Australia Says Sorry

I threw this together during my lunch break at work so I must apologise for the ordinary quality, I wanted to get my political thoughts across in the heat of the moment.

On reviewing the vid I realize that some of the words are pretty hard to read so I have pasted the entire text here.

Today, the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on behalf of the government will give a formal apology to the Indigenous people of the nation.

Specifically he will say sorry to the "stolen generation" of part Aboriginal children forcibly taken from their families in accordance with government programs of the day. Then, the thinking was that "half caste" kids could make a better fist of life if "adopted" by a white family rather than left to their natural parents. It doesn't take a feat of imagination to realize what this did to the children and aboriginal dignity in general. Harrowing tales of abuse and neglect abound. Many of the children now old and dying still have little sense of identity.

I have been conflicted for some time as to the validity of saying 'sorry'. Why should this generation apologise for the mistakes of previous generations? We do not take credit for achievements of the past so why take responsibility for wrongs of the past? Was I responsible? No.

On the other hand, the nation has a dark cloud hanging over it. How is it possible to achieve reconciliation with the original occupants without acknowledging the fundamental truths of our mistakes. How can they trust in us if we do not respect their grievances? How can we respect our nation if we do not own up?

Ultimately, the glue that binds us all imo is trust in one another, including all peoples and cultures. It is enough that such an ancient people as the aborigines have endured dispossession, disease and separation, without turning our backs on the facts. In order to move forward the nation must absolve itself of it's guilty conscience and the aborigines must feel that their pain and sorrow has been officially witnessed- again matters of respect and trust. The formal apology is the first major step in a new dawn of unity for my country. I proudly support the apology for this reason.

The following is the full text of the historic apology, delivered at 9am EST

"I give notice that, at the next sitting, I will move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human historyWe reflect on their past mistreatment.We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

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.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• apology
• Australia
• Aborigines
• Reconciliation
• healing
• respect
• trust
• commentary
• analysis

[linusheterlinus]

nice video, song name plz?

[sainter1]

@linusheterlinus I wish I could tell you. Unfortunately it's one provided by the online editor I used to make this video and is no longer available, and I cannot remember it's name. It's a nice tune though. Sorry I can't help, if I recall I'll let you know. :)

[parkkbaby62]

israelites are being stepped on by whites all over the world, every land whites have stolen was from israelites of negro and indian decent, enslaved the people changed their names, culture, and murdered them for fun, if whites arent edomites devils then who is

[sainter1]

@parkkbaby62 I agree that whites and colonialism have gone hand in hand for centuries, but lets not restrict this issue to one colour. Middle East and early African civilizations (Ethiopia for example) all had slaves, conquered lands and peoples of all colours. Unfortunately there is racism on all sides. Let's hope we finally get over it.

[ValukaX]

YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER (Billions of dollars in land titles/mining royalties, government intiatives, free education, free healthcare, free housing,, government loans where they only have to pay back 2%) BUT YOU CANT FORCE A HORSE TO DRINK (Billions of dollars yet they still choose to live off the welfare and live like cretins drinking piss all day) Stop blaming the white government yous are the richest minority group in the world second to the jews

[sainter1]

@ValukaX Another faceless fool. Why is it you big talking, pro military, right wing racist nutters are always faceless? What are you scared of, eh? ;) Your time is up!

[sainter1]

NOTICE - To all those who leave stupid, hate-filled comments; to all trolls; to all those feigning to be indigenous; to all those who spend their time shit stirring, listen up! You are wasting your time, and looking stupid in the process. Worst of all the country you think you're defending in your ignorant moronic way you are making look like a cesspool of hatred. You are degrading our country. From this time on I will delete and block all those who leave inappropriate comments - no exceptions.

[kry1082]

@001dangermouse ...England have a whole heap of ineqiuties and evil deeds to pay for ...It's not only Austrailia...them same caucasians rob and rape the ancient empires of Africa, India and China. The creator of the universe is takin notes and will issue judgement by deeds!

NUFF LOVE TO ALL ABORIGINEES

[AustralianBigot]

The children's children I work and live with, and they are doing very well for themselves fully assimilated into Australian society.

Don't have an idiotic opinion on this until you've lived and loved in this land among the bush and with the people, I'm a native, my ancestors don't go back thousands of years but they go back a couple hundred. I have grown up with Aboriginals and am friends with many still, The history happened but now we have the future to look towards as a united Australia.

[vjglucky7]

@FlightRiley scary

[vjglucky7]

@sainter1 I doubt he was pro-military. Military are sent to protect or to protest. Taking children away as a policy meant to improve? (something) wasn't a military manoeuvre.

[vjglucky7]

@ValukaX Unbelievable. You are saying that what happened was fine. That your final word?

[jb55101]

@ValukaX hey fuck face who was on that land first? sure was not the whites just like they didnt land in america first. why dont the white trash stop stealing lands from people and making them slave and you get off your fuckin ass and do your own shit.

[jb55101]

there full of shit the whites did worse then the parents did. i was born in 1974 and i'm half white and even i hated the whites and i was not taken away you learn that as a child.

[FlightRiley]

i am proud aussie

and i shit on this day....as do 99.999% of aussies

k rudd did this to get votes

im not racist i just hate aboriginals as ive seen what they do

so all you people that dont live in australia please dont comment on how we are so mean to aboriginals......you all have no idea

walk past a grp of aboriginals in this country....no doubt they will curse, spit or try mug u...then u will learn

[mysty0]

@ValukaX If you had half a brain you would know the Australian Government declared itself the benefactor of all this money which the aboriginal people may see drips and drabs of coz no sooner does the Government release a small amount of it the vultures swarm on it before it hits the ground. Get an education moron

To date I think 9 Trillion dollars is unaccounted for!