Saying sorry to Indigenous Australians

[Mao]

my honest opinion, it was mainly bullcrap.
I thought that Kevin Rudd would've been smarter than to accept responsibily, even moreso apologize on behalf of the nation.

I totally agree with Brendan Nelson, I have no guilt, I was not here, and even though i feel sorry for these people, I will not apologize. The ultimate result will be compensation, but in reality, tax payers such as ourselves are required to support these proposed changes in the next decade or more. Its not entirely fair for my hard-earned tax to be given to someone else under the banner of regret and reconcilliation for something i did not do.

I was dismayed at people's reaction to Brendan Nelson's speech, but i got over it when step-dad and myself shouted "bloody oath" in the living room, and when i saw the results of the ninemsn poll, well *relief*

I know that I wont be voting for Mr Rudd comes election, even though he can speak my language. (and i thought he was cool =/)

on a side note, what i thought was low and sly was the unannounced challenge to Brendan Nelson to head the new committee. Of course it's going to be a difficult job, of course there will be mistakes, of course someone will be blamed, of course that should be the opposition =\

...

[Collin Li]

I was dismayed at people's reaction to Brendan Nelson's speech, but i got over it when step-dad and myself shouted "bloody oath" in the living room, and when i saw the results of the ninemsn poll, well *relief*

Me too! I find it ironic that those who preach tolerance, such as embracing Aborigines for example, had such a bigoted reaction to Brendan Nelson's speech.

He merely claimed (correctly) that the current generation has no personal guilt for the government interventions of the past. He did support the apology, and accepts that it brings much needed closure to the Aboriginal people, but he also knows that the current generation owes nothing more than an apology.

[brendan]

The ultimate result will be compensation,

i doubt the apology would make much of a difference in the legal outcomes

[costargh]

Agree with both Coblins and Brendans posts.

[brendan]

The Australian Parliament apology in the international press:

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/world/asia/13aborigine.html?ref=world

London Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3362062.ece

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021202351.html?hpid%253Dsec-world

International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/13/asia/13aborigine.php

CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/12/australia.aborgines/?iref=hpmostpop

USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-12-australia-aborigines_N.htm

Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-australia13feb13,1,5658259.story?ctrack=2&cset=true

[Eriny]

The most empowering policy, in my opinion, would be to stop this collectivist classification of Aboriginal people as part of this group, and to look at them as unique individuals like you and I. Special treatment of Aborigines is racist, whether it is positive or negative treatment.

I agree that no race should be singled out, but if any group of people are living in near third-world conditions in Australia, special treatment is necessary. Not because they are Aboriginal, but because the conditions they're exposed to are awful. What would be empowering to me is the communities themselves playing a role in improving conditions, merely supported by the government and not told by the government "you have to do this or else you don't get any funding". From a sociological standpoint, if a particular group in society is suffering more than others, then it's wise to figure out why, even if it does reduce us to generalisations - it might actually help improve the world in general and give more people a chance of achieving great things.

I personally didn't mind Nelson's speech, but the problem was with the fact he was speaking more to broader Australia rather to those individuals present who have been hurt, who have been waiting their lives for this occasion, and who are very sensitive. I think he had a fair point, even though I think he could have been more subtle in his expression of it. In any case, I appreciated the sentiment of reconciliation being a bi-partisan motion.

[Collin Li]

I think I can agree with you if the system is one where the government provides aid loans to these communities, although I think the private market could achieve the same purpose. However, as long as the government is only acting as the role of the referee, rather than as the headmaster, I don't have many problems with any ideas that would help out these poorer communities.

[melodrama]

today was heavily reliant on semantics. personally, i interpreted "sorry" as expressing "deep regret" for the actions of our forebearers and accepting both the prosperity and wrongs of the past simultaneously. i never got the impression that we conceded that the stolen generation was our personal responsibility or fault. hence, i was supportive of the apology.

[Collin Li]

today was heavily reliant on semantics. personally, i interpreted "sorry" as expressing "deep regret" for the actions of our forebearers and accepting both the prosperity and wrongs of the past simultaneously. i never got the impression that we conceded that the stolen generation was our personal responsibility or fault. hence, i was supportive of the apology.

Same here. Kevin Rudd has expressed that he is against compensation, so I have no problems with what has happened today.

[melodrama]

I totally agree with Brendan Nelson, I have no guilt, I was not here, and even though i feel sorry for these people, I will not apologize.

mao - nelson got majorly pwned today because that's the impression that many members of public got. the "no guilt" part was highly reminiscent of howard (who said basically the same thing and "therefore, i will not say sorry"); therefore, he angered the public. i don't think he was careful enough with his words. however, he did say sorry, but you misinterpreted like many other australians. in effect, he reiterated the ideas in rudd's speech.

[brendan]

[Collin Li]

Oh, that's not fair. That's parental negligence versus government intervention!

[costargh]

LOL! None the less, it's funny! =P

[excal]

But the aborigines already receive extra payment from the government.. if they sue then that's just greedy
and what would they most likely spend that money on?

That's a very shortsighted opinion.

Has got a point though. I dont know if you walk down the street and see them but they are always sitting outside the bottleshop when i walk past...or boozing it up on the beach. Not all are like that but a fair few

I used to work in a bottleshop. I think I saw more miserable old men than aboriginals.

Anecdote aside, it's wrong to simply generalise an entire race based on the actions of a few.

I think that the Aboriginies received a very well deserved, and belated, apology. I agree that a 'compensation fund' for everyone is out of the question, and that each case should be decided on its own merits. On the note of guilt, I do agree with Dr. Nelson on this count - the problems were not of our generation....but, as a society we can collectively feel empathy for the plight of the Aboriginies (and the failure of government intervention) - and as such feel "sorry" (for want of a better word?).

I just think the words that Dr. Nelson used to portray this point may have been a little too harsh for general public sentiment. I also might want to note that Mr. Rudd only apologised on behalf of past governments and their policies - not the entire nation.

I think Rudd's speech was a winner.

[Collin Li]

I just think the words that Dr. Nelson used to portray this point may have been a little too harsh for general public sentiment. I also might want to note that Mr. Rudd only apologised on behalf of past governments and their policies - not the entire nation.

Yet Dr. Nelson said the same: that the guilt does not belong to the entire nation, nor for the current generation of Australians. I think people were using Brendan as a scapegoat, and as a symbol of John Howard (who refused to say sorry). They need to realise that the Liberal party is changing its shape and form.

Abbot defends Nelson's speech according to this article, and also features a section on an Indigenous group asking for governments to stop intervention:

While a peak Indigenous group has praised the Commonwealth's apology to the Stolen Generations, they say the intervention in Aboriginal communities must be stopped.

The National Aboriginal Alliance (NAA) says the atrocities of the past will be repeated if the Federal Government continues its intervention in the Northern Territory's Aboriginal communities.

NAA spokesman Les Malezer says the intervention is unfair.

"We've made it quite clear that it's not a case of modifying or altering the intervention, it's a case where it must be stopped," he said.

"It is discriminatory and it must be immediately stopped."