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

Hear, hear, suzy ...

about bloody time too.

and wholeheartedly agree that this is indeed just the first step needed...

am disgusted at en educational system which allows ignorance on the scale of people actually believing that Aborigine people are genetically more predisposed to disease...

absolutely speechless.

Well, I just had an interesting chat with one of the Aussie families I work with....

She had commented that she had wanted her child to start watching A Current Affair with her and then discussing the issues For those of you not familiar with ACA it is the TV equivalent of the Daily Mail - pure sensationalist media reporting, complete with ladies in full-faces of make-up presenting shock-horror headlines of crapness.

I then suggested that something like the today's Apology might be more news-worthy as it will educate her about the history, lack of respect....yada yada.

Australian woman then said that she doesn't believe that the government should have apologised, and that if we start apologising now we would have to say sorry to the war children! WTF!

Felt like reporting her to child protection for making her child watch A Current Affair

oh no, just imagine... having to say sorry again. that would just be awful. i can see her point...

Fabulous. A big slap in the face to all the racists warthogs in that country. Let's hope that the xenophobes in this country who immigrate to Australia because, in their backward opinion, there are too many immigrants here, start to find themselves marginalise.

I just watched Rudd's whole speech on the ABC website and had a good old sob - am so, so glad we are finally doing this - first time I felt properly proud of my Aussie nationality, and really glad to be moving home now.

Good onya for voting him in, aussies

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

Uh no. Tis not what was said.

She is not MY nurse. And in fact is a lovely lady. She explained that for some reason aboriginal children are at a higher risk etc and that the research is still ongoing so they continue to immunise those babies at 18months.

People of Aboriginal descent are predisposed to some medical conditions and communicable diseases as white caucasions are predisposed to certain medical conditions and diseases that Aboriginals are not.

ffs don't turn this into a race debate. There is not one to be had.

mymama I dont understand why you say only Aboriginal children need the 18month needle? My son had his last week, we are not Aboriginal.

Are you in Australia?

As stated...my ds2 4 had his 4yo needles last week. I was worried that he had missed his 18month old needle as it was not filled out and signed in his health care book. The nurse explained that the 18month immunisation referred to Aboriginal children as they have a higher prevalence...and so on. She went on to explain more about different races being predisposed to different health issues and diseases and said research was ongoing.

Given that she has been practising immunisations IN AUSTRALIA for over 25 years I would hazard a guess that she might know a little of what she is talking about. Otherwise my ds is stuffed isn't he?

I find some of the posts on this thread regarding education and "racists warthogs" personally offensive and attacking. There have been no racist comments on my part or nor would there ever be.

I find it amusing that people who have lived in Australia for 5 mins or not at all think they have all knowledge and facts on Australia and it's people.

The sad reality is that the nice white nurse knows what she is talking about indeed.

Prevalence of childhood disease in deprived communities (black) and white people not even needing to bother with immunisations because their lovely white angels are sheltered from said brown children that live far removed from mainstream societies.

Honey, wake up, it is a racial issue. Please stop thinking this is a personal attack on your character. It's a wake up call to all Australians to wake up to reality.

At the risk of offending your good conscience further, this is not very different from the blanket subconscious denial that was still prevalent in South Africa only a decade ago. Only the scale is smaller maybe?

I was born in Australia and have lived here all my life. I think a lot of people on this thread are Australian and otherwise just trying to express what a great occasion this is.
It was a genuine question. My son just had his 18month needle IN AUSTRALIA and so have all my friends DC's. All healthcare advice I have recieved reccomends that ALL children get it. I am aware of the higger rate of illness in Aboriginal communities my question was out of concern that you may have been given misleading information.

genlay not sure where in Australia you are but I am in Brisbane. After the drs visit I checked with my friends who have 4yo children (same age of ds) and they haven't had their 18mo needle either. strange.

"The sad reality is that the nice white nurse knows what she is talking about indeed."

Why the sarcasm? What does the colour of her skin have to do with it?

Are you a health worker?...in Australia?...in an Aboriginal community?

Perhaps she is wrong. I don't understand what reason she would have to make it up. It was not said in any tone, manner or context of racism just stated as she got me to hold my ds still whilst she carried out his immunications. She is a genuinely lovely caring lady.

I don't feel comfortable admitting that the dr/nurse I have relied on for the last 5 years doesn't know what they are talking about.

anyway ..... bigger picture and all that ..... isn't it a great day for all Australians?
I'm a blow-in but I really feel it.

was not able to watch either and was again out tonight at news time - As one of the few 'aussies' as in born and bred - hear hear! About time.

Fwiw - mymama - dd1 has her 18 month old pnuemococcal jab - she has a cardiac condition which means any risk of memingitis is even more serious for her than the average child - so it is not just aboriginal children.

with you suzy - great day an all!

Sorry to hit the nail on the head but I can not comprehend how anybody can dispute this IS a racial issue.

