The day the nation apologised
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Today the Australian Government officially said sorry to the Aboriginal community for the stolen generation debacle. If this helps the reconciliation process, then I’m all for it. However as an Australian citizen who wasn’t even alive when it all happened, I’m still not convinced this necessarily the way to go. I see the apology more as a token gesture that realistically doesn’t change anything today.
I recently enjoyed a trip to the Carnarvon Gorge National Park where I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with a gentleman named Fred. Fred is an Aboriginal Elder who was believes his people should be teaching the white man about their traditions instead of keeping them private. The theory being that they will be forgotten a lot sooner if they aren’t shown to others.
In one of my many conversations with Fred, he said that he didn’t think Australia should be apologising either. He insisted that it wasn’t part of the history of his people, but the history of our people. If someone who was directly affected when it actually happened thinks that way, they who am I to argue?
Fred, in the Art Gallery inside Carnarvon Gorge, translating the drawings for the tourists. Fred encouraged photos and questions as a way to educate people about the history of the Australian people.
