"Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past."-Tryon Edwards

Why are apologies important?

An apology is a regretful acknowledgement of an offense or something one has done wrong. Often times apologizing takes a lot of confidence but once it has been said, it slowly brings the two sides together resulting in the rebuild of relationships. Apologies are important because awkward conflicts sometimes produce great emotions. Even after the quarrel, emotions such as hatred, anger and annoyance still remain. Without apologies these hurtful feelings and their point of view grows stronger and stronger which creates a bigger unspoken barrier and little progress between the parties. Apologizing is something all humans cannot avoid, and admitting that you are sorry is not wrong. It is an obstacle all humans must undergo.

In this situation, what impact does the apology have on the colonized (Aboriginals) as well as the colonizers?

The term ‘Stolen Generation’ is used to describe the aboriginal kids taken away from their real blood families and getting taken care of non-aboriginals (Australians). At that time they believed that replacing the parents of the aboriginal kids would make a better future, creating a more civilized area in Australia.

Archie Roach was one of the victims in the Stolen Generation, and therefore knows the tough situations the aboriginals had to go through. His life was mostly depressing as he was taken away at the age of 3 just because he had a white grandfather. He had been tricked his whole life as he had been told his mother had perished in a fire. As he grew up all he wanted was the government to say the word s-o-r-r-y. Roach stated that most Aboriginals he had met just wanted a simple statement from the heart. If you hit someone, you don’t say, “I regret what I did.”

In this case the prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd is apologizing to the aboriginals, referring back to the phrase ‘Stolen Generation’. He was the first prime minister of Australia to actually admit the wrong actions the past British people did. The past prime ministers rejected the ideas of asking for forgiveness, as they believe modern Australians shouldn’t be required to accept guilt and blame for past actions. Howard the former prime minister of Australia feared a formal apology as he thought it would strengthen the case for compensation.

As the prime minister, Kevin Rudd said the simple word sorry; the relationship between the colonized (Aboriginal) and the colonizers (Australians) grew, hence creating the bond of friendship. When he apologized a lot of the Aboriginals finally got the idea that he was really sorry for what had happened in the past. Although in this situation apologizing won’t erase the memories of what happened in the past, the colonized realized that he was willing to apologize for what he had not done, but for what is ancestors had done.

Thankfully, it had a positive impact on the colonized (Aboriginal) as they accepted Kevin Rudd’s apology. Before the apology some of the Aboriginals thought that their cultures were uncivilized and inadequate and that was the reason why their culture was forgotten. However through Kevin Rudd’s hard work, he had made the Aboriginal culture proud and take its position back to where it belongs.

In the video when Rudd apologizes he says, “Today we honour the indigenous people of this land.” How he states the fact that the Aboriginals are the indigenous people really shows us that he respects and honours the Aboriginals. He could have called the Aboriginals just the “people” of this land, but instead he adds “indigenous people” which creates more emphasize on the importance. “This blemished chapter in our national history.” From this part of his speech how he said “our national history” it states that he believes that the Aboriginals are part of them (Australians); therefore combining both of the Australians and the Aboriginals is the real true history of Australia. He keeps on the repeating the phrase “To the Stolen Generation, we say sorry.” How he keeps on restates that phrase really shows that he is sincerely sorry and asking for forgiveness. He could have just said, “We say sorry” but the fact that he adds the part “Stolen Generation” shows he deeply respects the Aboriginals and their lifestyle. Rudd also explains the misbehaving actions of the Australians in the past. For example he said “We reflect on their past mistreatment.” This shows us that he is aware of all the abuse and torture the Aboriginals had to go through when the child was torn apart from his or her family.

Although saying sorry and asking for forgiveness will not help forget all the miserable memories, however it shows that Kevin Rudd really cares even though it is not himself who caused the Stolen Generation.