The "Sorry" Australia Had To Have

On Wednesday, the 13th of February 2008, Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia, formally apologised, to the Indigenous communities of Australia, by saying �Sorry’, to the �Stolen Generations’.

You may ask:

Who were, these stolen generations?

What was done to them, that made it, so necessary, to say sorry?

Why were these things done?

And finally, why is “Sorry”, such an important word, that “we had to have”?

The term �stolen generations’, refers to Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander children, who were forcibly removed, from their families and communities, by government, church, or welfare authorities. As proof of neglect, was not always required, to remove indigenous children, not just 10’s or even 100’s, but thousands of children, were taken and placed, into institutional care, or with non-Indigenous, foster families. More shockingly, this forced removal, was undertaken by our government, as far back as the mid 1800’s, and continued, right through to the 1970’s. As a result, nearly every, aboriginal, family group in Australia, has been affected. The removal of indigenous children, left many feeling ostracized, and disconnected, from their family, traditional land, culture and language. Thus creating, a ripple effect, as it had life-long, and profoundly disabling consequences, for those taken, and for the indigenous community, as a whole.

I feel, it is important to understand, that the вЂ?stolen generations’ refer to those children, who were removed, on the basis, of their race alone, thus implying a racist policy, was set in motion. In a report, published in the Brisbane Telegraph, in May 1937, Mr. Neville, the Chief Protector of Western Australia, held the view, that pure blacks, were being eradicated, to the point of extinction, by absorbing the half-castes, into the white population. Furthermore, he stated, that the race, would die out, even if it took, one hundred years, or more. In addition, following an investigation, into the separation, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, from their families, a Government Inquiries report, вЂ?Bringing Them Home’, was written. When releasing this report, on the 26 May 1997, High Court Judge, Sir Ronald Wilson, told an audience in Canberra, that, “Children were removed, because the Aboriginal race, was seen as an embarrassment, to white Australia”.

It is, not good enough, to comfort ourselves, as many have, by saying, that such removals, offered children, a better life. This is based on, an arrogant assumption, that white culture, would automatically, be better, than that of, indigenous Australians. How would you feel, if this had been you? вЂ" A young child, filled with the fear, of being snatched, forced to hide, and eventually, being chased, and thrown into a car? This is outrageous! What gave us, the right to treat, our fellow human beings, in this demeaning, and atrocious manner?