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Australia says sorry
by John Bond, United Kingdom14 February 2008
 The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, stood up in the Parliament this week, and said the word ‘sorry’. He was speaking on behalf of the Parliament to the ‘stolen generations’ – the Aboriginal people removed from their families as children with the aim of assimilating them into Australia’s mainstream Western culture. ‘We apologize for the hurt, the pain and suffering that we have caused you by the laws that previous parliaments have enacted,’ he said.
Eleven years ago, when a national inquiry brought to light the tragic impact of the removal policies, the then Prime Minister refused to apologize. Many Australians disagreed, and a community apology attracted a million signatures. Since then this has been a running sore in Australia’s national life. So when a new Government was elected, and the new Prime Minister announced that he would apologize, the pent-up feelings ensured that this received nation-wide attention. The Opposition gradually sensed the national mood and changed its stance, agreeing to support the apology.
Across the country, Australians gathered in hundreds and thousands to watch the speech on outdoor video screens. Australian are not given to public emotion on matters other than sport. But the cheers which greeted Mr Rudd’s apology showed how deeply many feel about this issue.
The apology was expressed in more than words. Rudd stated as aims of his Government a transformation in the health conditions of Aboriginal Australians within a decade, and vastly improved educational opportunities – a programme that will demand massive resources. He invited the Leader of the Opposition to join him in leading a commission to overcome the desperate shortage of housing in Aboriginal Australia. His invitation was immediately accepted.
The response of the stolen generations has been heartfelt. The media has been full of articles in which they express their relief that, at last, their Government understands the pain they have endured. ‘Now I feel I can forgive,’ said one to me.
‘I am inspired by this apology,’ writes well-known Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson. ‘It allows us to move forward with honesty, an acceptance of shame about parts of our history, and with courage, pride, maturity and hope. It may just see us addressing the unfinished business of reconciliation, demonstrated in stark terms by the 17-year life expectancy gap between our children.’
This presents all Australians with a challenge. The task of transforming the living conditions of Aboriginal Australia is far beyond the ability of Government alone. It will take the skills and commitment of tens of thousands of people – health professionals, builders, teachers and many more.
The skills are there. And with strong Government leadership, I believe the commitment will be there. There is now a real hope that Australia’s greatest shame – the degradation of the original people of this continent – will be brought to an end, and that Aboriginal people will be enabled to make their full, unique contribution to our national life.
For background stories on the process leading up to this national apology click here and here and here
For stories of members of the Stolen Generations, read about Val Lindow and Avis Gale
See also People Building Peace, a project of the European Centre for Conflict Prevention
To learn more about the background see Chapter 3 of Forgiveness: Breaking the Chain of Hate
John Bond has worked with Initiatives of Change on several continents. In the past decade he has given leadership in nation-wide community initiatives aimed at healing the harm done by tragically misguided policies towards Aboriginal Australians. In 2007 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community through the activities of the National Sorry Day Committee. In 2008 he married Mary Lean and moved to Britain.
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Thankyou for this fine summing up of the Prime Minister's apology to the Stolen Generations. Sir William Deane, a former Governor General of Australia, said that through this step we've reached a spiritual basis to go ahead. The singer Archie Roach said it means a spiritual healing. These thoughts give promise for the future.
Lindsay Cartwright, 15 February 2008
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As a latin I am qite given to public emotions; but this time it is too much to be able to show them.How wonderful! I congratulate you, your government, the aboriginal people of Ausrtalia, all Australians, and the wholw world. Iam so grateful; there is really hope for the world.
Dear John you have been an inspiration to me since I first met you in Caux, and your work has shown me that there is SO MUCH to be done in this sense in my country Colombia.
Continue showing us the way. Cout on my prayers and friendship.
Helena von Arnim. Colombia.
Helena von Arnim, 15 February 2008
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Many thanks, John, for this commentary, and also for all that you and your friends did to help bring this about. As you say, there's much to be done. But it is rare, and really inspiring, to see a clear, public change of heart at national level. Advance, Australia. (At least until the next cricket match!)
Chris Evans, UK
Chris Evans, 17 February 2008
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I have rarely been so moved as I was reading the text of Rudd's apology. It is surely a blueprint for other nations, other situations, other organisations, wherever there is "unfinished business". I recommend everyone to read the full text, available at www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/12/1202760291188.html
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Very inspiring and a wonderful example to us your South Pacific neighbours .Vinaka John.
Ana Vesikula, 22 February 2008
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At last !
Very happy to see it on TV. Thanks John, and Co.
Note : Your PM Kevin Rudd is much appreciated by the Chinese here in China (and he speaks Chinese).
Hélène Blondel
Hélène Blondel, 23 February 2008
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Great work John! This is a monumental step for the Aboriginals of Australia and this apology now sets the stage for other Governments to acknowledge that indeed past injustices have been done to Indigenous peoples. Once the validation/apology is done then the real healing in our communities can begin.
Freida Gladue
Cree/Saulteaux (First Nations)
Canada
Freida Gladue, 25 February 2008
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Dear John,
Our Initiatives of Change team in South Africa met last weekend and we talked about this amazingly humble and full apology by Mr Rudd. Over the years the Australian participation at the Caux conference centre in Switzerland with people from the stolen generations, those who apologised and various members of the Aborigine communities who told there stories there, always made an immense impact. I was often moved to tears when hearing some of the stories and touched by the forgiveness and greatness of spirit in the people who told their stories.
Our newspapers have given full coverage of the speech, with photos and commentaries. Although we had the Trust and Reconciliation Commission here, which did a lot to heal some of the hurst of the past in SA, we can only wish that our past leaders had given such a heartfelt apology at the time to those who had suffered under the apartheid policies.
Vilma Maritz, 26 February 2008
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