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 watched the apology live the other day and thought that Rudd did a great job and that Nelson tried too hard to justify and deserved the criticism that he got. I found it educational as besides "Rabbit proof fence" and a few small reports I didn't know too much about it - certainly was not taught as part of Australian history when I was at school.

There is such a long way to go to close the gap here though. It is hard to imagine that I will see it in my lifetime let alone in the next 5 years. We own an investment property in Redfern - which for those who don't know, has probably the highest concentration of aboriginals in Sydney. I don't feel safe walking down the streets there. You can see the aboriginals drinking out of brown paper bags from very early in the morning and you don't want to look at anyone in case you offend them. I met my realestate agent at our property the other day and she was telling me that a friend of hers was driving through Redfern just a few weeks ago and stopped at traffic lights and some aboriginals opened her car doors and took her 1 year old baby from the back seat and ran off with it. She was naturally hysterical and went straight to Everleigh Street and knocked on doors there until she found some elders to talk to who arranged for her baby to be brought back to her. Weirded me out ...

happy Valentine

It was just the most fantastic day and lets hope it is the start of new beginnings.....

Haven't got time now but i'll definitely check out those links later on. it's one of the few subjects I can get a bit right-on about since I did some research into this a few years ago.

the film rabbit proof fence is horrific (in the portrayal of the racist/discriminatory society of that time) imho. top marks to rudd though .