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To be Sorry or not be
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Right now in Australia, people are divided. Some believe that an apology to the ‘Stolen Generation’ is necessary, while others are vehemently against it believing that as a person they themselves were not responsible and so should not apologise.
For those who need a refresher course on the Stolen Generation:
From: http://www.eniar.org/stolengenerations.html
Aboriginal children — as well as those from Torres Strait Islands – between the years of 1910 - 1975 were forcibly taken from their homes. Most were raised on ‘missions’ church or state run institutions. They were forbidden to see their families and letters written by them were destroyed.
why were they taken?
It was Federal and State govt policy to take the Aboriginal kids away from their parents.
- The main motive was to ‘assimilate’ Aboriginal children into European society over one or two generations by denying and destroying their Aboriginality.
- Speaking their languages and practising their ceremonies was forbidden
- They were taken miles from their country, some overseas
- Parents were not told where their children were and could not trace them
- Children were told that they were orphans
- Family visits were discouraged or forbidden; letters were destroyed.
what were the results
The physical and emotional damage to those taken away was profound and lasting:
- Most grew up in a hostile environment without family ties or cultural identity.
- As adults, many suffered insecurity, lack of self esteem, feelings of worthlessness, depression, suicide, violence, delinquency, abuse of alcohol and drugs and inability to trust.
- Lacking a parental model, many had difficulty bringing up their own children.
- The scale of separation also had profound consequences for the whole Aboriginal community - anger, powerlessness and lack of purpose as well as an abiding distrust of Government, police and officials.
what is being done?
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10th anniversary of the |
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‘Sorry Book’ launched in UK |
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A National Inquiry was set up in 1995. Its 1997 Report ‘Bringing them Home’ contained harrowing evidence.
It found that forcible removal of indigenous children was a gross violation of human rights which continued well after Australia had undertaken international human rights commitments.
- It was racially discriminatory, because it only applied to Aboriginal children on that scale, and
- It was an act of genocide contrary to the Convention on Genocide, (which forbids ‘forcibly transferring children of [a] group to another group’ with the intention of destroying the group.)
The Report made 54 recommendations, including opening of records, family tracing and reunion services and the need for reparations’ (including acknowledgement and apology by Governments and institutions concerned, restitution, rehabilitation and compensation).
The previous Liberal/National Coalition Government increased some funding but has refused to apologise or offer compensation. Australia elected a new Government on 24th November 2007 - it’s policy is to make a formal apology to the Stolen generations.
A Senate committee has investigated the Government’s response to the Report.
People of the Stolen Generation have started legal actions for compensation against the Government .
The cases have been hard fought, as Government lawyers are arguing that removal of children was done for their own good.
A statement by the former Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Herron which denied existance of the ‘stolen generations’ caused distress and anger among those affected. Denial has marked much of the commentary.
‘Moving forward: achieving reparations’ is a project conducted in partnership with ATSIC, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the National Sorry Day Committee and Northern Territory stolen generation groups.
It’s report ‘Restoring identity‘, proposing a reparations tribunal for the stolen generations, has widespread support by Indigenous people.
Ministers for Aboriginal Affairs in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia issued public statements welcoming the report and detailing their initiatives to implement the recommendations.
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I am sorry.
I do not think the fact that i personally had nothing to do with it has got anything to do with the issue.
And the mid-1970s was not ‘back then’. Just because Howard did not implement the Act does not mean that he had to continue implementing it. He would not acknowledge the fact that he was in government at the time when children were still being stolen. And that he could have done something to stop it - or at least draw attention to it.
The act of saying ’sorry’ is in part, an act of *acknowledgment*. An acknowledgment of the pre-meditated idea of destroying a country’s native inhabitants - taking away their land, their language, their culture and their sense of family and belonging.
And then denying that it ever happens (as some of his government have done in the past). Indigenous Australians are asking - as well as the rest of Australia - well, mot - are asking for an apology from the Australian GOVERNMENT not Howard personally, and the fact that Howad took is personally is not very good leadership at all. He had his chance to apologise in 1997, but he didn’t.
Of course i know that an apology is not going to make a magic wand wave and we all to be alright. I know that it is up to Aboriginal Australia to accept the apology when it comes from PM Rudd tomorrow — as is their right.
My God, Australia sickens me sometimes.
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This debate is a huge part of what it means to be an ‘Australian’ - whichever side of the fence you all on. And theloss of cultural identity is something we can all sympathise/empathise over.
What i have learnt of Australia is that they feel pride over Gallipoli (where ANZAC and other countries’ troops) battled against the Turks and got annihilated. It said that they were strong and hearty and didn’t back down etc.
But (some) refuse to show guilt or shame or even acknowledge the wrongs Australia has done. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t feel pride over something ‘labelled as ‘great and heroic’ and feel all Australian and not feel shame over the terrible acts European settlement had upon the Indigenous peoples.
I’m sorry its a ‘hot’ topic atm and i just needed to vent.
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March 31st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I have to say, I was in the library when I watched Kevin Rudd apologise, and I started to cry.
When I first found out about the Stolen Generation, I felt betrayed by Australia–I’d always thought it was one of the best countries. Suddenly I was ashamed, not just of the country or John Howard, but of my own feelings. I left Australia before I was taught proper history, but even still, the school systems don’t emphasise it, just like the States don’t emphasise what Americans did to the Native Americans.
But I understand your sentiment, and I’m disappointed in it taking this long for one of my countries to accept and take responsibility for itself. I only hope it will continue listening to Kevin Rudd…
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