Should Kev say "sorry"?

Should Prime Minister Kevin Rudd say sorry to the aboriginal community, for the past actions of those who forcibly removed Aboriginal Children from their parents? The debate has been fierce, and no doubt opinions differ as much within the Christian community as they do in wider Australian society. This coming wednesday Australians will finally see the wording of the apology Mr Rudd promised to deliver during the election. While most Australians agree that it is appropriate to express our sorrow at the terrible pain and loss that must have been experienced by those Aboriginal Parents and Children, many still want to stop short of saying "sorry". Should we or shouldn't we?

There are two arguments that have been given for why "sorry" should not be said.

Firstly, some suggest that those who removed the children from their parents at least believed they were doing what was right for the child. Because the intentions were good, it is argued, it would be unfair to attribute guilt to anyone. We may well want to judge the malicious wrongdoer more harshly than the person who does wrong with good intentions. However good intentions themselves do not make someone innocent. Courts often find people guilty of crimes where they have been negligent or foolish, even if they had good intentions. In the case of the stolen generation, children were taken from the parents because it was believed that being Aboriginal in and of itself made you incapable as a parent. This was clearly a wrong judgement. No amount of good intentions can change that. As Christians who are keenly aware of our own failings, we may rightly wish to show mercy to those who made these terrible mistakes in the past... but we can not pretend injustices did not take place.

Secondly it has been argued that neither we nor Kevin Rudd were directly involved in the removal of any Children. This line of argument suggests that "sorry" can only be said by those who were directly responsible. However it should be noted that it is not some distant, past generation who made these mistakes. Indeed there are still some alive who participated in the removal of aboriginal children from their parents. Nor was the removal of children limited to the actions of a few "rogue" individuals. It was an official Australian Government policy.

Most Australians would have no problem stating that "Sir Donald Bradman was our greatest cricketer ever". In using the word "our" we are identifying ourselves as a generation of Australians who has inherited a great sporting heritage... we rightly feel pride regarding his achievements, although we ourselves never wielded the willow. So we must recognise with shame the failings that our forebears committed as they shaped the nation we inherit today. This is not to say that you and I are ourselves guilty individuals on account of removing children... (although I can say for myself, with shame, that this particular innocence in no way absolves me from the guilt of ambivalence for many years).

Mr Rudd is the latest in a continuing line of Prime Ministers representing the governing of Australia. Obligations pass from Government to Government. They do not start from scratch with each new election result. As such it is entirely appropriate for Mr Rudd, as the main representative of Australia's government, to say "Sorry" for past injustices.

Bridging to Christ - understanding Repentance:

Christians are in a unique position to understand the power of repentance. In saying "sorry", we are as a nation (rather than as individuals) repenting, or turning away from the wrong beliefs and unjust practices of the past. When Israel repented of Idolatry, it was often repenting of the failures and sins of previous generations. When Israel repented they were not only turning away from a past, but turning back towards a future under God's Lordship. The Bible seems completely at home with this type of community repentance.

Of course, full reconciliation with God also depended on his willingness to forgive. However given the length of time that Aboriginal Australians have had to wait for "sorry", the rest of us can not be too demanding in expecting forgiveness right away. As Christians know well, along with a statement of repentance is always required the expression of that repentance in action. Aboriginal Australians are not wrong to hope for our repentance in both word and deed. From this perspective, full reconciliation will not be achieved in a week or two, no matter how well Kevin Rudd's apology is worded. In some sense saying sorry is not enough. Repentance includes a change in action.

Maybe we as Christians can use the public debate over the "Sorry" statement to help our fellow Australians better understand the true nature of repentance. The Bible's teaching on repentance helps us see clearly that reconciliation will require far more than a simple "sorry". It will require a continuing commitment to the good of the other, our Aboriginal fellow Australians.

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Paste the following link in your browser to read a story about the first Aboriginal ordained in Sydney (just a week or so ago). It could be a good point of interest to include in conversations with people at work etc...

http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/indigenous_ministry_feature/