tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post5930328373458300897..comments2024-03-29T21:11:37.724+10:00Comments on down to earth: The apologyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-1252555030165755142008-02-16T14:32:00.000+10:002008-02-16T14:32:00.000+10:00Rhonda, we watched the apology with all the infant...Rhonda, we watched the apology with all the infants dept at T's school on Wednesday morning. I got the sense that many of the kids had no background to the "event" and were a bit bored. A parent at pre-school later on asked me in a conspiratorial whisper what I thought of the children being "forced" to watch it. I may have offended her with my answer that I was thrilled they were taking part in something so important, to which she clearly didn't agree! An indication that Tom understood the significance of the apology came in the early hours of the following morning when he awoke from a nightmare - he was being taken away by a man with a whip in his dream. He had absorbed some of the message and the pain too of those terrible years. Lisa xThe Tin Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422547957232680227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71943986046625947532008-02-15T03:10:00.000+10:002008-02-15T03:10:00.000+10:00Wow, that was really affecting. I wish the US woul...Wow, that was really affecting. I wish the US would start apologizing, starting with the Native Americans, and going on from there. Sadly, we have so much to apologize for, it might take forever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-49177746177026560912008-02-15T02:52:00.000+10:002008-02-15T02:52:00.000+10:00Darlene, I think the point of yesterday is that su...Darlene, I think the point of yesterday is that successive government's policies of systematically fragmenting families by removing children has completely disrupted the normal functioning of a great number of those families, and that the resulting dysfunction continues today across generations in many communities and they have become stuck, with inadequate shelter, chronic sickness, and the constant threat of unchecked violence.<BR/><BR/>I wonder how many of our families and communities would be able to continue to function in a healthy way if some authority came and arbitrarily bundled a large proportion of our tiny children into trucks and took them away, never to be seen again. The anger and sadness would be huge. It would break your heart.<BR/><BR/>Saying sorry, and committing to long term bipartisan action to ensure that all indiginous communities have at least the basic housing, education, health and policing services that urban white australians take for granted as their civic right in this day and age is a start to restoring respect for these neglected citizens of our country, who have been very shabbily treated. I don't think anyone wants to white-wash anyone. <BR/> <BR/>With careful and thoughtful and respectful implementation, those civic structures may provide an environment that is safe enough and predictable enough for normal family and community structures to rebuild and flourish once again.<BR/>Making education of the newest generation from early childhood a priority will hopefully ensure that these children will be equipped to withstand any similar assaults and exploitation in the future and to shape their own destiny.<BR/>I feel great hope, and great pride that we can still rise up and try to do better in this great country of ours, and that we finally have someone who seems capable of leading us towards finding the golden threads again, as Paul Keating said, bless him. Big Ideas. Big inclusive aspirations. Go Kev.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18050809146028696172008-02-14T16:56:00.000+10:002008-02-14T16:56:00.000+10:00I was in Australia on holiday back in the late 80s...I was in Australia on holiday back in the late 80s and was Brisbane shopping this day with my family. We saw an aboriginal women shopping and two police officers came up and asked her what she was doing in the city and she told them that she was doing some shopping and they told her to get out of the city.My family and myself were gob smacked to think that they could treat someone like that. We still talk about to this day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-73977614112713275772008-02-14T16:22:00.000+10:002008-02-14T16:22:00.000+10:00I just wanted to add one other little detail for D...I just wanted to add one other little detail for Darlene's benefit. Four year olds (turning 5yo) in Australia go to Pre-school for about 10-10.5 hours a week. And no, boarding school is rare. We have School of the Air for very remote areas, and distance education available in each State. I think the intention here is that if they start at the bottom, the education will flow through with that generation of children. Not that Aboriginal children will be white-washed.<BR/><BR/>Anyone who has lived in Arnhem Land or any other area where a lot of Aboriginal people reside will know that you can't impose a modern, western system on them and expect it to work. These people have a very strong identity, history and culture. I really hope that between their Elders and the Governments involved that an education system and housing needs will be suitable for their way of life. Something that will enable them to be part of any community they choose, but something that does not force them to be want they do not want to be.Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511855282323456046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-6012703445697301002008-02-14T08:04:00.000+10:002008-02-14T08:04:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda Jean,I,m glad you had a good day yesterd...Hi Rhonda Jean,<BR/><BR/>I,m glad you had a good day yesterday at the centre. I too missed the prime ministers speech Thanks for the transcript. I hope it is a case of actions speaking louder than words but it will be hard. Housing developments have happened before. It's hard enough to get doctors in any rural community, let alone remote ones. I also hope that education also can include region and culture specific content. I don't think darlene should worry that children will be sent away, though. They'd be booted out of office if they did that again, by me at the very least! I would like to assume that these new initiatives will be in concert with indigenous people.