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Australia is officially Sorry
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Many years ago white people went out into the deserts where the Aboriginal communities lived in remote outposts and country towns where they lived and took children from their families. The families often never saw those children again and they were put into foster homes or became wards of the state. At least 100,00 children were taken this way, often by force.
The previous government, led by John Howard, a notoriously stubborn bigot, refused hundreds of times over the years to requests from the Aboriginal community and many other Australians of all backgrounds to formally apologise for the misery & suffering caused, and especially to use the word 'sorry'.
Today, Australia's new Prime Minister, on the second day of parliament, did so and invited the oppostion Liberal Party to help the government devise a strategy to eliminate Aboriginal poverty. Quite a thing.
In a country where the indiginous population have been treated as third class citizens, a bit of 'sorry' may go a long way towards healing. I hope so. The outporing of emotion, especially from those affected , was overwhelming.
The very first thing Kevin Rudd on becoming P.M. did, about a week in, was sign Kyoto. Something else Howard refused to do.
You can read the apology here: link | |
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02/13/08
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lilt
youre only a few decades behind new zealand now ;)
02/13/08
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freqscan
wasn't it still legal to hunt aboriganies until the 60's or something?
Recent blogs: documentaries
02/13/08
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ignatius
that's a heck of a thing... were these "kidnappings" religiously motivated or was it more of a "make them white people" type program? they did that to native americans long ago though not on such a large scale.. there may not have been 100,000 natives left by the time they started.
lilt.. they may be behind new zealand but isn't everyone in new zealand behind a sheep?
02/13/08
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thehydrax
freqscan, I'm sure it was legal up until quite late in the century yeah. Aboriginals couldn't vote until around that time as well.
more about the Stolen Generations for those interested : link
02/13/08
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ignatius
thehydrax said: "
more about the Stolen Generations for those interested : link"
thanks for the link. i haven't read much about aboriginals in aussie. it seems fascinating but heartbreaking to learn about which historically is a common theme for when any white people moved to a new place.
02/13/08
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thehydrax
a good article from the BBC here: link
02/13/08
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freqscan
thanks for the links. I've always been fascinated by Aboriginals. Have you seen Ten Canoes?
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02/13/08
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Fredo
wow, that's very great and touching news!
02/13/08
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Zanf
Rabbit Proof Fence is a good dramatisation of 3 girls story who were deeply affected by the stolen generations policy.
Up until the late 70's, there was a similar policy with the Catholic church and children who were placed in their care, sometimes temporarily. They were carted of to Oz and their adoptive parents [and the stolen kids] were told that their biological parents were dead, even though in a lot of cases, the parents had placed them in care as one of them was ill and the other couldnt cope. Im not sure if theyve received an apology for this either.
Seems theres a lot of people/organisations/nations with alot of apologising to do.
This is another step to reconciliation.
02/13/08
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freqscan
true that. nobody ever apologised to the blacks for slavery either.
Recent blogs: documentaries
02/13/08
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jack123
this is completely un-fucking believable. i had no idea this had happened at all, let alone to so many people.
but then again, i guess i shouldn't be so surprised.
02/13/08
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sAMsKi
Yep. Good job...been a long time coming. Rudd seems like the genuine improvement I had hoped for. What are your thoughts on him thehydrax?
This reminds me of when I lived with my grandparents for a few months when I was 18. The Japanese apologised for thier actions during world war two. I suggested we reciprocate. My grandad was hugely offended. The feelings run deep...but I stand by what I said.
02/13/08
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quip
Zanf said: "Rabbit Proof Fence is a good dramatisation of 3 girls story who were deeply affected by the stolen generations policy.
Up until the late 70's, there was a similar policy with the Catholic church and children who were placed in their care, sometimes temporarily. They were carted of to Oz and their adoptive parents [and the stolen kids] were told that their biological parents were dead, even though in a lot of cases, the parents had placed them in care as one of them was ill and the other couldnt cope. Im not sure if theyve received an apology for this either.
Seems theres a lot of people/organisations/nations with alot of apologising to do.
This is another step to reconciliation."
yeah a brilliant film. highly recommended.
Bill Bryson's book about Australia also covers some of the problems around
racism.
02/13/08
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zfigz
props to the new pm...he's down...down under that is.
02/13/08
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molasar
unluckily, everytime i meet a new australian there is a point after a while where this subjuect comes up and every time so far they get pissed and dont want to talk about it, no matter how cool they appear at first. surely this must be a good thing if it really creates a change (probably wont though). imperialist nationalism and anstonishing resentment of the original ethnically cleansed inhabitants is something that needs to be finally seen as nothing to be proud of. go on the abo's!
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