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

[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.