<BR/><BR/>There are the occasional things one sees about really great initiatives in regional areas, art studios, textile businesses, cultural community groups and various other things that mean real tangible benefits to the people and communities. The Wurrundjeri people in my area have a college for aboriginal children run by their elders teaching their culture and languages. So, good things can definitely be achieved, whether by outsiders or from within indigenous communities. <BR/><BR/>An apology is a sign of respect and I hope the greatest flow on effect is the change in attitude, as a nation and on an individual basis, where respect for others is the bed rock of actions.<BR/><BR/>Blessings, MarilynAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-80711244803923939182008-02-14T07:58:00.000+10:002008-02-14T07:58:00.000+10:00Darlene, your impression of education in Australia...Darlene, your impression of education in Australia is wrong. The vast majority of children here don't go to boarding schools. My sons went to boarding school in high school as we were in a remote town, but most children go to local schools. It has never been said that children will be taken away from their families to go to boarding school. That would just be repeating the mistake we're apologising for now. It wouldn't happen.<BR/><BR/>My impression of what will happen now is that the indiginous communities will be well and truly involved in the outcomes. I believe more local schools will be built. I don't know how your country has dealt with your first nation people so I can't comment. Here, the aboriginals weren't asked in the past, now they will be consulted. We are well past the idea that what is good for white Australians is good for everyone. We have learned from our mistakes. <BR/><BR/>I doubt there will be 'leaders' chosen to speak on behalf of all. That is doomed to failure and I'm sure the politicians here know that. I would expect each local community council to say what they wanted in their own community.<BR/><BR/>Many aborigonal groups are now teaching bush skills to their chidlren and I imagine that will be incorporated into the schooling. I doubt it will involve white Australia passing on our education program. I think they'll use that as a start, add important elements and take some bits out.<BR/><BR/>This is about improving health and employment as well as education. It's for all aboriginees, not just the children. Kevin Rudd has set the bar high on this one. He can't afford to fail on this. I am optimistic that we'll see real improvementsRhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12835828036018117312008-02-14T07:29:00.000+10:002008-02-14T07:29:00.000+10:00For what it's worth, Darlene, I agree with you in ...For what it's worth, Darlene, I agree with you in part. It all depends on how they go about doing it all. I'm waiting to see what, if anything, actually happens and how they do it. The apology part was nice though. Brought a tear to my cynical eyes.<BR/><BR/>Regards, Kate (Brisbane)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-38878313217727806812008-02-14T07:09:00.000+10:002008-02-14T07:09:00.000+10:00Ok, as a homeschooling parent, this would scare me...Ok, as a homeschooling parent, this would scare me. Why do 4 year olds "need" to be in school? They need to be taught by parents that care about them and are their mentors.<BR/><BR/>And if my impression of education in Australia is correct, don't a lot of children go to boarding schools? And don't a large portion of 1st People still live in communities that are a little more remote. So aren't they still talking about sending children away to a boarding school, away from their families all in the name of "education"? Have they run this past the First People? Is this what THEY want?<BR/>Yes education is VERY important, but "education to improve the lot of the savages" was the very way Native Americans were stolen from their families and sent away to boarding schools. <BR/><BR/>The whole idea of "starting with the young" is how you strip a people of their identity. To me, this just looks like white-wash. I will admit to being totally ignorant of most Australian history, however, I've heard it parallels what happened with the Native peoples here. If so, and I were an Aboriginal, I'd be VERY worried about the proposed legislation to accomplish the promised ends. <BR/><BR/>Unless you have "elders" that are respected by the people the whites are "trying to help" involved, nothing good can come of this. If the "elders" that are being worked with are those who have been "civilized" and assimilated into white society, then they probably won't have a lot of influence with the "bush" people.<BR/><BR/>We saw that here with the Native Americans. Washington would chose "leaders" that weren't recognized by the people they were supposed to be leading. The people wouldn't follow them. Treaties were made with "leaders" for things that they didn't have the right to make a treaty with and that other tribes didn't agree with. And it caused problems for all concerned.<BR/>In several instances, land was "sold" to the whites. Well the land didn't belong to the tribes that "sold" it. (The Native Americans didn't usually "own" land, they used it, rather like a game preserve today.) The local tribes that did use it then killed the settlers that moved into the land. There was war and the Natives were killed or put on reservations.<BR/><BR/>The apology part is good, the rest of it I question. Of course it's not my country, so it doesn't matter what I think. lol I guess I see this from another, oddball, perspective. (Can you tell we're studying American History, and yes, some of my ancestors were directly a part of why we don't sing "God Save the Queen"; though she is a lovely person. The rest of my ancestors just got off the boat 2 generations ago. g ) <BR/>I will now go back to lurk mode and keep the rest of my rebel thought to myself. g<BR/><BR/>I hope everything works out for the Aboriginals in a manner that is agreeable to them.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414690312305496399noreply@blogger.com