Lorena Allam’s article on the Australia referendum touched me deeply (Rejecting the voice shows Australia is still in denial, its history of forgetting a festering wrong, theguardian.com, 14 October). I write this as a non-Indigenous father in Canada who also has no power, influence or access to the media. The “multitude of backgrounds that have experienced racial discrimination” – that’s me, my parents, my children. So I understand that the right to free speech is not the same as the right to be heard as an equal.
Thank you for your words and for trying to make the world a better place. The creation of the yes campaign’s community of volunteers is key to winning over racism and misinformation. May this grassroots movement fight on.
Kaan Oran
Toronto, Canada
• To my Indigenous friends, I am so sorry (Indigenous Australians grapple with ‘gut-wrenching’ result but pledge to ‘keep fighting’, theguardian.com, 14 October). We have lacked the wisdom, empathy and courage to say yes to give you a right to a constitutional voice. But for 65,000 years you have spoken clearly about your love for your country and peoples. Keep speaking so we all can have hope together.
Dr Susannah Tobin
Cherrybrook, Sydney, Australia
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