Sorry Day

[alias_sqbr]

So what do people think of the apology? It seems all right for politician speak to me, though the phrase "mutual responsibility" reminds me a little too much of Centrelink and all it's badness. Anyway, about time.

I got given a little purple flower from work reception to wear as I went out to lunch, it's quite pretty. Though they got the url wrong on the back (they forgot the ".au"), someone's getting in trouble for that :)

Comments

[distantcam.livejournal.com]

My first thought was it's "nice". It covered most of the bases, and said the key word that everyone focused on (sorry) several times. It also managed to say sorry without committing or promising anything.

My only other thought is that I really don't understand why the Liberals were getting so worked up over this. Given the apology didn't say much they'd rather loose the election then say the little that was said. They could've left out the last part if they wanted.

Now we get to see what sort of spin is applied...

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

Needless to say, I approve of the apology. It's just and necessary and has been a long time coming. My view on the subject of financial compensation is still open-minded, as I've yet to hear the argument that would fix me as either for or against -- but I think there is something to be said for the idea that victims of the Stolen Generation policy should be entitled to whatever material compensation anyone normally would be entitled to under the law in that sort of instance of malfeasance by the state.

I agree that the code word "mutual" always evokes a suspicious feeling, having been the trojan horse for such successful programmes as work-for-the-dole and so on, but I think in this case it's acceptable: in some way it reemphasises that the process of reconciliation cannot just be a bunch of white guys deciding how to fix things yet another time. Unfortunately, with Aboriginals practically unrepresented in the Parliament it's not clear how their culture will be able to take an equal place in the "partnership" that forms the forthcoming policies designed to close the demographic gaps cited by Rudd in his speech.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, yes, "mutual" doesn't necessarily mean anything bad, it just has unfortunate connotations.

[out-fox.livejournal.com]

+For the fact that it was satisfying for some members of the Stolen Generations who've been wanting to hear it - it was awesome.

+ Overall wording was better than i expected, because it referenced a few recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report and "close the gap". As far as speech writing goes generally it was also suitably eloquent for such an emotional occasion.

-Yes, what is a centrelink term like "mutual obligation" doing in there?? My 1st thought was that's out there rude from states that haven't repaid the Stolen Wages and remain unlikely too.

- Kev's tight control of the whole thing and the public hoopla as though he was the architect of it all feels off. It didn't prevent certain Liberal opponents being asshats, which is the main rationale I've heard for it. It did, however, undermine it's potential to be an unreserved celebration for some Indigenous people who remember that type of non-consultation /insecurity about political intentions for their futures as one of the demeaning aspects of the SG years.

+when I saw Dr. Jackie Huggins on the 7.30 report smiling and saying she hadn't expected it in this lifetime, that was awesome. She's not a SG member but I can't remember a time when she wasn't leading reconcilliation efforts here in QLD. It's awesome that people who've been working for this since before we were born can have this as their retirement accomplishment.

[alias_sqbr]

So, overall "+" then? :)

But yes, while you can't expect a politician like Kevin Rudd not to take this as an opportunity to talk himself up it was still a bit blah.

[out-fox.livejournal.com]

Oh definitely overall a +. I mean, people have been waiting decades for this, how could it not be?