This might not mean much to people overseas but for a large proportion of Australians this is an historic day. It is easy to be cynical but the reaction was very positve to PM Kevin Rudd's speech today. After the previous toxic government this is welcome change from the hard hearted climate of the last 11 years. There is a palpable sense of relief from all my collegues and most importantly the indigenous people who were present at the speech and watching big screens around the country have responded extremely positively. We don't see too many positive stories in this section but this one is.
Quote:
A nation apologises
Phillip Coorey and Stephanie Peatling
February 13, 2008
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WITH just 361 words, the Federal Parliament will today seek to heal the hurt caused by past decades of state-sponsored ill-treatment of all indigenous Australians - not just those forcibly removed as children from their families.
More than 10 years since the story of the stolen generations was told in the Bringing Them Home report, the declaration of the apology will usher in a new era of recognition and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia.
The Coalition, which refused to countenance an apology when John Howard was leader, saw the final text last night and will back Labor's motion this morning, giving it the Parliament's full imprimatur.
The apology - to be read by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd - is extended to all indigenous peoples who were mistreated as a consequence of official government policy.
"We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these, our fellow Australians," it says.
It lends particular emphasis to the stolen generations.
"We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
"And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."
The apology will follow yesterday's official opening of the 42nd Parliament, which for the first time included the local Aboriginal people, who performed a "welcome to country" ceremony. Mr Rudd and the Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson, vowed that the ceremony would be a permanent feature of future parliamentary openings.
"It's taken 41 parliaments to get here," Mr Rudd said. "We can be a bit slow sometimes, but we got here. When it comes to parliaments of the future, this will become part and parcel of the fabric of our celebration of Australia in all of its unity and all of its diversity."
The Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, backed the apology and called on Labor to incorporate more indigenous history into its proposed national curriculum. "The richness of indigenous culture is often under-recognised and, as a nation, we have much to learn about the history of indigenous Australians - a history that stretches over 60,000 years," Major General Jeffrey said.
Indigenous people from across the country have descended on Canberra for today's apology.
Controversially, it makes no mention of monetary compensation for the stolen generations, which neither side of politics supports but which some indigenous groups are demanding.
A spokesman for the National Aboriginal Alliance, Michael Mansell, said: "The one thing that we expected the apology would deliver was an explanation as to why the victims of the stolen generations were targeted. And the one thing that's missing from the apology is that explanation."
However, he was heartened by Mr Rudd's desire to address the past. "The reference in the text to righting the wrongs of the past indicates to us that the Prime Minister has left the door open for compensation," Mr Mansell said.
Reconciliation Australia, one of the main groups pushing for an apology, said it would not comment on the wording because it would detract from the emotion of the occasion. The apology was developed by Labor in consultation with the Stolen Generations Alliance and the National Sorry Day Committee.
Dr Nelson opposes the use of the term stolen generations but has accepted that its use was non-negotiable. He was not shown a copy of the text until about two hours before its release at 5.30pm yesterday. His indigenous affairs spokesman, Tony Abbott, called Labor "incompetent" for leaving it so late.
Dr Nelson, having been assured that he was not required to speak at yesterday's ceremony, was given about 60 seconds' notice once it began that he should say something. He did so off the cuff. He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by indigenous people and threw his support behind future welcome-to-country ceremonies.
"I assure you on behalf of the alternative government … that whatever happens in future parliaments, so long as I have anything to do with it, that we will have a welcome from Ngunnawal and their descendants."
There was a bipartisan recommendation five years ago for such ceremonies but John Howard rejected it. Mr Rudd lamented that when Canberra's first parliament house opened in 1927 no indigenous people were invited. "There was no welcome to the country; there was no welcome at all," he said at yesterday's ceremony.
The welcome was led by Matilda House-Williams, an elder of the Ngambri people, who have a traditional connection with the Canberra and Yass region. She entered the Members' Hall accompanied by a didgeridoo player and her granddaughter, who presented Mr Rudd with a message stick. "A welcome to country acknowledges our people and pays respect to our ancestors' spirits who have created the lands," she told the audience.
