What a great day for Australia - finally. Saying sorry, acknowledging wrong doings and hurt - for a government to do this, is the path less traveled. Good-onya Kevin Rudd, you made me proud to be an Australian living overseas.
I watched the video clip and found myself getting emotional, knowing how long indigenous Australians have waited for this. I can only imagine their pain from losing their families and their frustration with the previous government who refused an apology (among other things).
Kevin Rudd has shown guts. It takes guts to admit mistakes. To not justify the wrong doing with words like "oh, but we were just trying to help", or (even worse), "well we didn't do it, so it's not our fault and we don't need to apologise" - takes guts. People everywhere, governments all over cover up, justify or just don't acknowledge when mistakes are made and people suffer for it. Innocent parties get blamed, hurt and ignored when the powers that be reduce the "cognitive dissonance" by justifying mistakes. Reminds me of a book I've read "mistakes were made, but not by me" about what lengths people will go to, to avoid taking responsibility for their mistakes.
Well Done Kev.
2 comments:
woo hoo, i say.
and yee-haw.
but seriously, it has been a moving day. and despite some pooh-poohers, the shine remains.
there is serious work to be done, and it will be hard as kevin said. but so often the right thing to do, is the hardest thing to do.
hope little girl is feeling better.
I agree, the right thing is never the easiest thing to do. Little girl will be feeling better in a day or two.
Cheers
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