Australian govt aplogises to the Stolen Generation

[suzywong]

well that was pretty important. An unqualified apology by Rudd and a promise of a bi-partisan approach to indigenous disadvantage. Things are looking up.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7241965.stm

I like Rudd's willingness to do the big symbolic things (sign Kyoto, say sorry to the stolen generation) so soon after taking office. It does feel like a new broom.

Hope he follows through these symbolic gestures with further action. Still think he should have authorised the navy to sink those Japanese whaling ships the second they entered Australian territorial waters.

"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry"
my lord, that is strong!
is this a new turn of events in Australia then?
(sorry, clueless about Aus politics)

When we were talking to indigenous Aboriginals when we came to Australia in 2006 they told us that one of the problems around Alice Springs are the laws stopping them from meeting in the scrubland to sit and talk.

The council {or local politics} had made rules that they were not allowed to meet together

That to us seemed very unfair as it was part of their culture to pass on stories through the generations by word of mouth.

I also felt bad as I am half Australian but half English and the English caused them alot of problems throughout history

I am glad that the government are starting to take some responsibility for their actions to the families

I am quite ignorent of politics of the world etc. but I think that governements should own up when they know they have done something wrong to their people or to others in the world

I wept buckets this morning. It was really powerful and much needed.
I do a lot of work with aboriginal families and it was brilliant to see them marching to Canberra on mass. Bloody well done, Kevin!

We hope it's a turn of events harpsichordcarrier and long overdue. I was crying too DCs, such an elegant and whole hearted apology from Kevin Rudd. A very proud day for Australia.

I sat and watched it hugging DD all the way through (she was crying because she couldn't watch her programs, I was hugging her to comfort her and also to hold her to me as I tried to imagine what those mothers must have gone through)

I was impressed that Victorian govt sent through a directive that all schools must broadcast the speech live to their classroom (We were told to make sure no one was late in).

I was horrified and disgusted by things I heard on the radio earlier this morning - people who had chosen NOT to send their children to school this morning because "I/We haven't done anything wrong, why should WE apologise?"
STUPID fucking ignorant TWATS people - they have completely missed the point!

I was so impressed by Kev - I normally hate all politicians but right now I will make an exception for him. Let's hope he doesn't fuck it up now ...

It's a really ignorant opinion isn't it ghostly? My mum is one of those people. Makes me so if it happened to her she'd be screaming the loudest.
Also hoping Kevin comes through with his promises (cautiously think he will)

And you know what genlay?
I have lived in this country for only 10 months and I get it ... even my 8 year old son gets it (we had a long talk yesterday about what happened and what this apology meant) - why can't people look past their own noses and actually make an effort to look at facts and listen to what is being said?
Sigh.
I too hope and pray that Keven keeps this up. The worst thing would be for this apology to be the end of it iyswim?

About time!! I also wept.

Funny it's a prime minister with an Afrikaner sounding name. Coincidence?
Really favorably impressed by him.

It's just the first step though. The ghetto system is doing nothing good. It should be one land one law. Same opportunities and obligations for everyone. That's the only way to truly protect and integrate minorities.

Have you ever asked your mum how she may have felt if you had been taken away at the age of 4 just because you had blue eyes?
Assuming for a minute you have blue eyes that is ... that is how I compare it ...

(from BBC website) ""Most commonly, it was children of mixed race - "half-castes'" in the parlance of the day - that the government agencies chose to snatch.

They would descend on Aboriginal communities, separate the light-skinned children from those with a darker complexion, and then take them away""

I have one brown eyed child and one blue eyed child, imagine if one was taken because he had blue eyes? How can anyone make sense of that???????????????

out of curiosity what did you both think of Brendan Nelson's speach?
I thought it was rude, disrespectful, off the topic and racist in part but haven't heard any feed back as yet. Another point of view?

Just saw a feed where white farmer says well we fostered thoses children to give them an education. What should we apologise for? If not they would still be rolling naked in the mud!

Second feed shows 50 year old aboriginal woman explaining how they where made to sit in the bath every night and srub the blackness off their skin.

Unfortunately I missed Brendan Nelson's speech as I had to go out (I was late already )
But I have heard that he missed the point ...

sorry x post ghostly. My sister and I have had in depth conversations with her about it. If she is in the company of similar minded people she defends her point of view (using unfounded statements like "they get more than us - and that's a fact" WTF?) otherwise she keeps quiet.
I don't see how anyone with a child can't weep for these mothers.
Does my head in slim. You should apologies because it was wrong! The attempted eradication (and almost success) of an ancient civilisation is grounds to be sorry.

sorry x post ghostly. My sister and I have had in depth conversations with her about it. If she is in the company of similar minded people she defends her point of view (using unfounded statements like "they get more than us - and that's a fact" WTF?) otherwise she keeps quiet.
I don't see how anyone with a child can't weep for these mothers.
Does my head in slim. You should apologies because it was wrong! The attempted eradication (and almost success) of an ancient civilisation is grounds to be sorry.

There is a good interview here with Paul Keating (The PM who commissioned the original report a decade ago) - his thoughts on the speeches ...

I think from what I gather Brendan Nelson said that the actions were 'with good intentions' and that is where he will get a slating ...
I don't' believe there can be any argument that will tell me that those actions were right, not even at the time ... it was wrong wrong wrong in every way thinkable.

re washing off the black skin

Yeah right, good intentions.

That's why the aboriginal communities are doing so well now.
Another shocking statistic (from my BBC newsfeed) white baby has life expectancy 17 years more than abriginal baby born on same day. yes, you read that right. Not 1.7 but 17 full years.

slim22 there are other factors to consider that life expectancy may be shorter.

Genetically Aboriginal people are at a higher risk for certain illnesses and diseases.

I recently took ds2 4 for his 4yo immunisation. When I looked in the back of his medical book I panicked when I saw that he had "missed" his 18month immunisation. The nurse explained that ds2 didn't need it...the 18month is for aboriginal children who are more likely to contract meningitis and other communicable diseases.

Um mymama ... did the nurse think that white children can't catch meningitis?

Ooh, I went to do the washing up and then had to come back ... I've got my knickers in a twist about your nurse mymama ...

Why are aboriginal children more likely to contract meningitis and other communicable diseases? I doubt very very much that it is because of their genetic make up. It is a known fact that Meningitis is more prevalent in low socio economic areas - ie POOR areas - due to over crowding and poor living conditions. This is certainly the case in New Zealand - the Maori and Pacific Islander people are more likely to catch Meningitis too - NOT because they are genetically more likely but because they are the POOREST of the NZ population. People who live in over crowded conditions are therefore more likely to suffer from communicable diseases.
So basically ... Aboriginal children are more likely to catch Meningitis etc because of their living conditions - because they are more likely to be the poorest of the Australian population.
Which brings us back to the point doesn't it?

MYMAMA
They are not GENETICALLY more disposed. It's because of the sanitary conditions, or lack thereof compared to more affluent white children, can't you see?

It's as silly as saying paedophilia & alcoholism and viloence in these communities is "cultural". Of course, if it eases your conscience....

Life expectancy is just a shocking indicator among many many many others unfortunately.

"Poverty, overcrowding and limited access to health care are socioeconomic factors that appear to have a significant impact on the incidence and distribution of meningitis."

From this website

Wow, I've just watched the evening news and seen the hundreds gathered at each capital city to hear the speeches.
Begs the questions WHY has it taken so long?

Now I hope we can all move on and take the next steps to equality of living standards and life expectation, no more chips on shoulders on either side.