http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bfull-textb-pms-sorry-address/2008/02/12/1202760291188.html Annapurna Nori from India wrote: Dear friends Today at 8.15 am in Adelaide, I was standing in Elder Park with my eight year old son Varun. Standing among a large crowd of mostly Indigenous and a good number of non Indigenous people, most of us holding the black, red and yellow Aboriginal flag. Waiting expectantly, for an incredible moment in Australian history. When a Prime Minister would deliver an official apology for the wrongs done by previous Australian Governments to the Indigenous people. At 8.30 am, there was a sudden silence as the giant screen lit up for the direct telecast from Canberra. As Kevin Rudd spoke, people cheered at times, waved the flags, hugged each other. But most of all, there were a lot of tears. I am not ashamed to say that I was one of those who cried, and I made no attempt to wipe them away. What this day means to the Indigenous people is impossible to describe. I can only say that in almost 22 years of living here, I count this as the most significant day of my life as an Australian. And proudest. I hope now that the country can indeed move forward. I am pasting the first part of Mr Rudd's speech, and also providing a link to those interested in reading the full text. Best wishes Annapurna
KEVIN RUDD"S SPEECH..... 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. 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. LINKS Full text of speech http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bfull-textb-pms-sorry-address/2008/02/12/1202760291188.html .
