February 13th, 2008 (11:18 am)
current location:
The TARDIS
current mood: contemplative
current song: None
i don't normally talk about politics on my journal, but today is different. Today Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generation.
I headed down to Federation Square, with my mum and sister, bright and early. Coffee in hands, we sat on the steps and watched as the crowed grew. By the time Rudd began his speech, televised live from Canberra, onto the big television screens at Fed Square, the crowd was huge.
His speech began. There where cheers and applauding, being there, surrounded by Indiginous and non-Indiginous Australians was amazing, the atmosphere was so emotional.
When clips of the previous Prime Minister, John Howard appeared, who had refused to apologise, a roar of boos filled the air.
Kevin Rudd (excerpt's from speech): As Prime Minister of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the Government of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the Parliament of Australia, I am sorry. I offer you this apology without qualification.
We apologise for the hurt, the pain and suffering we the Parliament have caused you by the laws that previous parliaments have enacted.
We apologise for the indignity, the degradation and the humiliation these laws embodied.
We offer this apology to the mothers, the fathers, the brothers, the sisters, the families and the communities whose lives were ripped apart by the actions of successive governments under successive parliaments.
I know that in offering this apology on behalf of the Government and the Parliament, there is nothing I can say today that can take away the pain you have suffered personally.
My proposal is this: if the apology we extend today is expected in the spirit of reconciliation in which it is offered, we can today resolve together that there be a new beginning for Australia.
There was a standing ovation when his speech ended.
The oposition leader, Brendan Nelson, then began his speech..... there was lots of booing and eventualy the whole crowd turned away from the television screen refusing to look at him. On man put it well when his said, "Fuck off Brendan!!" to which there was a loud cheer.
Read more except's from Rudd's speech here.