"In doing this the Prime Minister shows what we call proper respect to us, to his fellow parliamentarians and to all Australians. For thousands of years our people have observed this protocol. It is a good and honest and a decent and human act to reach out and make sure everyone has a place and is welcome."
The indigenous leader and a member of the stolen generations, Lowitja O'Donoghue, who is in Canberra for today's apology, said: "It will be a healing process for many of the stolen generation."
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, said the apology would allow members of the stolen generations to feel part of the community.
"It is not about black armbands and guilt," he said. "It is about inclusion and learning from the past. And ultimately it is about providing space in the telling of our national story for the stolen generations."
It would be nice if someone here would do the same for Native Americans. But that would still be politically unpopular in several western states, where old prejudices die hard..
Never mind Eastern states, like New York. Or Vermont, which has stubbornly refused to recognize the Abenaki, now or at any time in the past. They were never militarily defeated, they never sold any land, they never signed any treaty. They're still here today, nevertheless.
The natives of Quebec haven't exactly been celebrated, either, speaking of, um, "distinct cultures."
I'm interested in studying the Australian aboriginals' history, however. Does anyone have a book or two to recommend? I've never looked into it. I'm very interested in terms of human evolution and the species' migrations.
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Away from the delusionary forces that turn music into a step to fame and fortune it becomes a reason to live." (David Morris)
Last edited by Gary Sisco; February-13th-2008 at 10:54 AM.
I'm interested in studying the Australian aboriginals' history, however. Does anyone have a book or two to recommend? I've never looked into it. I'm very interested in terms of human evolution and the species' migrations.
I don't have a book to recommend, Gary, but I agree that the history of Australia's aboriginal people is fascinating. Though their distinctive culture dominated the Australian continent for centuries, they were completely unknown to the West until discovered by David Bowie in his "Let's Dance" video.
Because my love for you would break my heart in two if you should fall into my arms and tremble like a flower.
Not entirely. I've been wondering about their origins for a pretty long time, now. Recently I've been checking into their music (at least what is their music in the recorded music age). Most of what I've heard sounds as culturally specific as others, but I hear some similarities in vocals especially with other musics heard throughout Southern Asia.
I think it's a pretty interesting cultural and human-evolution-migrations subject, their origins.
__________________
Away from the delusionary forces that turn music into a step to fame and fortune it becomes a reason to live." (David Morris)
I'm interested in studying the Australian aboriginals' history, however. Does anyone have a book or two to recommend? I've never looked into it. I'm very interested in terms of human evolution and the species' migrations.
I'll get back to you on that Gary. My sister is an anthropologist and worked closely with Aboriginal elders for a number of years. I'm sure she would know of a good book or two. I'll pm you with a list later. She's working in Turkey at the moment so it may be a day or so before I get back to you.
My sister is an anthropologist and worked closely with Aboriginal elders for a number of years.
I took a couple of sections of anthropology at college. You guys ever see the film of the Aboriginal rite of passage? The one where the lad's penis is cut from the base of the tip to the top of the balls with a rock or a shell, and then dirt and pebbles are stuffed in, and then it is sewn up? Ouch!
No, I haven't, Monte, but I'd have little objection to making an American version using Dipshit, Jr., and Lon Cheney as "volunteers." Clearly, it's not torture. Dipshit could then have a dick as full of rocks as his skull.
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Away from the delusionary forces that turn music into a step to fame and fortune it becomes a reason to live." (David Morris)
Last edited by Gary Sisco; February-14th-2008 at 08:23 AM.
Well, as long as they have compelling medical reasons for cutting open a penis and stuffing it with dirt and pebbles.
Subincision, they call it. As a sensitive lad of eighteen, I had to watch this happen on video. Spectating was rite of passage enough for me!
"Several 'grandfathers' stand nearby to comfort him, and one gives him a boomerang to bite on. One of the operators then sits on his chest and holds his penis upright while the other carefully cuts it open, while the Activists sing and the Mourners quietly wail. The operation takes about ten minutes, since great care must be taken to center the incision, and cutting delayed while a small wooden rod is inserted into the urethra to act as a backing for the knife as it cuts. As soon as the operaton is completed, Waga is led to a small fire that has been made nearby; he sits astride it so that the heat and smoke will stop the bleeding."
