Comments on: Mean, diminished and out of touch: Why won’t Nelson say sorry?

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Tony Papafilis

Tony Papafilis — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: michele

michele — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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-

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Lowitja is national treasure material - noting Nelson as ‘mean, diminished and out of touch’ - bitter?? ???not really - just fundamental truth. Lowitja is wise.

By: Libby

Libby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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’ !!!

By: asaf

asaf — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

‘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.

By: deb

deb — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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

By: devi

devi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Tony Papafilis

Tony Papafilis — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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?

By: ange

ange — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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?

By: Libby

Libby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

For JWH: ‘Who’s sorry now! Who’s sorry now! Who’s heart is aching for breaking each vow!’ … :):)

By: Perry Gretton

Perry Gretton — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Eloquent and persuasive, Professor, which is more than I can say for Doctor Nelson.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: dermot mcguire

dermot mcguire — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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

By: Judith Dwyer

Judith Dwyer — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: AM Flynn

AM Flynn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: David Sanderson

David Sanderson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

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?