The Apology - Symbol of a New Progressive Era

So it is done. For all the protracted, niggardly discussions of semantics, legal points and the rest - it is done. The government has apologised for their actions. And it has produced such an overwhelmingly positive vibe and reaction - perhaps it is time to look back over the past 11 and a half years with increasing regret.

Such a simple, transformative act will introduce a new feeling to reconciliation. That a request by one side of the table will no longer be buried under a blizzard of weasel words. It was these weasel words and weasel views that was the biggest blight on the Howard doctrine in relation to the treatment of the original inhabitants.

It was Howard that emphasised the reasons against an apology. It would create compensation claims - appealing to those who believe money hoarding is more important than dignity and responsibility. It was also said that modern Australians had nothing to be personally responsible for, so why should the government apologise?

Both arguments fall down with a quick breath of logic. Legal experts have said that the Rudd apology is not open to claims against the government. This is because no incompetence has been admitted to. It is incompetence that attracts legal claims (such in the case of Vivien Solon) - more difficult to prove with cases to prove with the stolen generation. Pretty basic common sense and legally easy enough to achieve - and Howard the solicitor would have known this.

The other argument is also wrong, in that no government was being asked to apologise on behalf of all Australian people. While the people vote for the government, it is the government that writes the laws and enacts policies. So, no government apology would seek to speak for all Australians. It was always going to be just from the government - the institution that issued the policies and still exists in the same form as it did in the era. Howard would have known this, but deliberately muddied the issue with the "individual responsibility" furphy.

So we come to the end. And a positive, responsible, professionally delivered apology that revealed a heart for the Stolen Generation and a dignity in our new Prime Minister that was not readily expected. The speech he delivered after the apology was simple, but outstanding in its resonance. It gave a gravitas and aura not seen since Paul Keating graced the Parliament. It highlighted just how much mediocrity and prosaic speech making we had endured for so long.

But now the time for thinking of John Howard has gone. We have a new era and a lot of work to do in terms of our attitudes towards reconciliation. It is not a surprise that there are internet forums and talkback callers who still talk about "individual responsibility", "compensation nightmare" and the like, because the talk had been swung very successfully towards the venal selfishness of many. There's even going to be, on a more hidden level, the same talk of "petrol sniffing", "useless bludgers" and more racist expressions used about contemporary Aboriginal people. Many of these same racists will tolerate drug use, alcohol consumption and the like amongst white people, but will judge the Aborigines harshly. Ignorance and hypocrisy of this sort are often ingrained and impossible to steam clean away.

However, as time goes on, as children grow up, as positive, uplifting moments like this one are the norm, we will find in time that we will have a better society and a better views of the original inhabitants. Then reconciliation will not be just a word and a name used for committees. It will be something we talk about in the past, as a part of a process that helped to unify an Australian culture that respects all Australians. Optimistic, and perhaps a little naive. Better than being cynical, niggardly and grumpy.