Residential Schools Apology

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Sigh, it looks like the Bloq took the opportunity to further their political cause:

"Despite Harper's advice earlier this week to avoid playing politics with such a serious issue, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe used much of his time at the microphone to blast the Conservative government for failing to back up its apology with concrete action. "This apology is necessary but insufficient," he said, noting Canada's position as one of only four countries that failed to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. "Apologies, once given, are only meaningful for the action that follows."
Duceppe pressed the government to better fund native communities or risk repeating the actions of the past by further damaging aboriginal culture. He ended his speech to thunderous applause in the House, from his own party as well as the survivors who packed the observation gallery."

Shows how disconnected Duceppe is, the problem with native communities is not funding levels, its not following up to make sure that those funds are used properly and delivered to those that need it.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I also find the whole apologizing for past generations a little comical and hollow in and of itself. "I'm sorry for something I was not alive for, and am only superficially aware of. As leader of a nation that bears little resemblance to the one that wronged people who may or may not be even alive to hear this apology, I offer my most heartfelt apology and stoic look I can muster from drama class..." is all they ever sound like to me and probably to the people they are apologizing to.

I understand where you are coming from, but...

For one thing, there was a bunch of native people there and a lot of them were crying pretty good, so it meant something to them.

If it was me, an apology would mean something. If I had been taken away from my parents, abused by some fools in funny costumes, neglected and forced to speak a new languaqe, I'd like an apology as an adult. I'd like someone to say "we were wrong to do that to you and we'll never do it to anyone again". Public acknowledgment that I had been wronged and a promise not to repeat it would help. It would probably help my kids too.

And no Harper wasn't alive for it and had nothing to do with it. Neither did you or I, but we are still Canadians. "We" are sure proud of some things that happened long before we were alive. If "we" are going to do that, to be proud of, say, Canada's role in WWI, then I figure "we" have something to say about not-so-proud moments that we didn't have anything to do with either.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Far as I know, all parties did apologize. The Liberals were second and specifically named the Liberal party as being complicit in this scandal because they were in power something like 70 of the last 100 years. But it was Dion talking and I just had to turn the TV off. I think the CBC guy said 'the Bloc will speak next, followed by words from the NDP'.

In the pre-amble, Harper specifically thanked "the leader of the NDP" for helping him put it all together.

I didn't pay attention to what went on before but the apology/speech itself didn't stink of politicking on anyone's part.

Well, that's good to see. Though, obviously, the Liberals saved their politicking for before the apology.

[Devils'Advocate]

....and from the editorials and pundits and blogs, it would appear that we are right back where we started.

I've been hearing that this was a good step and puts that dirty part of history behind us. Now it is time for the young Aborigines to get off the dirty reserves and assimilate into modern culture. I guess the difference is:
These children "were forced from their families at the age of 4 to be assimilated into the dominant culture" vs "should choose to separate themselves from their families as soon as they are old enough so they can assimilate into the dominant culture".

Was Harper apologizing for the sexual and physical abuse that happened at the schools, or was he apologizing for the attempt to assimilate the Aboriginal community?

[HOZ]

Time to give them the rod and hook. It is time.

[Calgaryborn]

Norm: Does it change the price of a pint of beer?

Sam Malone: No

Norm: OK then, I'm fine with it!

[troutman]

Early in my career, I worked with a number of Native Canadians in B.C. I can't express in words how badly some of the people I met were tortured. It was heart-breaking to listen to men in their 60s tearfully tell us what happened to them as children. They were violated in every way (physically, sexually, spiritually), and the damage is permanent.

The hurt lingers, and is passed on to their children.

[fatso]

I'm slightly confused by people who think the apology somehow implicates our proves their complicity in something they weren't alive for. Apologies can mean a number of things, no?

On the one hand, you apologize to seek forgiveness for something you've done wrong. On the other hand, you often apologize or, rather, say "sorry" when someone has suffered a tragedy. It's a formal, polite way of acknowledging their suffering and providing an empathetic response to it. Doesn't mean you had a hand in it.

[BCReefer]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Part of being a citizen of a country is that you share that country's history, both the good and the bad. I can feel pride about the '72 summit series, the courageous battles fought by Canadians in both world wars, and countless other feats of heroism, invention, creativity, etc. The fact that I was not alive and did nothing do bring any of them about does not lessen my pride at all. These are all part of the collective memory that I have rights to as a Canadian. But by the same token, there are things that I and every Canadian should feel a sense of shame of, regardless of our lack of personal involvment and connection to the events. The residential schools program and the japanese internment camps would be two such events. So in this respect, I think is was appropriate for Harper to apologize on behalf of all Canadians. This was a failing of Canada as a nation, and anything less than an apology by Canada as a nation would be an insufficient gesture.

Amen Brother