What is happening is real

Australia’s history parallels the movement of modernity towards neo-colonialenterprises encapsulated in globalisation, while Australian identity lends itself to thefragmentation inherent in the conflicting discourses of national identification that makeup its history. The psychology derived from this is startlingly apparent in our morerecent history as we battle to come to terms with new and insidious incursions intoIndigenous human rights. The bicentenary year gave Australia an opportunity tohighlight the “coming of age” that emerged from being mature enough to admit thatwhite Australia has a black history. A tension between a utopian notion held by somethat the celebrations marked a time when Australia had reached a coming of age andothers who were ambivalent about the nature of the celebrations has led to a reevaluationof Australian ideas of nationhood. What is Happening is Real is anexploration of the tensions that gave rise to a continuing engagement in the ongoingchallenges that 1988 presented to all Australians.