Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Pointing the Bone

An aboriginal woman placed a curse on Australian Prime Minster John Howard for plans to dismantle the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

The government has promised to replace the advisory board with another group of indigenous experts. However, these board members would be appointed rather than elected as the ATSIC members were.

Australian aborigines believe they can place a curse on someone by pointing at them with a bone. The power of suggestion or self-fulfilling prophecy is so strong that people have apparently been known to die after receiving such a curse.

Aboriginal leader Geoff Clark said he hoped the curse would either "enlighten" Howard or "curse him."

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