Are we watching Mr. Rudd create history by saying sorry?

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The Old Salt

In my opinion we will look back and Australia will be sorry that Mr Rudd created history by saying sorry. Again in my opinion it will open the flood gate to compensation. Many of the stolen people went on to good jobs, and made a place for themselves. How many of those who were not stolen did anything for themselves or others?

aiddogs5

Yes we are the first Australian Prime Minister to ever acknowledge.
The wrongs that have been done to aboriginals people.

Vicki R

I look forward to seeing exactly what Mr. Rudd says in his apology. No doubt it will either be not enough to satisfy some, or open for widespread criticism in other ways. I bet many hours have been put into making the "words" just right. I for one wish him luck, and am personally sorry for the injustices done even though I wasn't personally responsible.

holly

Yes and it's about time.

Ross M

Yes this is the start and Australia will be a better place because of it

â€¢ Koala â€¢ uÊop É¹Çpun

I think it's a very important moment in history and needs to be said. BUT ...... John Howard apologises unreservedly to the Aboriginal people.... do you remember that speech?
He did actually say sorry...July 3, 2000

My man is Aboriginal and his mum was a 'Stolen Generation' and it's very sad to hear the stories, but honestly, they are not worried about the sorry part, what's done is done.... and there is NO way they are even remotely interested in any 'payout', now or future.

Read Howards speech on 'sorry' here - http://blogs.news.com.au/news/splat/index.php/news/comments/john_howard_apologises_unreservedly_to_the_aboriginal_people

gramophoneshane

I can't wait to see it! It has been long over-due, and I'm hoping it will help heal some wounds.
I know it doesn't change the past, but it's nice that they will acknowledge that what happened was very wrong.
I am a whitey, and it disgusts me that this ever happened.
Someone above said that they, and their family is not responsible for the actions of the past, which is true, but it did happen, and is one of many reasons aboriginals feel the way they do about us, and I think this is one small step in the right direction towards RECONCILIATION.
We all need to be put pety differences(and not so pety in this case) behind us, if we are ever going to move forward as the great nation that we are capable of becoming.
The aboriginal community has been wanting this for quite some time, and finally, they are going to get it.
As for compensation, I don't think the majority are really after money, but just an apology.
I myself was put up for adoption in 1965, because my mother was single, and society at the time looked down upon single mothers, and mine was pressured into giving me up. Not quite the same as being stollen, but still very immoral and wrong. I don't think I should be compensated financially for that, and probably aboriginals shouldn't be either. Its a bit unrealistic to expect the current government to pay multi-millions of $ for something they had nothing to do with, but to say sorry costs nothing, and hopefully will gain alot for us all.

Dot

Yes I am excited and will be watching tomorrow

wotzthepoint?

900am (Canberra Time)Wednesday Febuary 13th - ABC

The OFFICIAL APOLOGY (just released):

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

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.

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.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."

molly

Yes with pride and to those that say they and their parents and grandparents didn't do anything they are right they just sat back in silence watched while the government they voted for stole these children.
Nobody stepped forward and that is the biggest shame of our country it is time to set it right.
I would like see you try to give my mother-in-law compensation for losing her family she has way to much pride for that.

bone

people who want the money ain't doing it for the right reasons, and it is for this reason compensation in the Australian courts will fail. the Australia public wont have it.
it is good to see the apology at last. and let me stipulate it is not on behalf of the Australian public, but the elected government of the time, this being indirectly but succesivly connected to the goverment at the time

evelyn p

i will and it will make an history as a the only pm that have said sorry for what had happened to the stolen generation,so we the people of australia can understand much more of their culture.because we are not the truly owner of this beautiful land.

auburn

I didn't vote for Rudd and I certainly would not have voted for an apology.
I am also sick of hearing aboriginal people stating that every ill they have is because of how they are treated. Maybe they should get off their behinds and help themselves as I know I don't get a hand from the government and in fact it really ticks me off when my daughter applies for a scholarship for university and their is a hundred boxes to tick for scholarships if you happen to be indigenous. Who says they don't get a fair go as i am sure I dont

D-Bo

I didnt do anything to the stolen generation, my parents didnt and neither did my grandparents. I voted for Rudd, but didnt want this to happen. Im happy to acknoledge what happened in the past, but people.. IT'S NOT OUR FAULT, why would you apologise for what you didnt do?
And it wont stop at apologies, it'll open the doors for compensation claims. Hope your ready for that Rudd

Dee7484

Yeah I think we will ... maybe not so much now though

Ranjeeh D

Its nothing but populist clap trap. The actions by those at the time were seen to be well intended, much as when children these days are removed from abusive or unsafe environments.

So what if history is re-interpreted by academics and 'bleeding hearts', its still just bloody history.

By listening to some aborigines, the apology is NOT what they want. They want to be compensated with money. Haven't they already been compensated enough. Free this, free that, while every other Australian has to fork out money to pay for everything. Money will not pay for what happened to the stolen generation. And neither should we, as tax payers. We didn't hold any responsibilities into what happened therfore we shouldn't have to suffer because of it. It will NEVER end. They will still want to be compensated even more and more.

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