Die Sorry Speech

Leider gehoert die Geschichte Australiens meist nicht zu unserem Geschichtsunterricht. Beuteltiere in Bio, ein wenig Dreamtime Philosophie vielleicht, aber nicht mehr. Dabei gibt es in Australiens Geschichte ebenso dunkle Episoden. Die Sorry Speech, die Australien Premierminister Kevin Rudd gehalten hat, ist ein Anfang fuer Australien, mit diesem Teil Ihrer Geschichte aufzuraeumen und deshalb lesenswert auch fuer uns.

Zum Hintergrund der Rede:

between 1910 and 1970, between 10 and 30 per cent of Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their mothers and fathers; that, as a result, up to 50,000 children were forcibly taken from their families; that this was the product of the deliberate, calculated policies of the state [...] seen as part of a broader policy of dealing with ‘the problem of the Aboriginal population’.

One of the most notorious examples of this approach was from the Northern Territory Protector of Natives, who stated:

Generally by the fifth and invariably by the sixth generation, all native characteristics of the Australian aborigine are eradicated.

The problem of our half-castes, to quote the protector—

will quickly be eliminated by the complete disappearance of the black race, and the swift submergence of their progeny in the white...

Die Sorry Speech:

Wednesday February 13, 2008
Here is the full text of Australia's apology to the stolen generations, to be read by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in parliament at 9am today.
"Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
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The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."


Weitere informative Links:

http://petermartin.blogspot.com/2008/02/prime-ministers-gripping-well-judged.html http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,535100,00.html und