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 »  Home  »  Učimo od drugih - We learn from others  »  Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Apologizes to Aboriginals
 »  Home  »  History  »  Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Apologizes to Aboriginals
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Apologizes to Aboriginals
By Violi Calvert | Published  02/15/2008 | Učimo od drugih - We learn from others , History | Unrated
Historical moment in human consciousness. Učimo od drugih - We learn from others

Dateline: 13 February 2008 Sydney, Australia

 

Australia's Prime Minister Says "We Are Sorry"

 

By Violi Calvert


 

                                         Photo collage from Sydney Morning Herald

 
 

 
Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd
Today will be remembered as one of the significant chapters in Australian history.  Australia's new Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, formally said "Sorry" to the Stolen Generation and all the Indigenous people of Australia.  This is a big step in achieving Reconciliation between the Aboriginal people and the rest of the Australian nation.

 

Australians gathered in Canberra, around the country and overseas to be part and witnesses of this historic event.  Not even the rain kept people from live spots where giant screens showed Mr Rudd read out the much awaited apology.There were happy tears and hugs shared by people in the various crowd gathering.

 

With this formal apology, the current Federal Parliament sought to heal the pain suffered by Aboriginal families whose children were forcibly taken from them and the ill-treatment by the Indigenous people as a result of state-sanctioned policies.

 

Let me share with you excerpts from Mr Rudd's speech:

 

Today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.  We reflect on their past mistreatment.  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.

 

...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 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 today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.  A future where the Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again...

 

I am sharing this with CROWN readers in the hope that we, as citizens of the world, learn from each other’s mistakes, and that collectively and individually we do our bit in preventing social injustice and promoting world peace.

 

[Full text of Mr Rudd's speech can be found on:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-time-has-come--for-all-australians

-to-together-build-a-truly-great-nation/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html]

 

Formatted for CROWN by   Marko Puljić
Distributed by
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Comments
  • Comment #1 (Posted by Joey Villena)

    It is an excellent piece. A most welcomed change to the war in Iraq the American major news media seemed too preoccupied with.
     
  • Comment #2 (Posted by Milali Frias)

    Well done Ms. Calvert. This article is short, direct and sweet. The author has a great feel for aborigines and the impact that the apology has on the nation and eventually the citizens of the world. There is a lot to learn from this act by the PM of Australia and the people of his country. We as citizens of the world need to be more sensitive to each other and learn how to treat one another with great respect. Ms. Calvert is to be commended for taking the time to share her thoughts on the matter.
     
  • Comment #3 (Posted by Rhea Donna Gonzales)

    This is a very good article emphasizing the new hope that we have for equality and social justice. Australia as a great nation could set an example to the rest of the world in giving fair treatment to people no matter what color of their skin is or what group they came from. Thank you for this.
     
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