Residential Schools Apology

[fredr123]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/truth-reconciliation/

Today, starting at 1:00 pm Calgary time, Prime Minister Harper will issue a formal apology for the residential schools program. There are a lot of mixed feelings surrounding this and that sentiment seems to be echoed by all those I know who have been affected by this black eye on Canadian history.

CBC will be streaming the speech online. I would encourage all of you to take a few moments today to stop and think about this page in our past.

[Boblobla]

What am I supposed to think about? How I am a first generation Canadian and this has nothing to do with me? Do all Catholics feel guilty about priests touching little Johnny?

I heard that this was an apology on behalf of all Canadians. I have nothing to apologize for. It is a terrible shame what happened to these kids but all the political BS surrounding this is garbage.

[fatso]

and we're off...

[FlamesAddiction]

I don't see how it hurts. I don't feel any guilt about it, but if an apology helps people get over it, then do it.

[TimSJ]

pass the popcorn.. this should be interesting.

[Burninator]

What's the quick and dirty summary of this whole thing? I'm not sure I know anything about it.

[Boblobla]

My issue is stuff like this:

On Tuesday, Harper fended off criticism for failing to give aboriginal leaders the chance to respond on the House of Commons floor after Wednesday's apology.
Manitoba Liberal MP Tina Keeper, a member of Norway House Cree Nation, led off question period by asking why aboriginal leaders have not been invited.
Harper responded by accusing Keeper of detracting from the importance of the event with her comments.


That is my tax dollars hard at work right there. Instead of being thankful that the government is finally stepping up and apologizing the Liberals want to turn it into an open discussion on how the Aboriginals have been oppressed.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Burninator

What's the quick and dirty summary of this whole thing? I'm not sure I know anything about it.

For 100 years the there were gov't run schools to indoctrinate Aboriginal children to the ways of a 'civilized' Christian culture. There was an investigation after allegations of abuse and it was determined that substantial amounts of abuse had occured.

Harper will issue an official apology on behalf of the Government of Canada for the abuse many aboriginal children suffered at the hands of those running the mandatory schools, which operated for a century, ending in the 1970s.

About 150,000 native children went through the programs, which were an extension of religious missionary work designed to assimilate the children into Christian society.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Burninator

What's the quick and dirty summary of this whole thing? I'm not sure I know anything about it.

This is a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadia..._school_system

This is no knock on you, personally, but I think it's telling that you don't know much about this. I don't remember the subject ever coming up in high school and it probably wasn't until I took a sociology class late in my undergrad that I even became aware of what had happened.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

That is my tax dollars hard at work right there. Instead of being thankful that the government is finally stepping up and apologizing the Liberals want to turn it into an open discussion on how the Aboriginals have been oppressed.

I think your opinion of why the Liberals are doing this attaches far too much nobility to their actions than likely exists in reality. I'm more likely to bet that the Liberals are simply lobbing as many darts as they can, praying that one actually sticks. Cutting down their opponent rather than promoting their own ideas is a tactic the Liberals are expert at.

As far as the apology goes, like most, I feel no personal guilt whatsoever for the actions of others. Government apologizing for past actions is fair, however, and if it helps some heal, then more power to Harper and anyone else involved.

[Boblobla]

I don't have an issue with the apology per say, my issue is with the fact that it was 'On Behalf of all Canadians'. I feel like this means I should feel some sort of responsibility for what took place in those schools.

[ken0042]

Put it this way, Boblobla. Let's say somebody here mentions their father has just died. A normal reaction would be "I'm sorry to hear about that." It doesn't mean you were responsible for the death, just you are sorry for them.

Same here. Most Canadians alive today were not even adults when this was going on; including the PM himself. But as a Canadian I am sorry to hear that people were made to suffer.

[Slava]

Why shouldn't the native leaders be invited to hear a formal apology to the people that they represent? I fail to see how an elected representative asking that question is a misuse of your tax dollars?

Of course the apology is "on behalf of all canadians". That is the significance of the apology. If Harper was apologizing for himself only then there would be nothing to the apology...he didn't do anything wrong personally.

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As far as the apology goes, like most, I feel no personal guilt whatsoever for the actions of others. Government apologizing for past actions is fair, however, and if it helps some heal, then more power to Harper and anyone else involved.

You know, I really hope Boblobla and others read your post and think about it.

The point isn't to make individual citizens feel guilty. Of course you're not responsible. The point is that the Government of Canada - the same government to which we are beholden - was complicit in a shameful, shocking tragedy. Our past has this awful event in it. By apologizing officially, the government recognizes and acknowledges that past event. Hopefully this apology helps those affected heal.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think your opinion of why the Liberals are doing this attaches far too much nobility to their actions than likely exists in reality. I'm more likely to bet that the Liberals are simply lobbing as many darts as they can, praying that one actually sticks. Cutting down their opponent rather than promoting their own ideas is a tactic the Liberals are expert at.

As far as the apology goes, like most, I feel no personal guilt whatsoever for the actions of others. Government apologizing for past actions is fair, however, and if it helps some heal, then more power to Harper and anyone else involved.

Or it could be that the MP involved, herself a member of the Cree nation, has seen the results of the Residential School Program and isn't satisfied with the way the government is handling the program.

But go ahead and view it as a Liberal smear campaign. That'll address the issue.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I don't have an issue with the apology per say, my issue is with the fact that it was 'On Behalf of all Canadians'. I feel like this means I should feel some sort of responsibility for what took place in those schools.

I can understand that, but still, this is an issue of oppression based on racial status...And at the end of the day 'white man' oppressed the aboriginals. Of course MP's will use this as a chance to debate...At least it was an aboriginal MP making the motion. It really doesn't affect you in any way, I think you should lay off the bitterness.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

Have we apologized yet for that boatload of Sikhs that were turned back at Vancouver 100 years ago because Canada didn't want to allow them to immigrate? Or does that come later this year?

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by PowerPlayoffs06

Have we apologized yet for that boatload of Sikhs that were turned back at Vancouver 100 years ago because Canada didn't want to allow them to immigrate? Or does that come later this year?

Wow.

[fredr123]

I don't feel personally responsible for any of the atrocities that occurred in these schools either. I have met a number of people who were personally affected, whether they were students themselves or their parents or grandparents went through the system, and I find it difficult to not feel any symapthy or compassion for what they've gone through. While I can fairly easily distance myself from responsibility for the schools (I wasn't there, it wasn't my idea, no one in my family was involved, etc) these people cannot. The pain and damage that has been caused will be with them and their family for as long as they live.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

It's a serious question... Have we?