Australian parliament apologises

[Richard Smith]

What is "Public Apology?"
Many of us within Indigenous Native communities are always glad
to hear apologies. But Public Apology can mean different things
coming from politicians in meshed within a dominant people group.

Public Apologies might be announcements preceding change of policies,
taking responsibilities even though enormous and expensive to fulfill.
So many areas can be addressed and recompensed, even by upholding
existing treaty obligations for starters.
Government supported Language Revitalization itself would do much to
heal our communities from deep wounds from the inside out.
This is what many hope for when we hear     "Public Apology"

On the other extreme P. Apologies can be given as solutions themselves.
It can be a media event for politicians to show their own inner goodness.
"We can't afford to undo our ancestors wrongs but we can say we are sorry."
At this point to mention "concessions" makes the abused appear demanding
or even appear greedy, taking advantage of heartfelt expressions.

Public Apology events invite members representing the abused to stand
with them in front of the cameras...to officially "receive" Apology
Which "expects" something of the abused. A specific humble
and cooperative chosen group of individuals who will "do the right thing"
(A.I.M. members can't be expected to be invited to such an event)
Here the Public Apology comes with expectations and new demands itself.
"We apologized publicly, now you are expected to "be appreciative"
in return. "We were "nice",now the world expects the same in return."

however if there are any senators,congress people, and council members
who wish to meet with us in private to discuss how to better serve our
Native Communities (minus publicity) we'd probably embrace them.

Richard Zane Smith
Wyandotte, Oklahoma


On 2/12/08 9:23 PM, "Aidan Wilson" <aidan at USYD.EDU.AU> wrote:

> Not quite directly related to indigenous languages or technology, as
> such, but just thought the non-Australians on this list might be
> interested to hear that the newly elected Australian government, as
> their first act of Parliament, officially apologised to the members of
> what has become known as the 'stolen generations', the result of racist
> policies that saw many indigenous children indiscriminately taken from
> their communities between about 1910 and 1970. The rough analogue of
> Canada's Indian Residential Schools.
> 
> Full coverage, including the text of the apology, and the subsequent
> speeches made by the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition,
> the opposition that refused to apologise in the 11 years that they
> formed government, is all available at:
> 
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/apology/
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> -Aidan