The Apology

[mstakenidentity]

I don't think there has been a moment since 9am in which I have not had tears in my eyes.

I am so indescribably happy that the government has done this.

I am proud.

Comments

[sajee.livejournal.com]

Me too.

Good start, Primeminister.

[makale-83.livejournal.com]

What happened? (I haven't seen thew news)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

I"m actually proud of our government today.

[ristin.livejournal.com]

Generations overdue. Well it's a start. I hope "both sides" can put aside past differences and past grievances. Finally we have a foundation that can be built upon, not a rift keeping people divided and mired in the past.

[dozingquinn.livejournal.com]

I too can't wait to hear from all the people who have been wrongfully stolen so we can hear their stories and apologise to them.

It's been decades... surely someone will come forward... so we can apologise to them. There's a whole generation out there right. Should be easy.

Mr Rudd said 'there are thousands of them, (stories of stolen kids) tens of thousands of them'. I'd love to hear about 1 or 2 that were *wrongfully* taken.

[mise-en-abyme.livejournal.com]

The government has done what? Crushed onions near your house to put tears in your eyes? There is no pride in vegetables. Oh, wait, no, you're a vegetarian. Pah.

[blinvisible.livejournal.com]

What a great day, we can now resume our lives safe in the knowledge that we have done all we can and hopefully in 50 years someone can apologise for the things we are doing wrong now.

I know my white middle class guilt weighs a bit less today.

[dozingquinn.livejournal.com]

The one thing that's dangerous about this issue is that it involves race - and Australian's are always very hesitant to question things which may make them seem racist. It's better off just to let it go.

We have seen much information on why we should say sorry - however there has been very little balanced media on why we perhaps shouldn't say sorry. Australia prides itself on being one of the few countries that offer editorial freedom of speech.

Viewing mstakenidentity's article - it does document some sad tales - but all are given by undisclosed or censored sources and as such they are hard to verify. We wouldn't accept this kind of evidence to sway us normally, so why accept it now?

A very interesting article on the issue can be found here:

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/stolen_generations_my_writers_festival_speech/
.

Many of you may have issues with Andrew Bolt, but disregarding his well researched comments means you're playing the man rather than the ball.

If there was a racist organised effort to round up Aboriginal children and take them away from their capable loving parents it would be horrible. But if it's a stretched truth to justify some an indigenous department getting their annual funding then that should also be exposed.