"We say sorry"

[BillTheBinMan 0]

The Australian government has made a formal apology for the past wrongs caused by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population.

 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in parliament to all Aborigines for laws and policies that "inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss".

 

He singled out the "Stolen Generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families.

 

The apology, beamed live around the country on TV, was met with cheers.

 

But some Aborigines say it should have been accompanied with compensation for their suffering.

[soubriquet 0]

Compensation? Easy. A gallon of petrol per adult, and 1/2 gallon per child should do it.

[spook 0]

the apology is an important step, any may well represent a turning point in race relations in australia.

but i don't think it's a magic pill that will suddenly fix the myriad problems in many aboriginal communities. from second-hand conversations from friends in governement with the department of indigenous affairs, the department's own take on the situtation is pretty much "it is f#cked".

there are so many problems - unemployment, lack of education, alcohol and substance abuse, sexual abuse and health problems - that it is impossible to fix the situation, no matter how much money is thrown into it.

part of the problem is that children growing up in dysfunctional families/communities accept their situation as the norm. it will be several generations before we start to see positive results.

 

whatever your view of aboriginal australians, it is incredibly sad to see children growing up in 3rd world conditions in a rich country, and the recent focus on sexual abuse of minors in aboriginal communities is horrifying. the government is trying to intervene in NT communities to solve this issue, but this too has been fraught with controversy. despite the well-meaning intention of the government (and many would argue they should intervene) it could well create another generation of stolen kids.

 

the reality of the current situtation is never as simple as this (especially as not all aboriginal communities can be tarred with the same brush), but it comes down to: what's worse - taking kids from their parents en masse or allowing them to remain in a community where sexual abuse, violence and substance abuse is the norm?

[Rag-Doll 0]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks the whole thing is a complete crock. As if it means anything at all. As if it is going to change anything at all. This is the pinnacle of Rudd's symbolism over substance approach to government.

[soubriquet 0]

Ever been to an aboriginal community? I have. Many. Crock of shit doesn't do them justice. Hopeless.

[Mantas 3]

Well it wasn't a crock of shit to al the Aboriginal people I saw interviewed on TV or heard on radio these last few days. None of the elders have said anything about it being a crock of shit. In fact quite the opposite. It meant a lot to victims of the stolen generation.

Spook is right in saying that it might not change jack shit in aboriginal communities, but hey , who said it would?

 

Did anyone hear anybody promise that?

 

It's just an acknowledgment of bad past deeds. Pretty basic stuff really.

[tripitaka 0]

 Originally Posted By: soubriquet

Ever been to an aboriginal community? I have. Many. Crock of shit doesn't do them justice. Hopeless.

I don't think it's a crock of shit either. It means a lot to aboriginal and non-aboriginal people alike, whether or not you think their plight is hopeless.

[soubriquet 0]

The communities I've been to share two things in common. Specifically: non-functioning and vandalised infrastructure, and people lying in the shade.

 

I'm sorry too, but I'm not particularly sympathetic.

[tripitaka 0]

 Originally Posted By: soubriquet

The communities I've been to share two things in common. Specifically: non-functioning and vandalised infrastructure, and people lying in the shade.

I'm sorry too, but I'm not particularly sympathetic.

Well you probably could have expressed yourself better because tarring a whole race of people in one swoop based on your experiences is not particularly enlightened in my mind. I think that the apology reflects that many people have moved past that kind of mindset.

[Go Native 70]

It's always easy to blame the victims soubs. We completely destroyed their culture and way of life and then blame them for being pathetic?

 

The apology may only be symbolic but symbolism can be very powerful and is a great first step in reconciling the wrongs of the past.

 

Howard the little weasel systematically destroyed relations with Aboriginals and all I can say is thank god that prick is gone and well done Rudd.

[OkemoLoon 0]

The Aussie government should give them some land so they can open casinos. It worked for the American Indian

[tripitaka 0]

 Originally Posted By: OkemoLoon

The Aussie government should give them some land so they can open casinos. It worked for the American Indian

Even better, give them a share of the mining industry. Of course it would never happen. If it did, you might see what happened at Cronulla right across Australia!!

[Mantas 3]

 Originally Posted By: tripitaka

 Originally Posted By: OkemoLoon

The Aussie government should give them some land so they can open casinos. It worked for the American Indian

Even better, give them a share of the mining industry. Of course it would never happen.

I does happen, a lot, mining royalties are huge in some parts of NT and QLD.

[mofofunc 0]

 Originally Posted By: Mantas

 Originally Posted By: tripitaka

 Originally Posted By: OkemoLoon

The Aussie government should give them some land so they can open casinos. It worked for the American Indian

Even better, give them a share of the mining industry. Of course it would never happen.

I does happen, a lot, mining royalties are huge in some parts of NT and QLD.

I spent two weeks at a Diamond mine in the Kinberley's last year shooting a Doco on the effect's it haas had on the local Aboriginal communities. And it has had a lot.
When they first made an agreement 20 odd years ago they just gave the communities money and it caused a lot of issues. Now in the last 8 years they have changed everything, and it took a German (i think) guy to do it. He became CEO of the mine and now they have a great, and positive impact on the communities. 60% of their workforce are aboriginal, the mine educate them, most of them local, and the millions of dollors in royalties goes to a trust (which is run by the aboriginies) which help the area with education, health, etc.

It's giving the next generations role models and encouraging them that a working life or an education is worth while. It's great to see that some things can be helped, without intervention, but by allowing them to help themselves properley.

[Mantas 3]

Yeah, isn't it great when people focus on the negativity with aboriginal relations. We could do without it if we are ever a chance of resolving these problems.

