Today a whole nation repented. I found this incredibly moving.
Here's the wording:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We 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.
That's pretty good for Australia I think: a nation at times very much an adolescent among nations. It's pretty articulate, too.
But to hear a Prime Minister say the word 'sorry' in the House: wow.
7 comments:
Did you see the whole speech, not just the motion?
It is certainly an incredible day for our country.
Our school screened the apology in the hall and Yrs 3-12 watched it.
Simon is in Yr 2 but I wanted him to see it too.
So my kids stayed home and watched it with me.
We have aboriginal friends and my kids know about the stolen generations and that John Howard would not say sorry.
And they understand that Kevin Rudd has done what John Howard wouldn't do.
I don't think they really understood why I was crying though.
I have waited for years for our Government to say sorry.
I think now we can really begin to change things for aboriginal people.
One for the true believers...
Agree all... a truly moving day. But also make sure you seek out his reference to post reformation theology in outback Australia in the 1930s... Rudd relates a story of the Aboriginal children, after removal from parents, being lined up with no regard to family relationships into three groups, and allocated denominations (catholic, methodist, church of england) before being shipped off to the missions. It was a nice little detail, I felt, a little poignant note just for the christians to illustrate what a careless, rough and ready policy it was. Such an extraordinary moment to have this new christian prime minister with heart, start governing on a note of humility and healing. The TV crossed to scenes of aboriginals and immaculately suited business men embracing with tears in their eyes in Martin place as they watched the big TV screens.
Byron, is there any particular reason you ask about the whole speech? I thought there was perhaps a bit too much talking.
It probably couldn't appear in the apology itself and of course there were other things that could be said but I can't help but feel that there will be no true integration until non-indigenous Australians begin not only to "respect" indigenous culture but accept, and in fact, anticipate the things that we will learn from being more closely integrated with them. Could we not have mentioned that their suffering is a reminder to us of the importance of place, tribe and language in defining a culture? Something of greater substance that the normal marketing categories that we use to distinguish subgroups within the non-indigenous population?
We've got a long way to go when people decide to treat the whole thing like a team sport, cheering who they perceive to to be "the good guys" and turning their backs on who they consider "the bad guys". They way some people reacted to the Leader of the Opposition's address was utterly reprehensible. If these people's heads weren't stuck so far up their own a*%es they would realise that reconciliation isn't about cartoon goodies vs baddies or relieving their own burdened conscience but rather it's about restoring (or building) a relationship between estranged parties -- parties estranged by a variety of issues including past and present injustices as well as mutual misunderstanding and mistrust. At the very least this requires respect for those whose opinions differ from your own as well as a willingness to listen to their views and understand their experiences.
Those people who turned their backs ought to think long and hard about what reconciliation means. Then they need to apologise and repent.
Jonathan, I agree that overall, both speeches could have been shorter (Nelson would have done himself (and the rest of us) a favour by making his a lot shorter...), but I was asking MPJ whether he heard the rest of Rudd's speech in particular, which had a few bits worth listening to (unlike his acceptance speech back in November, which sent everyone off to sleep regretting their choice).
Post a Comment