I am Australian, and to be fair, apologising to the "stolen generation" was a bad idea. Not because we shouldn't apologise, but for the legal ramifications.
Look it from the settler's point of view, they landed on this country, and saw what they thought were naked savages treating their children badly. So they thought they'd try and help by taking the chidren away and educating them. Yes, a whole heap were made servants and treated terribly, however, nobody takes into account the ones that were treated well, that did get an education and a future. Allot of the time the Aborigines gave their children away, they'll never admit it, but they did.
Now, generations later, they're whining about it? to be honest, there isn't much of the stolen generation left! And now that Kevin Rudd has apologised, the a majority are doing what i thought they would. Seeking "compensation" the second Rudd said sorry, was when he took responsibility and the Aborigines could sue!
Granted, most didn't, but the ones that did are just spending their new-found cash on booze and drugs. There is a MAJOR probem with Aborigines and alcohol abuse over here. Which is another reason why they have such a bad rep
I have nothing against them, but apologising was a bad idea. And the tax payers are paying fo it now
