proud to write this as the first topical posting
January 29th 2008 03:35
Australia's reformist and progressive community has been waiting for our government to formally apologise to the nation’s Aboriginal community for the last 15 years.
I am proud to say that this is finally going to happen. Australia’s new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has told the Australian people that his Labor Government will be making a formal apology to the nation’s Indigenous population on February 12.
The apology is designed for the people who suffered under the Australian Governments assimilation policy [stolen generation]. The inhumane and savage policy was implemented before, during and after World War 2 and involved the removal of Aboriginal children away from their families. This was designed to breed the Aboriginality out of Indigenous Australian’s physical appearance
Ever since former Prime Minster, Paul Keating, delivered his famous Redfern speech in 1992 – the speech which paved the way for the beginnings of reconciliation – Australia’s Aboriginal community has been demanding a formal apology from the Australian Government.
“It begins, I think, with the act of recognition. Recognition that it was we who did the dispossessing. We took the traditional lands and smashed the traditional way of life. We bought the disasters. The alcohol. We committed the murders. We took the children from their mothers. We practiced discrimination and exclusion,” Mr. Keating said in 1992.
After Keating’s ground-breaking speech Australia’s indigenous community began to ascertain more and more civil and political rights. For example, the High Court of Australia’s decision in the 1992 Mabo case granted Indigenous Australians the right to Native Title over their lands but more generally the speech opened up reconciliation dialogue between ‘white’ and ‘black’ Australia.
In 1997 Australia voted Keating out of power and handed the reigns over to John Howard. The Howard Government introduced the ‘ten point plan’ - a retaliation against the Mabo decision and the right of Aboriginal people to claim title over their lands - and within two months in office his government had systematically destroyed the nation’s hope for reconciliation.
We [Australians], no matter what our colour or political affiliations, should be very proud of our new Prime Minister. He has once again opened up the possibility for dialogue between Indigenous and European Australians. A simple apology will in no way be sufficient for the two hundred years of hardship out Indigenous brothers have had to endure because of our government’s lack of progressive policy but it will go some way in restoring Indigenous Australians pride in their Aboriginality.
I am proud to say that this is finally going to happen. Australia’s new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has told the Australian people that his Labor Government will be making a formal apology to the nation’s Indigenous population on February 12.
The apology is designed for the people who suffered under the Australian Governments assimilation policy [stolen generation]. The inhumane and savage policy was implemented before, during and after World War 2 and involved the removal of Aboriginal children away from their families. This was designed to breed the Aboriginality out of Indigenous Australian’s physical appearance
Ever since former Prime Minster, Paul Keating, delivered his famous Redfern speech in 1992 – the speech which paved the way for the beginnings of reconciliation – Australia’s Aboriginal community has been demanding a formal apology from the Australian Government.
“It begins, I think, with the act of recognition. Recognition that it was we who did the dispossessing. We took the traditional lands and smashed the traditional way of life. We bought the disasters. The alcohol. We committed the murders. We took the children from their mothers. We practiced discrimination and exclusion,” Mr. Keating said in 1992.
After Keating’s ground-breaking speech Australia’s indigenous community began to ascertain more and more civil and political rights. For example, the High Court of Australia’s decision in the 1992 Mabo case granted Indigenous Australians the right to Native Title over their lands but more generally the speech opened up reconciliation dialogue between ‘white’ and ‘black’ Australia.
In 1997 Australia voted Keating out of power and handed the reigns over to John Howard. The Howard Government introduced the ‘ten point plan’ - a retaliation against the Mabo decision and the right of Aboriginal people to claim title over their lands - and within two months in office his government had systematically destroyed the nation’s hope for reconciliation.
We [Australians], no matter what our colour or political affiliations, should be very proud of our new Prime Minister. He has once again opened up the possibility for dialogue between Indigenous and European Australians. A simple apology will in no way be sufficient for the two hundred years of hardship out Indigenous brothers have had to endure because of our government’s lack of progressive policy but it will go some way in restoring Indigenous Australians pride in their Aboriginality.
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Comment by Anne Tootill
Bollocks
Comment by JohnDoe
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I like your enthusiasm but I don't know how this is going to change anything really, How is this really going to help the Indigenous communities and the problems they have? Will it have any effect on the rampant racism in the under educated, misinformed and too rich to care?
A highly publicized and engineered propaganda apology would never seem sincere to me. When its done obviously for kudos it makes it an insult, like a forced apology your mother makes you do to your brother.
I can see your heart is in the right place Barlow, but I really see this as an obvious ploy that benefits politicians but neglects acting on the realities and challenges that lie ahead in giving all affected a sense of pride in their heritage.
I just think there is much more direct action that can be taken to ensure the future as opposed to a hollow salute to past wrongs.
I look forward to reading more of your posts, welcome to Orble