Where was the protest over the Forgotten Generation Apology?
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This week in New Matilda, Jeff Sparrow asked a simple but very good question: why was there no protest over the Apology to the Forgotten Generation, as there was over last year’s Apology to the Stolen Generation? Where were the right-wingers to challenge the Apology? Where was the scepticism over the numbers of children involved, the stout defence of the good intentions of those running institutions, the claim, for all the abuse, that many children had benefited from their experience? Where was the concern about “opening the floodgates” to compensation? Instead, this week’s Apology passed, rightly, with strong support from all sides. Malcolm Turnbull, who gave an excellent, heartfelt speech, was praised for it in his partyroom, even praised for being willing to talk about “love”. There were no walkouts by angry conservatives. It would be shameful if race was the determining issue, if apologising to indigenous people was somehow more objectionable to some than apologising to white Australians. It is, however, hard to think of any other explanation. Possibly ideological obstinacy played a part in the Stolen Generations debate, a refusal on the part of right-wingers to admit that their opponents might ever be right about anything. In contrast, the Forgotten Generations issue has been a resolutely non-ideological matter. And let us not forget that even diehard conservatives like Nick Minchin and Eric Abetz gave graceful, even moving speeches of support last year as part of the Stolen Generations Apology. Yet the horrible suspicion remains: for some politicians and commentators, abused black kids aren’t as deserving as abused white kids. |
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18 Comments
This is a really superficial analysis and a cynical attempt to drum up accusations of racism where none are appropriate. There was a disproportionate lack of fanfair over the apology to the forgotten generation on both sides of the political divide, during both its execution and the lead up to the event itself. It’s simply not an issue that sparked the public imagination in the same way as did last years stolen generation apology, and if any point can be made of that it is that the community cares LESS about the abuses of the forgotten generation than those of the stolen generation, and not more. Added to this is the fact that since the former of the two apologies occurred, this sort of thing has become somewhat normalised. Thus, no backlash, even from those who might have kicked up a fuss in the past.
As for the specific concerns you raised about the numbers of children and the ‘good intentions’ of those involved, those things weren’t mentioned because they have no baring on this issue. Ambiguity doesn’t exist, to the best of my knowledge, over the numbers in this instance, whereas it does in the case of the stolen generation. Furthermore, understanding that those who acted to take Aboriginal children from their families did so with ‘good intentions’ is profoundly important if we are to make sense of the tragedy, and so avoid repeating it or anything like it.
Cynical, cheap, agenda driven and exploitative reporting.
Jeff was tilting at windows again.
Everyone knows the Stolen Generations is a TOTAL MYTH.
There is ample evidence of the “Forgotten Generation”
“…abused black kids aren’t as deserving as abused white kids…”
Particularly when they are being abused by black adults.
The white kids of the “Forgotten Generation” were abused by anyone and everyone.
You are clearly incapable of seeing the difference.
@Mama - by definition, I’m part of Everyone yet I don’t know that the Stolen generations are a Total Myth. Though perhaps you’re referring to the definition of Myth that states “…a myth is usually regarded as a true account of the remote past.”
“…a myth is usually regarded as a true account of the remote past…”
Like the Dreaming and the Rainbow Serpent that lives in the rock.
Or the Loch Ness monster.
Or Medusa.
“Everyone knows the Stolen Generations is a TOTAL MYTH.”
Hey MPM. Let’s skip the bit where I demand evidence and you neglect to provide any (because you’re lying) and just go straight to you not posting comments anymore.
“Jeff was tilting at windows again.”
Don’t you mean WindMILLS, most peculiar?
I’m all for free speech, but MPM, please, enough with your cr_p. Next you’ll be telling us the holocaust didn’t happen either, or the bombing of hiroshima, or the mooon landing.
Perhaps it was the fact that people felt they did not want to apologise for actions that took place when they weren’t even alive (although someone correct me because I am not terribly informed about the stolen generations, it may have continued until reasonably recently for all I know) - whereas the forgotten generations took place in many of today’s adults’ lifetimes. There’s a differing sense of personal and collective responsibility depending on when you were actually alive when the events took place - my problem with the stolen generations apology was largely due to the fact that I felt we were being forced to admit guilt for actions we would never have condoned ourselves, but that’s just my opinion…
Can’t we just ignore him and concentrate on the article?
Just for the record, not only was the Stolen Generation not a myth, it continues to this day. According to the National Child Protection Clearinghouse: Australian Institute of Family Studies, Feb 2009.
In 2007-08, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children comprised 4.4% of Australian children, and 23% of all confirmed reports of abuse or neglect. This means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were more than 6 times more likely than other children to be the subject of a confirmed report of abuse or neglect than non-Indigenous children.
AND
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were 8.9 times more likely than other children to be placed in care (AIHW, 2009).
If we are not to, as Nicole said, ‘condone’ … this disgraceful over representation of indigenous children in the child welfare system - we owe it to ourselves, and to all children and families, to educate ourselves and advocate for change.
Akafonia,
Those statistics could suggest, as you say they do, that the Stolen Generation continues, or they could show that there is a problem of abuse and neglect in Aboriginal communities. Bringing the figures down is not a good outcome if we do it by perpetuating abuse and neglect.
I’d have to hijack this thread to fully discuss this issue. Suffice it to say, anyone who is interested could quickly learn enough to know that current trends and statistics are very worrisome. Allowing figures to stay up, whilst we blame the disparity of indigenous children in the child welfare system (and justice system and health system and and and) based on their ethnicity, is called racism.
I’d suggest some background reading at AIFS or SNAICC websites, for people who really want to learn.
Yes, thats an interesting point, that we seem to gladly accept the concept of institutionalised abuse for white people but not for black. There seems to be many who hold the view that the stolen generation didn’t exist, or that it was for their best interest. But surely the only people who really know if this is true or not are the ones who were stolen. So what do they say?
May I suggest a ‘jumping off/in” read over at SNAICC re: Combined Voices http://www.snaicc.asn.au/news/view_article.cfm?id=159&loadref=8
The Apology to the Stolen Generations was an apology to _Aboriginal_ Australians. That’s why it was offensive to the right wing. Racists the lot of them.
There is no other reason. Since coming to this country I have been absolutely stunned by the level of racism that is simply taken for granted in this country.
Georged,
“Since coming to this country I have been absolutely stunned by the level of racism that is simply taken for granted in this country.”
Racism is certainly a problem in Australia. No doubt about it. One need only draw attention to the wilful ignorance and fear over boat people to make the case efficiently.
However, if I can get a little preachy here, I would warn you against the kinds of generalisations you make in your post. To characterise all right-wingers as racist is reactionary and untrue. It’s just more of the same ‘us and them’ prejudice and it misses the point entirely.
To fall into the trap of labelling and hating others based on their affiliations is to become what you claim to oppose.
I myself had some reservations about the stolen generation apology, none of which had anything to do with race I can assure you.
I think this is a good article, timely and true in its comparisons between the different responses shown to the Stolen Generations and the Forgotten Generations.
The people who would deny such events took place do not help any of us to live in peace and goodwill.
Maybe because the carers failed the Forgotten Generation whist most carers of the Stolen Generation fulfilled their duties honourably?