Kevin Rudd offered a broad apology to all aborigines and the Stolen Generations for their "profound grief, suffering and loss" in a carefully worded statement that was greeted by a standing ovation.
Australian Aborigines make up 2% of the population and are the most disadvantaged group.They have higher rates of infant mortality, drug abuse, alcoholism and unemployment than the rest of the population.I think the apology is the right thing to do, but personally don't understand why it was debated for so long
SPEECH
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians," the apology read.
"We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
"To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
"And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."
"We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
"To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
"And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."

1 comment:
Natasha, What happened with "Big Thinking" the idea of the Blog is to make it personal and say something smart about a topic, not just to cut and paste someone else´s speech.......
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