Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Should Australians Apologize to the
Stolen Generation?
A difficult issue that is facing society is whether or not Australians should apologize to the Stolen Generation. The Stolen Generation is the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly taken away from their families. This took place in 1909 until 1969. Governments, churches, and welfare bodies all took part in the event (Reconciliaction, 2012). They were then placed into institutional care with non-Indigenous families and were expected to work as labourers and servants. While many records have been lost, it has been that 100,000 children were taken during this period (Reconciliaction, 2012). Although some people think Aboriginal people are better off because they were removed from dysfunctional families, I believe Australians should apologize for three main reasons.
The first and most important reason why Australians should apologize to the Aboriginal people is that apologizing will restore their dignity and identity back. An apology can serve as an expression of regret for pain and suffering of the children who had been physically and sexually abused. A mere example of abusing of the Stolen Generation is the case of Valerie Linow, a domestic servant for a white family. Valerie (2012) informed, “He yelled out to me, ‘Get inside!’ And the next minute, he just belted me. He yelled and had this fence wire and just belted me across my legs and I doubled up. Today, I still wear marks here on the top of my legs ‘cause I was doubling up trying to protect myself.” By apologizing, victims of the Stolen Generation can know the government and the people acknowledge their pain. The Stolen Generation can realize that their well-being are recognized to the community. Clearly, having their dignity and identity restored is an important matter to the Stolen Generation.
The second reason to apologize is that an apology can have a positive impact on the relationship between
Stolen Generation?
A difficult issue that is facing society is whether or not Australians should apologize to the Stolen Generation. The Stolen Generation is the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly taken away from their families. This took place in 1909 until 1969. Governments, churches, and welfare bodies all took part in the event (Reconciliaction, 2012). They were then placed into institutional care with non-Indigenous families and were expected to work as labourers and servants. While many records have been lost, it has been that 100,000 children were taken during this period (Reconciliaction, 2012). Although some people think Aboriginal people are better off because they were removed from dysfunctional families, I believe Australians should apologize for three main reasons.
The first and most important reason why Australians should apologize to the Aboriginal people is that apologizing will restore their dignity and identity back. An apology can serve as an expression of regret for pain and suffering of the children who had been physically and sexually abused. A mere example of abusing of the Stolen Generation is the case of Valerie Linow, a domestic servant for a white family. Valerie (2012) informed, “He yelled out to me, ‘Get inside!’ And the next minute, he just belted me. He yelled and had this fence wire and just belted me across my legs and I doubled up. Today, I still wear marks here on the top of my legs ‘cause I was doubling up trying to protect myself.” By apologizing, victims of the Stolen Generation can know the government and the people acknowledge their pain. The Stolen Generation can realize that their well-being are recognized to the community. Clearly, having their dignity and identity restored is an important matter to the Stolen Generation.
The second reason to apologize is that an apology can have a positive impact on the relationship between