I'm not Australian, the only reason I posted here is actually to congratulate Australians for this fantastic step.

Wish everybody would just actually now bother to listen to Aboriginals when they reply this is just the first step.

just watched the BBC video clip of Kevin Rudd's speech and was really impressed by him. It takes a lot of courage for someone to stand up and apologise to that extent - well done him.
If I lived in Australia/was Australian I would be very proud.

Good for him! Very moving.

Between Blair, Bush and Howard, it's been a very long time since I've felt anything but cynical about anything that came out of a politician's mouth, but I really am thrilled about this.

mymama, what makes you think people are referring to you when they talk about 'racist warthogs'? or if not, then why are you taking it offensively.

you cant seriously think that people who say things along the lines of having 'saved' people form rolling about in the dust are not racist?

i think racist people are far worse than warthogs actually. no matter who they are.

if you are not racist, then dont be so defensive and offended by people speaking out about racism. otherwise it rather looks as though you actually are.

Mymama - I did not turn 'turn this into a racist debate'. I was merely pointing out that the reason aboriginal children are more susceptible to meningitis and 'other communicable' diseases is because of their poverty and other lifestyle factors ... NOT necessarily due to genetic disposition. That is a fact. I am sure the nurse is a lovely caring lady. I didn't dispute that. I do however, think that what she says is wrong.
And yes, (just to defend myself here a little bit) I do think I have some knowledge and facts about Australia and its people because I feel it is my duty to know. I have only lived here 10 months but my father grew up here, I have family here and I have made it my business to learn about the country in which I live by studying its politics and history (I actively go to the library and read up on the internet). I did the same when I moved to NZ 6 years ago. (I may even go so far as to say that I probably know more about the NZ Treaty of Waitangi than many 'born and bred' New Zealanders).

Anyway, like Suzy says, yesterday's 'Sorry' can only be the start of great happenings in this country ... roll on tomorrow

Really hope you get to watch it eidsvoid, It was an amazing speech.
Ghostly congrats on moving to a new country and trying so hard to learn about it. With that attitude any country would be proud to take you.
Happy sorry day everyone (well it's over now but happy sorry week anyway )

slim22 - my comments regarding health issues are NOT a racial issue. My understanding is that people of ALL different cultures including "white" people are more susceptible to various health conditions due to genetics and environment/living conditions.

eidsvold - never said it was just aboriginal children. Only mentioned indigenous children as relevant to this particular thread. Nurse did advise babies with certain health conditions and aboriginal children that were more susceptible.

ghosty - I agree that living conditions and environment are factors in susceptibility, however I was advised by a health worker that genetics play a factor as well. Given that I have no medical background whatsoever, who am I to argue? I apologise for my comments regarding living in Australia for 5 mins.

SappyLamour - if you read the thread I was only passing comment re a health issue I had been advised of. I made no comments about todays events except for the fact that it is a great day for Australia. I have no idea what you are talking about "rolling about in the dust". I felt the racist warthogs was partly directed at me as I am Australian and not of Aborginal descent. The general consensus seems to be if you are a white Australian you must be racist.

I believe it became a one sided race debate when comments such as "The sad reality is that the nice white nurse knows what she is talking about indeed" and "....... white people not even needing to bother with immunisations because their lovely white angels are sheltered from said brown children that live far removed from mainstream societies."

Firstly, not all "brown children" live far removed from mainstream societies. Have you ever been to Australia? Aboriginal people live in all communities.

I find the last comment particularly insulting as I was born and raised in a community with a very high population of aboriginal people. My children were also born there. So my need to "not bother" with immunisations for my "white" angel has nothing whatsover to do with him being sheltered from said brown children and more to do with medical advice from the Australian Childhood Immunisation registry and a doctor/nurse that I trust.

To be honest, I still don't know what happened here. I mentioned health issues and genetics and all of a sudden I am jumped on. I will leave this thread alone now.

mymama apologies. Never meant to get you all worked up. we told you repeatedly not to take things personally.

All the things you took personally referred to the big picture not your vaccine issue.
Of course you should trust healthcare providers. But you can also question the validity of an argument that places genetics (race) over compelling socio economic evidence. What she said was daft in view of the overwhelming evidence that poverty and poor sanitary conditions are number 1 factor. That's we've been trying to tell you.

The general consensus is not that all white australians are racist. It is that societies tend to think that their past will not come back to haunt them. Well it does. That's what's hapenning in your country and it will be better for acknowledging it. It's a hard pill to swallow COLLECTIVELY.

Mymama, slim22 and genlay ... let's all agree to let this go ...
I am sorry you got wound up and felt jumped upon Mymama ... it was not intended. I was jumping on the nurse if anything I don't like arguments at the best of times and MN ones are AWFUL ... We are isketch mates remember
Let's all hug and cry and make friends and look to making a beautiful future for out Aussie (well, in my case, Kiwi) Kids

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