National Sorry Day
The National Sorry Day is an annually since 1998 committed on May 26, unofficial Australian holiday. The occasion is the forced adoption of about 35,000 Aborigineskindern by the Australian 1920 to 1969 - the so-called stolen generations ( Stolen Generations ).
history
In 1997 the Australian Commission on Human Rights published the final report, Bringing Them Home - Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families . It was decided to commemorate the Aborigines with a holiday. The following year a committee was set up on this subject. Prime Minister John Howard , who did not support the concept, did not participate in what was criticized. National Sorry Day was celebrated for the first time in the same year .
In 2005 the day was briefly renamed National Day of Healing , but this renaming was withdrawn again in September following a decision by the committee.
In 2007 the apology to the Aborigines of Australia and the “Stolen Generations” became one of the central themes of the election campaign for the election of the federal parliament. The Australian Labor Party and its candidate Kevin Rudd pledged the national apology in their campaign; the Liberal Party of Australia of then Prime Minister John Howard opposed it again. Following the Labor Party's victory on November 24, 2007, the newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an apology speech at the opening of Parliament on February 13, 2008.
The original text of the Prime Minister's speech to the Australian Parliament on February 13, 2008 read:
“Today we honor 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 apologize for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these, our fellow Australians. We apologize 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. "
Translated into German this means:
“Today we honor the indigenous people of this land, the oldest surviving culture in human history. We reflect on their past abuse. We particularly think about the Stolen Generations - that dark chapter in our people's history. Now is the time for our people to start a new chapter in Australia's history by correcting the mistakes of the past and looking to the future with confidence. We apologize for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments which have caused them, our fellow Australians, great grief, suffering and loss. We apologize for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being taken away from their families, communities and their homes. For the pain and suffering of these stolen generations, their descendants and their families left behind, we say sorry. We apologize to the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters for the breaking up of their families and communities. And for the humiliation and humiliation it has inflicted on a proud people and culture, we say sorry. We, the Parliament of Australia, sincerely ask that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered, as part of the healing of the people. For the future, we take it to heart to ensure that this new chapter in the history of this great continent can be written. Today we are taking the first step by admitting the past and claiming a future that includes all Australians. A future in which this Parliament ensures that the injustices of the past must never, ever happen again. A future in which we harness the determination of all Australians, indigenous or not, to fill the gap that exists between us in life expectancy, education levels and economic opportunity. A future in which we include the possibility of new solutions to old problems where old approaches have failed. A future based on mutual respect, understanding and responsibility. A future in which all Australians, regardless of their origin, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal share in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia. "
This long-awaited apology has been greeted with joy and pride by most of the population and marks the beginning of a new era in the social and cultural history of Australia. However, as part of the apology, no promise to pay compensation to the victims of the Stolen Generations was made.
Web links
Remarks
- ^ Full transcript of PM's speech . In: The Australian . February 13, 2008 (last accessed November 9, 2014).