I think that apologies are important because sometimes people say things and don't realize the effect it actually has on a person. When there has been hurt or mistreatment, it will often harden the heart of people and a simple apology will break that down and open up communication. This can stop fights and rebuild relationships.
The stolen generation refers to Aboriginal people who were taken away from their families by the Australian Government between the years 1869-1969, continuing in some areas of Australia in the 1970s. At that time the Australian Government believed that placing Aboriginal children in the care of non Aboriginal Australians would result in the children being more civilized and give them a better start in life.
Archie Roach was three years old when welfare workers came and took him from his Aboriginal family. The Australian Government welfare workers lied to Roach's family and told them that they were escorting him to a picnic. Roach was also lied to and told that his Aboriginal family had died in a fire. Roach, who is now 45, has shared his experiences. In an attempt to make Roach more like his non Aboriginal guardians, his guardians tried to force his hair straight by combing out the curls and frizz. Roach's third set of guardians treated him as their own child, but he was devastated when he got a letter from his Aboriginal sister, at age 14, telling him the truth about his family. Roach found out that his family hadn't died in a fire. Past Australian Prime Ministers had refused to apologize to the Aboriginal people because they were concerned more Aboriginal people would demand compensation for their mistreatment and suffering and felt that they were not responsible for the decisions of past Australian Governments. "The Government can't even say the word s-o-r-r-y", Roach said. "Most Aborigines I talk to just want a simple statement from the heart. If you hit someone, you don't say, 'I regret what I did.'".
When Kevin Rudd became Australian Prime Minister in 2008, he decided to build a bridge based on respect between the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. On the 13th February 2008, Rudd put his plan into Action. Rudd made an apology on behalf of past Australian Governments to the "Stolen Generation". This had a positive impact on the Aboriginal people because it showed that they are respected as Australians and that the colonizers have realised their mistakes and are willing to apologise for the actions of their ancestors.
As an non-indigenous Australian, I am appalled by what happened to the Indigenous Australians, particularly concerning the "Stolen Generation". I believe that most non-indigenous Australians agree that not apologizing to the Aboriginal people makes us look bad and uncaring towards the original inhabitants of our nation. Rudd's apology, on behalf of the Australian Government, shows that non-indigenous Australian people care about the Aboriginal people and consider them as our own people. During Rudd's apology, he called the Aboriginal people "Fellow Australians" showing his belief that the Aboriginal people are the same as other Australian Citizens. Rudd also emphasized that the events of the "Stolen Generation" was wrong using repetition, he kept saying "To the Stolen Generations, we say sorry".
The Australian Government of 1869 thought they were doing the right thing for the nation by taking the Aboriginal children away. They thought the Aboriginal people would become more civilized and would have a better life. The Aboriginal Protection Act of 1869 states "There shall be in and for Victoria a Board to be styled the “Board for the protection of aborigines” that shows an intent to protect the Aboriginal people. Although the Australian Government thought they were doing the right thing, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry found that Aboriginal children removed from their families were disadvantaged in the following ways:
- They were more likely to come to the attention of the police as they grew into adolescence;
- They were more likely to suffer low self-esteem, depression and mental illness;
- They were more vulnerable to physical, emotional and sexual abuse;
- They had been almost always taught to reject their Aboriginality and Aboriginal culture;
- They were unable to retain links with their land;
- They could not take a role in the cultural and spiritual life of their former communities;
- They were unlikely to be able to establish their right to native title;
