I heard Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations yesterday. I must say that while this won’t solve the problems facing aboriginal people in this country, it does build a bridge which ought to enable us to move forward. It is symbolic, it helps heal wounds. It was a proud moment in Australia’s history, and hopefully one that puts that sorry past behind us and allows us to go forward after acknowledging the pain and suffering white Australians have caused our aboriginal peoples. It shows that Kevin Rudd is a bigger man, more of a leader than John Howard could ever have hoped to be. I hope that as a nation it represents a turning point in the relationship between aboriginal and white Australians.
The most pertinent parts of the speech, I repeat because of their significance, and I want readers of this blog to know I am proud to have these sentiments expressed on my behalf.
“For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.”
To those who opposed the apology, get over it. It doesn’t hurt you.
To those Liberal and National MPs who absented themselves from the Parliament while the PM apologised, shame on you. I want to record here that these people were not able to bring themselves to be part of a momentous, symbolic and reconciling occasion:
- Wilson Tuckey
- Alby Schultz
- Sophie Mirabella
- Don Randall
- there were others – I don’t have their names at the moment, but will add them later.
I will say more when I have some time next week when I’m back home. For the moment, I say well done to Kevin Rudd, and I hope all Australians accept that sorry had to be said, and that it serves as an enabler to moving forward.
Those sentiments are definitely worth repeating!
cerebralmum’s last blog post..An Apology a Long Time Coming: Australia Says Sorry.
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It looks like that you not aware of what will happen next?
We will have to pay billions as compensation, the paying will never end.
More and more so called ‘stolen’ people will come up and demand more and more money. There are very few documents to proof who was ‘stolen’.
I came up with a little example in my other post;
http://www.darwinnewsblog.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=705
john’s last blog post..Give us our own state
I was thinking today that I’m also glad for the Labor government that commissioned the enquiry and was ready to accept what came out of it. I’m glad those guys were at the ceremony.
chosha’s last blog post..good art?
Well put from a transitional Australian. My kids really identified with the moment as we listened to it on the way to school. I felt quietly proud to be part of it, not having been part of it. It just felt like the right thing to do and as for those mean spirited head in the sand types…..
If you can, you should read the NT news paperor my next post in about 10 hours…. sadly that tells different…