若過讀過澳洲歷史的人就知道,
1920's - 1960'﹐
有很多土著兒童被澳洲政府強行帶走(Assimilation的其中一個法例),
然後隔絕他們,永遠見不到自己的家人。
這些兒童會被強制灌輸白人的語言,智識,風俗,等等
長大後在白人社會上生存,永生不得回到自己的土地。
這個政策,可以說成 “只是把黑人的皮膚塗白”,
但心卻永遠到是土著的心。
這個政策在1960's被作廢,
但澳洲政府,到昨天仍未向土著人正式道歉。
今天,新上任不久的澳洲總統Kevin Rudd,
決定踏著前人不願行的第一步,向全澳洲的土著人道歉,
雖然筆者認為他背後一定有理由,
因為如果現代政府為前人做的事道歉,等於”羅苦埋身”,
不過這些先拋諸腦後,看一下Kevin Rudd今早的陳辭。
(筆者有幸看電視直播,看到土著們都哭了,一個Apology,很有影響力。)
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.
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.
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