Brendan Nelson's "Sorry" speech pt. 1/2

[midgysamurai15]

I could say some snide comment about The Liberal Party- but at least Nelson manned up to see the truth in our history, and apologise for it which Howard failed to do. So thank you, for at least showing some humanity within The Liberal Party. Even if it took for a leader of yours to get kicked out in order for this to happen.

This is where patriotism comes from. With the hope of being the best country we possibly can be.

[emitts79]

You are not black nor am I white, we are Australians - so harden the f!@k up. And how are they disadvantaged, they get more help, more money and more programs to help you, what do the white people get? we all should get equal payments, equal help and equal programs that's what it will make me as a white Australian feel equal to Aboriginals.

[Inconvenientruths]

@emitts79

To right Sport.

Everyone should apologise!

In those days there was no fear or favour in government actions relating to child welfare.

Now the government only tries to save non Aboriginal kids from sexual and physical abuse.

All because the kids who were saved did not realise it and a whole hap of political pricks think they might look nice if they apologise!

Shit oh dear!

[TheLordsSoldier90]

I cant believe he tried to make excuses for the wrongs enflicted upon Aboriginel people! I wonder if her would say the same thing if he saw each case individually. Aboriginal women raped and beaten by policemen. Kids flogged beacause someone lost their thongs, Mothers watching their children stolen by strangers and treated like animals! I am a christian Woman and I have never hated anyone as much as I did when I saw Brendon say this (first time), he makes me sick!

[RoboDouche]

Then you perpetuate the shame of those events and you missed the point of his speech. Understanding the context in which these events happened - that there are subtleties to this issue and that many thought they were acting in the interests of Aboriginals - is necessary for a complete reflection on how and why things like this happen.

[RoboDouche]

It's necessary in order to understand why, even now, Aboriginal children are left to be abused for 'the right reasons', because protection services are afraid to remove them from their abusive parents. Those who turned their back on this speech, though they didn't know it, were turning their backs on the Aboriginal people of Australia. In years to come will we have to apologise again for our current apathy?

[RoboDouche]

Part 3. You might, but I won't. And neither will Brendan Nelson. He saw and understood the issue for its complexity. Too bad most of Australia wasn't capable of doing likewise.

[poobearpanda345]

penis :D

[cahao9]

i agree with the idea of a 'sorry day' and am quiet happy to apologise for what past governments did, but what everyone must realise is that we must respect those who choose not to apologise, they have done nothing wrong, it is not racist and although i disagree it is not for anyone else to tell them that they should or should not apologise. lets hope that this national sorry day is a massive step forward for indigenous and non indigenous australians alike

[Punchy196er]

Nelson fails...

[himler42]

he should not have spoken! let Rudd take all the glory, thats all it was.. we should not say sorry we didnt have a choice, it was the government!

[and1skipp]

why should he be sorry?

he didn't have anything to do with the stolen generation or the invasion of Australia by 'white people'

I'm not sorry

[himler42]

very true!

[Timeshift99]

Yes yes we all know how useless the Liberal Party is on indigenous issues. Nothing to see here.

[dylanh1989]

This made me sick. Nelson, fuck you!

Kevin, thank you for your sincere and well constructed apology .

[leopardgunshy]

The truth you say?So i guess on ANZAC day we should talk about civilian deaths, or celebrate US soldiers torturing people in Iraq?Every race has it rat bags,white,black, chinese,whatever.The government(as well as public opinionover the years has treated the aboriginal culture as though it was worthless,this was one day where the nation could band together to celebrate what was lost.And for Brendan Nelson's own selfish political reasons,he couldn't help but find a point of difference.shameful!

[tessw999]

couldn't of said it better myself

[Punchy196er]

right the fuck on

[RoboDouche]

That's not what happened. He made a speech that addressed the moral complexity of the issue and the ongoing complexity of aboriginal affairs in this country. It was an important speech and I'm sorry it went over most peoples heads. The manner in which people turned away from this speech is symbolic of the way in which they continue to turn their backs on the Aboriginal people while continuing to entertain patronising token gestures of support. Nelson asked for the real thing. Good for him.

[RoboDouche]

Your knowledge of liability and the law is seriously limited. In absolutely no way whatsoever could Nelsons speech be construed as an attempt to avoid paying restitution. Not even at all. Not even a bit. The law simply doesn't work that way. But thanks for playing. What he was saying is that for an apology to be meaningful we have to face head on the complicated circumstances which gave rise to these policies - and that making things right means more than token gestures, it means action, now.

[max85q3]

I should have said 'seem' liable

but no your 100% right it is not about money at allllll

'complicated circumstances which gave rise to these policies'

or rather the complicated excuses to defend these policies

bottom line is genocide

in no way should excuses be made to that on a day when the country is begging forgiveness for it

[max85q3]

Dude he just doesnt want the current/future governement to be liable for compensation

he tried to make the aborigines look like victims of circumstance rather than base racism, prejudice and ignorance of past governments and people

all in the hope of everyone going oh well its pretty understandable i guess it wasnt anybodys fault

and your defending this prick?

[lgaica]

half the speech brendan nelson tries to justify the actions of previous governments, talking about "good intentions", he has no clue

[Hydan83]

I don't like Brendan Nelson at all, but I think this speech is far better than Kevin's. The latter's speech was offensive and should never have happened.

[benja54]

dude. what the hell are you trying to say? have another go at constructing that sentence.

[Natatouiiee]

haha so true. i dont think he even knows wat he's trying to say.

[JohnMalcolm]

"..arrived here with little more than visionary hope..." How different history would be if that "little more" had not included guns. This is not something to gloss over, as if the English came to help "develop" the land with some kind of superior wisdom that had been overlooked during 60,000 years plus of relative harmony. We are sorry that this ignorant point of view caused so much damage. We are sorry that some are still this ignorant, and stand apart from them.

[noodoo]

get over it.. yeh the dam anglos did sumthin wrong but its not like they r doin it now.. go collect your tax payers dollas and be quiet!!

[QueenRianna]

What an ignorant reply.

[TheAussie00]

I normally withold my anger but I'm tired so:

Go get fucked you low life, and gain a fucking heart or get out of my country.

[APaperBoyProductions]

go fuck urself nelson!

[Perrickan]

If a friend of yours has a close friend or family member die, then you say "sorry" to them.

It doesn't mean you're responsible and it doesn't mean you should be blamed, but you say you're sorry to hear that and you acknowledge their pain. In doing so, you help a friend.

There is no need to feel guilty.

[BTbay07]

How was it a bad speech!!!!!????

He was saying the facts......and I look up to him for standing up for what he belives in same with John Howard!!! There sorry it happened but the point is we cant change what happened...we had no control over it. They are making me feel bad for something I didn't do or can change!!! and if an apology is all they want then why are they wanting complentsation??? What happenned wes wrong, brendon admits that but it's not our fault we were born!!!

[terrasprite]

It sounds like a long-winded excuse rather than an apology. Very much a 'sorry, but...' speech. It reads as though all the wrongs that happened were just 'collateral damage'. I think he missed the point. This was a national 'feel good' exercise that he soured with a selfish political mentality.

[tubealot24]

wow. really bad speech

[benja54]

gee, that was constructive :D Why does the vast majority hate Brendon Nelson and his speech? Is it anything other than just paying out on the liberal party?