Apology to Stolen Generations an eminently sensible idea

I've always supported an apology to the Stolen Generations (the large number of aboriginal Australians who were removed from their families in the 20th century because of racist, not welfare, policies), although it was hard to get enthusiastic about it under Howard: even if he did apologise, it would seem insincere after all his small-minded rhetoric about "practical reconciliation" (as if you can't aim for practical and symbolic reconciliation). Howard seemed sincere in his desire to lift the lot of aboriginal people, but narrow-minded in what that meant and what it would involve.

Kevin Rudd promised an apology if he won the election, although he didn't campaign hard on this point, as it was not popular with everyone. Hearteningly, support for the apology grew (to about 70%) after the fact. Rudd's speech was great enough that it was almost impossible not to see the need for it. My own feelings about the issue were moulded as he spoke. My understanding of the issue grew as he detailed the wrongs that were committed. Like the general population, I felt more sure of the need for the apology after the fact than before it.

As "the day" approached, I was lukewarm. It had become a political issue as politicians and others argued over the wording. I thought: how can something so planned come across as sincere? Thankfully it did. As Australians, we have a lot to be ashamed about regarding the way our indigenous peoples have been treated. Some argue that we personally didn't do it; how can we apologise on behalf of governments that are long out of power. I subscribe to the logic that we can't be proud of past achievements if we're not willing to wear past failures. It's part of the complex reality of life in a colonised land.

Personally, I don't feel terribly guilty that Aborigines were displaced when white man settled (not "invaded", as some would have it) this land. That sort of thing has happened all over the world throughout time. That doesn't make it right, but it's not worth feeling guilty about something that's universal. Besides, and this is the clincher, "we" only displaced the people who were there right there and then. Those people almost certainly displaced others, who displaces others, and so on back for 40000 years. I confess ignorance of Aboriginal history, but you can't convince me that all the indigenous tribes lived in peace and harmony with each other. The white settlers tried to get on well with the Aborigines, and did so for a while, but clashes were inevitable and unfortunately things have only gotten worse over time.

So what do I feel guilty about? That successive Federal governments maintained the policy of forced removal of half-caste children in order to assimilate them into white society so that the Aboriginal race and culture would not expand; indeed (it was hoped and thought) would become extinct. I do not feel guilty about children of any race being removed from their families because they are in danger or malnourished or whatever. And there probably were, and are, many children who were justifiably removed for these reasons, blacks more so than whites. But it is unspeakably disgusting to effect such removals for the purpose of passive genocide. That wrong can never be righted, but so much stood to be gained from an apology in Parliament that it beggars belief that anyone could oppose it except through incredible ignorance or an utter lack of sympathy.

The apology took place a while ago, but I've not commented until now because I wanted to let life go on for a while and look back at it. The event itself was soured somewhat by the opposition leader's response. He supported the apology but wasn't convincing, and clouded it with reference to modern aboriginal problems. This was insensitive, irrelevant and inappropriate. Would he make a speech including references to Japanese war crimes (or even whaling) when welcoming a Japanese dignitary to Australia? Anyway, with the passage of time, that blight has faded, and I think the main thing is that the Prime Minister's apology was eloquent, sincere, unequivocal, and endorsed by nearly everyone in the house.

The apology has long ceased to be a news item. In truth, it was only really the big deal that it was because it took so long. It was recommended in 1996 by the Bringing Them Home report, which detailed for the first time the reality of the Stolen Generations, but this was just a bit too late for Keating, who would have made an excellent speech. Howard had replaced him as PM, and the rest is history.