tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post8559455028209389658..comments2024-02-10T18:19:36.406-08:00Comments on Newspaper Rock: Obama's invisible apologyRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-48519573481839591532010-01-16T03:54:35.545-08:002010-01-16T03:54:35.545-08:00A government or a society can be guilty even if in...A government or a society can be guilty even if individuals aren't.<br /><br />More to the point, these apologies usually express sorrow for a long history of oppression and injustice. That includes legal and moral crimes up to and including the present. People don't have to be sorry for what their ancestors did, but they can be sorry for what they and their representatives are doing now.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-91221803285197535312010-01-15T22:46:38.068-08:002010-01-15T22:46:38.068-08:00Not sure how one can get past symbolism, especiall...Not sure how one can get past symbolism, especially when "real guilt" is mentioned for individuals who weren't there to be involved (and have no guilt).dmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-6323625990724622342010-01-15T12:06:58.175-08:002010-01-15T12:06:58.175-08:00I'm afraid all these national apologies are on...I'm afraid all these national apologies are only symbolic events. That's why I don't take them very seriously.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-79567166085234348022010-01-15T03:12:01.469-08:002010-01-15T03:12:01.469-08:00It has been nearly two years since the Australian ...It has been nearly two years since the Australian Prime Minister apologised to the stolen generations. [12 Feb 2008] These are first nations people who were forcibly removed from their families in the name of ethnic cleansing and assimilation policies designed specifically for Aboriginal people in Australia.<br />Keven Rudd was happy to claim the momment of the apology as a historica event - for himself. And that is all it will ever be, an event, a sybolic statement, a tearful repentance, an admitance of white guilt. Forget a treaty,forget compensation, forget anything that smells vaguely of a form reparation. Instead we get what our old people were offered when they found themselves dispossessed and on the fringes of white towns and cities - blankets and beads, blankets and beads,given to us with an earnest and sincere smile, or a heartfelt tear. "We are sorry<br /> they say "We are sorry" - Sorry but we won't admit real guilt - just regret". And the beat goes on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com