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Mean, diminished and out of touch: Why won’t Nelson say sorry?
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I am saddened to hear that the new opposition leader, Brendan Nelson, will not say Sorry to Aboriginal people. But I am not surprised. Brendan Nelson represents a party that is out of touch. They just don’t get it. He would do well to talk to former Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, to learn something about genuine liberal values. Nelson’s are the mean-spirited responses of denial that diminish him as a person and diminish Australia as a nation. At the very historical moment when new, courageous collaboration is possible, this new Liberal leader, just like Howard before him, fuels the fires of division. What they fail to grasp, or refuse to see, is that we cannot move forward until the legacies of the past are properly dealt with. This means acknowledging the truth of history, providing justice and allowing the process of healing to occur. We are not just talking here of the brutality of a time gone by – though that was certainly a shameful reality. We are talking of the present, of the ways in which the legacy of the past lives on for every single Aboriginal person and their families. It is time for non-Indigenous Australians to turn their reflective gaze inwards. It is time to look at non-Indigenous privilege – and to ask the question: ‘What was the cost of this advantage – and who paid the price?’ |
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20 Comments
When Nelson inferred that all or most activity around the stolen generation was carried out by “well-intentioned” whites who were trying to help, that really underlined for me why we need to say sorry and quick smart! - sorry-
It is doubly depressing to know that Nelson is persisting with this Howard-era nonsense in order to appease the culture war warriors such as Nick Minchin and so scrape over the line in the leadership contest. The apotheosis of Howard’s moral corruption.
The madness of this drives me insane. It was kidnapping, cultural genocide and was happening until I was 19 years old.
Perhaps that clown Nelson doesn’t understand that it was until 1972 so it is our responsiblitiy.
Eloquent and persuasive, Professor, which is more than I can say for Doctor Nelson.
Germany provides an example of a country able to move on from its damaging past by accepting its responsibility for the holocaust. And they were operating under a completely different parliamentary regime at the time. Why has it been so hard for us?
For JWH: ‘Who’s sorry now! Who’s sorry now! Who’s heart is aching for breaking each vow!’ … :):):)
As I recall, PM Howard, on behalf of Commonwealth Parliament, made a statement expressing sorrow & regret for those who suffered from past practices. So who is hung up on semantics? Symbolism that the left always wins? Why did Lowitja reject her family?
Tony Papafilis…… Certainly could not and would not try to answer your irrelevant question regarding Ms Lowitja. This is her personal business and nothing to do with the subject being discussed here. That is: Why won’t the Liberals say ‘Sorry’ !!!
Could not agree more with Professor O’Donoghue. We are very quick to be proud of the past when it suits us - but when it comes to Indigenous history we whities just don’t get it! I am Australian and I am deeply sorry. One day I hope we all will be.
The apology that the PM needs to give is not a question of ‘generational’ or personal regret. It is a formal apology and acknowledgement of wrong-doing on behalf of the corporate entity, the Australian government, that authorised the taking of children.
Kevin Rudd will apologise on behalf of the government. While it is a shame Neilson does not seem to want to understand the desirability of apologising so we can move on, his views are essentially irrelevant.
tony stop trying to rewrite history howard expressed no sorrow just regret like someone at the funeral of a distant acquaintance but then he has never had any concept of duty
People like Howard and Nelson use the excuse “We were not the people responsible, so why should we say sorry?”
Maybe they want us to stop celebrating Anzac Day?
In the name of decency Australian Government APOLOGIZE NOW - discussion not required. Apology is also called for stupidity of the last decade- where racism racism racism is upheld as honorable in Coalition terms and preferable to fairness and truth.
Lowitja is a bitter relic, a Paul Keating type, a hater whose time has passed. Other aboriginal leaders are more relevant and have useful contributions. Kevin07 and Nelson won’t fall for this bile.
Lowitja is national treasure material - noting Nelson as ‘mean, diminished and out of touch’ - bitter?? ???not really - just fundamental truth. Lowitja is wise.
‘Sorry’ needs to come from all members of parliament. Not just those that happen to be elected at the time. It is not a political issue and should not be treated as one.
Brendon,
Release yourself from ideology. It controls you.
The apology would be from the Govt for enacting these policies, not from ‘the people’ or any particular generation(s). The Govt was responsible and the Govt should apologise, in the same way that Beazley did for Labor’s part in supporting the policy.
When people marched the streets, signed the Sorry books and the writing was in the sky Mr HOWard called us (the general public) THE MOB
That came as a huge shock to many normal people - unlike Brendan
So much for democracy -looked like fascism - so SAD
A crowd demonstrating does not mean government must jump to its demands. Majority not determined by demonstrations. State Parliaments, responsible for Aboriginal welfare, have apologised. Would Lowitja’s life have been better without removal? Unlikely.