Sorry day-13/02/2008

Dear Friends,

Today (13/02/2008) marks a very important day in the history of Australia. It is the day when the Government of Australia took it's first step towards Re-Conciliation.

So, why this "Day of Sorry?" Well I asked the same question. The answer was " To say sorry to all those souls whose life was torn from their roots". These souls were the "Stolen Generation"

Who were the stolen generation?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Stolen Generation refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities by the State and Territory governments of Australia. While Indigenous children were taken away from the very beginning of colonisation, the Stolen Generation more usually refers to children removed under deliberate government policies from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1970s.[/FONT]

Why were they removed?


Portrayal of The taking of the children on the Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

It was asserted that these children of mixed descent were not accepted by their communities and were therefore at high risk of harm. The policy typically involved the removal of children into internment camps, orphanages and other institutions.It was asserted that these children of mixed descent were not accepted by their communities and were therefore at high risk of harm. The policy typically involved the removal of children into internment camps, orphanages and other institutions.

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.

The process of separating the family from the child was very brutal. This has been aptly captured in the Movie- Rabbit-Proof fence

The Results?

The results were a disaster. Most Boys were trained to do hard labour & the girls were trained to do domestic chores. Abuse was common.

Public Awareness

In the 90s, there was public awareness raised about this & this practice was stopped. But it did little to soothe the feelings in the Aborginal community who now demanded a Sorry.

Many governments dragged their feet on this issue. This was an election issue in the elections of 2007. The Newly elected government of Kevin Rudd went ahead with the "Sorry Day" marking a historical point in the history of Australia.


Australia says sorry 13/02/2008:



Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd with Aboriginal leaders at parliament house
in Canberra.

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



A new era dawns in the history of Australia.


What are your thoughts friends? In this world we have news of war & other inhuman activities. For the first time, a humane act ahs taken centre-stage


Awaiting FBs,

Regards,

Corallux

 

Thanks for your feed back Anandchitra & ArunarcBow,

I agree with your views.

What is surprising is the people outside Oz took the trouble of reading this post & giving a FB & not a single one from Oz? Rant

Nice to know people all over the world are now comming to terms with the misdeeds done in the past in the name of "Civilization & Culture'.

Cheers,

Corallux