcome tourists, know that the revenue from tourism is essential to tackle ongoing problems of poverty, and do not make unreasonable demands to force tourists to obey Native religious beliefs. They know that if the Grand Canyon were suddenly closed to climbing, tourism revenue would disappear overnight and it would be a lose-lose situation for everyone.

I believe you can regard a mountain as sacred and still climb it if you do so respectfully - see my comments on the page Is it right or wrong to climb Uluru? - Have a think on this site.

Climb it for sure!
by: Peter

Well spoken.

It is truly a magical experience. You will not regret it.

Here are some photos from the summit.
https://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/the-uluru-summit-is-fantastic.html

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