Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Apr 5, 2021 16:49
3 yrs ago
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English term
mine' and 'thine
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mine' and 'thine
It would be a good time for the West Australian Government to shut its eyes and let the settlers up here have a little time "to teach the blackfellas the difference between 'mine' and 'thine'.
It is old statement, back in the 19th century. Does it mean teach them a lesson or specify what it is theirs and what is not?
Sorry for the offensive content.
Thanks in advance,
It is old statement, back in the 19th century. Does it mean teach them a lesson or specify what it is theirs and what is not?
Sorry for the offensive content.
Thanks in advance,
Responses
| 5 +1 | Mine and yours |
Charlotte Fleming
|
| 3 | distinction of private property |
Brent Sørensen
|
Responses
+1
32 mins
Charlotte Fleming
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Travel, wine and scuba specialist.
Native in: English (Variants: British, Scottish)
Works in: Italian to English, English
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Mine and yours
It's about teaching them that what white settlers claim as theirs ("what's mine") is no longer available to the Aborigines: "what's thine" [yours] is what's left, whatever the settlers haven't yet appropriated. The "teaching" process often involved violence and destruction.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you."
29 mins
Brent Sørensen
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Germany
Native EN|PhD|Parmaceuticals|Medical
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US) 
Works in: German to English, Danish to English, English, and 1 more.
distinction of private property
Definition of meum et tuum
: mine and thine : mine and yours : distinction of private property
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meum et tuum
Discussion
According to this next reference, "Shortly after this was written local police throughout the Kimberly region of Western Australian handed control over to the 'settlers'. Hundreds of people were massacred as a result." https://www.facebook.com/290611141314/posts/not-so-long-ago-...
So, in this context, it was more of a call to massacre the indigenous Australians and take over their land rather than making sure everyone knew what property belonged to whom. The white settlers were taking it all for themselves. More of a case of 'what's yours is mine and what's mine is my own', and to make sure they got the land they wanted, they killed off the indigenous peoples.