I don't know that Kevin Rudd (the Australian Prime Minister) reads this blog. He is a friend of mine on Facebook, so I assume he pops over every now and then.
At any rate, Mr Rudd is preparing to say sorry to Australia's indigenous population for past wrongs. The date set is 13 February. I assume you only get one shot at this kind of thing (the idea of subsequent governments putting forward their own particular sorries would just get tacky), and so we need to do it right, right?
So my suggestion: get the Governor General to say sorry. He is the head of government in Australia, and he holds a position that is above party politics. Whatever you think about the virtues or otherwise of the current government, surely addressing this part of our history is bigger than who won the last election. I can only think that an apology coming from the GG would better speak for the nation, and it would allow the apology to loose itself from any particular party.
Just at thought....
About Me
- Rory Shiner
- Formerly of Frankly, Mr Shankly, I have now started this new blog as a way of thinking-out-loud as I write a comparative thesis on Karl Barth and N. T. Wright. I am currently a lay pastoral assistant at St Matthew's church Shenton Park, Western Australia.
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10 comments:
I must admit I'm really not into the apologizing for past generations sins. I've got plenty of my own...
Jason, have you read this short paper from the Sydney Diocese Social Issues Executive? I found it very helpful on this topic.
a pastor who likes Joy Division and the Smiths! I love it!
and while i am at it I suppose I could not avoid the content of this post. Not being Australian my knowledge of what i think this issue is about comes to me from the film "Rabbit Fence" (I believe). we have a very similar issues in the States with Native Americans. The Sioux tribes have just declared themselves a separate nation and started issuing their own passports. Had we been able to apologize as a nation, as you suggest, perhaps this kind of thing would not occur and the alarming alcholism and drop out rate among these beautiful people who are at the heart of our nation would not be what it is.
Rory. Thanks for this post. I think I like your suggestion re the GG.
Has anyone suggested that every citizen gets a "Sorry Tax", and that money is distributed to the victims. That way, the "Sorry" would not be as hollow, and shared by we who share in the blame.
(I do wonder how popular it would be if they did that...)
Justin: Mr Rudd seems to be bending over backwards to avoid exactly that implication (that this is an admission of any guilt on the part of the present generation, or indeed on the part of anyone but the government). The Howard legacy seems to be that we think it worse to accidentally apologise for something we didn't do than to fail to apologise for what we did do. Innocent until proven guilty - important in court, but not a particularly healthy way to conduct relationships!
I think the idea is that the Parliament apologises because it was Parliament that made the laws pertaining to the forced removal of children. The GG, although the one signing the laws, does not make them.
Great suggestion, Rory. In my social & cultural anthropology class today (in Berkeley, California), my professor took the liberty of praising the new liberal government of Australia for saying sorry, after getting rid of the conservative government. Seems like it somehow allows liberals to claim the 'moral high ground,' even all the way over on this side of the world.
The conservatives had their chance - 10 years of chance - and by refusing to act, created even more political capital for the new government. They left the high ground vacant, whilst simultaneously building it even higher for whomever had the guts to do it.
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