[sunrise 0]

Glad to hear that mofo.

[HelperElfMissy 42]

WOW! What a heated issue this is. And will be for generations to come. There are always going to be two sides to this debate. There will be those who say - it is hopeless, the sorry thing is a joke, and those who believe it was too long coming but very necessary.

 

Personally we have experienced a number of 'sides' and perspectives either ourselves or through experiences of close family relating information that they have experienced in living and working within aboriginal communities. MIL's partner is aboriginal.

 

I think "Sorry" needed to be said by the Government at some stage, for those children that were wrongly taken due to the influence of White Australia mentality that was the focal ideology of the day, and perhaps even for the 'invasion' of Australia and all that meant to aboriginal culture. I do not feel I personally need to apologise.

 

However on the other side of the coin - there were many many children - I would say a greater number than those taken because they were of mixed blood - who were removed and taken into care for welfare reasons. As there is today, there was then a huge problem with neglect, abuse and alcohol addiciton. My heart aches for the aboriginal people, that they are on the whole genetically predisposed to alcoholism, once they begin to have a drink, they are trapped. And this is the root cause of problems in thier communities. We have seen dry communities function with love and care, children raised in loving and secure environments. We need to get the alcohol OUT.

 

And having an elderly male relative whose parents were unable to afford to raise him, taken into care by the British Government and shipped out here to Castledaire Catholic Boys Home as a matter of policy. Subject to unspeakable abuses. I have great difficulty understanding why the Government will not stand up and apologise to those little white boys for what amounts to a British Stolen Generation.

 

I do not object to reconciliation - I think it needs to happen. But I do see why there will be dissenters and debate. And of course cynics - seeing as the first of the financial claims for compensation against the government was made today.

[tripitaka 0]

Thanks Mofo for the positive story. I think that the "sorry" is a lot more than mere symbolism and "kowtowing to political correctness."

 

Mama, wouldn't you think it's better that aboriginal people deal with and solve aboriginal problems? Self determination is probably what they really seek. Remember, as a white Aussie, there's no necesssity for you to live in the aboriginal world. Put the shoe on the other foot, they're are pretty much judged on how well they adapt to the white man's world.

 

I read a book called the 'Songlines' by travel writer Bruce Chatwin about the situation. It's a very good read for an outsider looking in.

[Tubby Beaver 209]

Alcohol is a big prob for the Aboriginal community in Oz. I went to some dodgy places up North, Likes Hells Crack (sorry Halls Creek), that were absolute mayhem, it was like the wild west around the local bar. Smashing chairs, glasses, fights, we decided to stay on the campsite that night!! Of course it was a mixture of Aboriginals and Whiteys in the pub, but not a place I felt safe in. Yet I went to a place, can't remember the name, near to Kununurra where the local aboriginal community was dry and we went to a community Jamboree/ festival. It was great, they had music ,which in our naive tourist minds we thought was gonna be all digeredoos, body paint and stamping, but turned out to be a regular guitar 4 piece!!

 

When you think of it, these cultures have only had 200-300 years or so or exposure to European culture which is vastly different to their own. Like it or lump it but both sidea are here to stay and concessions will need to be made on both sides, so that everyone can live with pride and in the manner in which they choose

[tripitaka 0]

I like the way you see it TB.

[mofofunc 0]

Many of the comunities i visited were near Kunanurra. When were you in the area Tubby Beaver? My partner was in Halls Creek about 10 years ago. Just after some big riots there i think. She said it was terriable, she lived in the hospital (where she was working) and couldn't leave it at night.

 

I will let you guys know when the Doco is on air. It's about to go through edit so should be in a few months. (sorry, Australian vewiers only) Hoipefully will interest a lot of people, espicially as it is a very popular topic at the moment.

[Tubby Beaver 209]

I was there around June/ July 2004. I spent a couple of weeks in Kunanurra picking water melons, back breaking work I can tell you. Pretty nice little town though, was there for the Rodeo which was a laugh.

 

Can't remember the other small towns around there I visited but like I said, some of em where like the wild west. In 1 town, the "campsite" was little more than chain link fencing of a grassy area, pretty small think there was just 1 other party there. We ask at the front desk where we can buy some beer and they say that there is only 1 bar in town and we can get a carry out there. Off we pop and its surrounded by loads of Aborigine's. We get out the car and I've never felt so intimidated in my life, they start getting up and coming our way, we slink into the bar with the intention of having a couple of beers b4 heading back to camp, but in the end we got freaked out, grabbed the beer and high tailed it back to camp. They were all round the car as we were leaving, shouting and shit...it was pretty intense

[HelperElfMissy 42]

We were up there about then too TB! We have some Sandalwood investments in Kununurra and we buy a LOT of direct fresh produce from Growers in the Ord river area. I quite like Kununurra, but Wiluna....eeekkk!!! Now there is a town that needs to go dry!

 

A friend from school is a Doc in Halls Creek - has been for quite a few years now. It is a place in need of help.

 

I do hear what you say about self determination Trip, and in many cases that is fine. But in much the same way as I have had to take the computer out of the room of my addict gamer 15 yr old for his year 12 final year at school - sometimes we need to save our loved ones from themselves! Intervention with cultural sensitivity and respect is what is needed. And once the drink is gone - the self determination is much more likely to be a successful path.

 

And SMALL efforts by everyone help. Our school - the premier boys school in the state is giving scholarships to outback indiginous youth with talent - primarily they are on football scholarships, but these boys are getting an A class education at the expense of the school, and they will then be contributing to the community both black and white, and hopefully making changes within thier own communities - the ripple effect.