This is a procedure done, or that used to be done, in more cultures than just the Australian indiginous culture.
The apology is nice, but do they get their 40 acres and a mule?
Exactly. The apology here is another "feel good" that does absolutely nothing.
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"The main vice of capitalism is the uneven distribution of prosperity. The main vice of socialism is the even distribution of misery." --Winston Churchill
Exactly. The apology here is another "feel good" that does absolutely nothing.
Who the hell are you to be a judge of that?
Symbols are important. Symbols are important to many, many - perhaps most - Aboriginals in Australia. John Howard, his Government and others who who stubbornly refuse(d) to acknowledge this point are now left behind in their mean-spirited past.
True, the apology ain't nuts and bolts of fixing child mortality and all the other woes facing Aboriginal Australia.
But remember - this apology was not a sweeping grovel by white man to black man. It was very specifically focussed on the victims of the stolen generations. Many of whom shed copious tears of joy and relief on the big day. Are their tears a lie?
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Kenny no longer on the radio. Seeking radio station that isn't so pigeonhole-bound that it can't handle an approach that takes in Louis Armstrong, Sun Ra, the Grateful Dead and Bob Wills.
Symbols are important. Symbols are important to many, many - perhaps most - Aboriginals in Australia. John Howard, his Government and others who who stubbornly refuse(d) to acknowledge this point are now left behind in their mean-spirited past.
True, the apology ain't nuts and bolts of fixing child mortality and all the other woes facing Aboriginal Australia.
But remember - this apology was not a sweeping grovel by white man to black man. It was very specifically focussed on the victims of the stolen generations. Many of whom shed copious tears of joy and relief on the big day. Are their tears a lie?
Nice Post, particularly the last paragraph. That's exactly what it was about. I guess there will always be those who don't have intelligence to understand this kind of gesture and how significant it is for our country. Only whitey would bring up compensation. It was really noticeable on the day it was the mean spirited opposition leader who even mentioned the word. Yes, it was symbolic and as you say symbols are important to Aboriginals and that's who it was for wasn't it?
It was inevitable that a dumb piece of shit like Wozniak wouldn't get it.
Exactly. The apology here is another "feel good" that does absolutely nothing.
You're amazing, Woz.
Speaking of doing nothing...why don't you take this opportunity to get rid of the stupid fucking signature? Don't you think everyone at JC has taken note of your very important point?
Nice Post, particularly the last paragraph. That's exactly what it was about. I guess there will always be those who don't have intelligence to understand this kind of gesture and how significant it is for our country. Only whitey would bring up compensation. It was really noticeable on the day it was the mean spirited opposition leader who even mentioned the word. Yes, it was symbolic and as you say symbols are important to Aboriginals and that's who it was for wasn't it?
It was inevitable that a dumb piece of shit like Wozniak wouldn't get it.
True.
And how appropriate that he is at complete odds with folks who actually live in Australia. Not like they'd know what the fuck they were talking about...
A terrific event. Actions begin with words and I'm sure that these are words that the natives of Australia have wanted to hear. And now the work can begin.
My time in prison in Alaska gave me many relationships and encounters with Alaskan Natives. These are peoples who are only a couple of generations removed from a traditional way of a hunter gatherer lifestyle. The confusion that abounds in these people is fairly tragic. Our prison population is around 35% Native while our state population is only about 16% Native.
I really doubt the day will come but I'll never quit hoping that someday we will all get along.
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"The main vice of capitalism is the uneven distribution of prosperity. The main vice of socialism is the even distribution of misery." --Winston Churchill
Last edited by Jeffrey Wozniak; February-15th-2008 at 01:35 PM.
I say we just "apologize" and then stop giving aid to the world. Also let Europe take care of themselves militarily.
Would be alot cheaper that way.
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"The main vice of capitalism is the uneven distribution of prosperity. The main vice of socialism is the even distribution of misery." --Winston Churchill
A Nation Apologises
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