Stolen Generation

Sometime being in a country so culturally similar to my own I just let cultural differences run over me like water. I have witnessed a few acts of history both big and small since coming to this part of the world. Before we left for NZ a new Prime Minister was elected in Australia. Kevin Rudd is his name and he seemed very popular amongst people of my generation. It reminds when Bush was relected almost 4 years ago and he seemed to be very unpopular, but I guess I was talking to the wrong people. That and I was in a foreign country around people from various countries and if they could vote I think that election would have turned out differently. When Rudd was elected he promised that he would make a speach apologizing to the Aboriginal people for the Stolen Generation. The Parliament would order people to go to the bush and collect children, separate them from their families and force them to live these alternate lives of Christian faith. Rudd's speach was very heartfelt and honest. Not full of excuses just apologies. I think it is safe to assume there are people in this country (and maybe even my country) thinking "Why does he have to apologize. He/this generation didn't commit the heinous acts, we should blame older generations". This process only perpetuates hate and unpeaceful acts. To this Rudd made a remark "We get to bear the blessings of our older generations so it is only fair that we should bear the burdens as well". It was a great speach and I commend him for doing this, as I don't think the leader of my home country would even think of making such an apology to anyone.

Various news articles of the apology.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudds-apology-revealed/2008/02/12/1202760286861.html
This one has a video clip.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23202607-12377,00.html


A few other things that we have go to see first hand are a few deaths. The death of Sir Edmund Hillary when we were in NZ. We woke up one morning, turned the radio on and every radio station was dedicated to making a tribute to this fine, honest man. I was grateful to get to hear about Sir Ed from his fellow countrymen. Another sad one was Heath Ledger. It is a shame being a celebrity and dying young, they media doesn't properly celebrate your life. They just want to dig out all the dirt and explanations. May they both rest in peace.