Message to John Howard

[@aussie_mantis3507]

When I grew up, back in my home in Adelaide as a child, I had a teacher at school that... we'll call her Mrs Rossi. Point is, she thought she was Italian. For the longest time, she had thought that. Everyone knew her as that. She was my italian teacher. And then we learned the truth one day. She was, apparently, part of the Stolen Generations. She had never met her birth-parents, and been brought up and raised in a white family, told that she was adopted as an orphan... and then one day, she had been approached by a foundation that was trying to locate the children ripped away. I still remember how she cried in one of our School Assemblies back in the gym, and how totally, utterly ignorant I felt about everything- I was bored, I didn't want to be there, I thought I was just listening to more meaningless drivel. I regret that. I regret not listening. I regret the fact that all I can remember are the bare details of her story, and how she was crying on the stage, telling us all about her experience. It's time we did right by our Land's First People, Australia. We can't ignore it. They and their tragedy is woven into our nation's fabric as firmly as the First Fleet and Federation is. We need to remember. And we cannot, and must not, merely ignore them, like a group of 7-12 year old children. As human beings to our fellow human brethren, we owe them that much. I hope that, in the spirit of reconciliation, all Australians can see past party lines. For our sake- and theirs.

[@landcruiserfan4206]

well said. Thanks for sharing your anecdote

[@O1OO1O1]

The idiots of Australia can't do well by themselves, let alone other people. Best way forward is focus on young people and those who have capacity to hear. Those who don't are lost.

[@NathanCroucher]

I dunno why im saying this. But an aboriginal teacher, how long ago was this, 70-80s? That would be unheard of during that period. If she wasnt stolen, she certainly wouldnt be a teacher, most likely dead of alcohol poisoning or some other poor person health condition.

[@tjmfs1981]

As a child you wouldn't have known much better, the fact that you speak of it today and have realised what was really going on and apologised for your actions speaks volumes of you as a person, you in that 1 paragraph are bigger than our current government.

[@tjmfs1981]

@@NathanCroucher I don't know why your saying that either. Makes you sound like an arse. The teacher had no idea on who she was, she thought she was Italian, she was raised by Italians and was teaching Italian.

[@Mercury888]

Kevin Rudd is doing more than the current PM lol

[@brett22bt]

So True, Slomo specialises in doing nothing. His entire plan was to make a mockery of government while keeping Labor out.

[@josephking6515]

Kevin Rudd could produce a tiny fart and he would still be vastly more productive than that lame brain _scotty from marketing._

[@christophera556]

The thing can Kevin Rudd be bought to replace the current opposition leader weak minded Albonese it would be good yes we have an election only a few months away however Rudd has proven track record of unseating a former conservative PM namely John Howard the real problem was back in 2010 stupid Guillard and her supporters knifed a sitting popular PM Rudd in the back and look the results 2013 horrible Abbott the mad monk and the liberal national coalition conservative government elected to power they still there today and the scary thing they may even succeed in getting another term.The thing is would Rudd want his old position back well he maybe happy with what he is doing however if he did want to make political come back I say bring it on and then throw out this radical conservative liberal national coalition government once and for all.

[@Willow4526]

@@christophera556 sadly I think as much as if Rudd came back he might win it for Labor, we need the general public too see and choose for themselves that Labor is the better party and just blindly voting for the liberal party just bcos the Murdock media is biased and only shows them as good isn't always the right thing. Tldr we need to prove ourselves worthy based on any/current Labor leaders before we think of bringing back the legend.

[@yfgub]

Pitch drop experiments are doing more than Scooter.

[@bradleydrew2013]

Man i wish you were still running the country.

[@Arron-S]

Yea I need another flat screen. The one I bought in 08 is on the Fritz

[@WozzaFord-z4z]

@@Arron-S typical Arsehole that only cares about what you can get out of it

[@Arron-S]

@@WozzaFord-z4z typical? Sir I am offended.... Thanks for playing nicely though.. It speaks volumes for your character.....

[@WozzaFord-z4z]

@@Arron-S I doubt your offended one bit and i don't know why you think i have volumes of character when i have very little for the likes of you. Well maybe just a little to reply to your drivel

[@Arron-S]

@@WozzaFord-z4z the likes of me? Do tell. I'm interested to know.. What am I like then? Have at it... Also read my comment again.... I didn't infer you had a voluminous amount of character....

[@noellzy]

I still remember sitting in Martin Place listening to your apology to the stolen generation and weeping. I'm a whitefella that grew up with a lot of first nations people, and could never accept that as a nation, we could not just say sorry, and acknowledge what had been done, and what was still being done, to Indigeneous Australians. Thank you Kevin.

[@dominiccordova8347]

Mr. Rudd, I am part of the American "great unwashed" who strive to better understand the world. I came across your work, belatedly, while trying to understand the Sino geopolitical dynamic that dominates everything today. I am intrigued by your compelling blend of personal, educational, professional and academic experience. Your adroit and (sometimes brutally)honest analysis of both historical actions and current events, in the context of western interaction with China and other Asian nations, is refreshing in its veracity. Never attributed to Anglo China observers. Still, you are no apologist to CCP shenanigans, and give clear eyed, robust and realistIc analysis of PRC actions, motives, intent and objectives without the hysterical racist dogma. But, it is the "Apology" which truly puts you in a special category. The only Anglophile leader in HISTORY to have OFFICIALLY recognized and claimed responsibility for the enormous destruction that European colonialism has caused. Amazing. I doubt it will EVER happen here in the U.S., yet it has inspired certain institutions in the U.S., Canada(and the Aussies), to recognize First Nation historical rights and ownership. This is truly unique and a small step in the right direction. Please excuse my poor attempt at communication, but you are truly inspiring and important. I am an admirer of your work and style. Thank You for your commitment to honesty and truth. I follow all your work at the Asia Society and look forward to learning more about China, the Indo-Pacific and how it affects the world.

[@WikSta707]

Best prime minister we have ever had. But when he tried to implement the policies that got him elected, the policies that would shape the future 15 years before any other nation, a lot of big business got scared and turned the media against him... such a shame..

[@TaureanTrish]

@@WikSta707 I couldn't agree more. The carbon tax was working in reducing emissions! YAY! Yeah, shut THAT down. The LNP have SO much to answer for.... :(

[@Whatsup2today]

Excellent Dom! You have very well put my thoughts in Black & White. Being of a Western background, in my early 70s, I blindly approved and followed the Western mentality. In the last two centuries particularly in the last twenty five years the West were conductors, instigators of all the wars. Their intention was to take over the planet to steal the world for their own selfish benefits and gains. The Kuwait war is just one beautiful example.

[@hubobubo2113]

I am blown away an American would recognize an important leader from a small and young country so far away. Much love from Australia.

[@gregbailey45]

Bravo!

[@Aussie_Leftist]

Howard said "they thought it was the right thing to do". I'd like to say that intent does not matter as much as outcomes and the outcomes were horrible. Secondly it was a conscious and deliberate act of genocide, if we were to judge by intent it doesn't look good for the Australian government. To be clear it is not dead people who are to blame but the institutions that enable these policies and the head of this institution (the Australian government) should at the very least apologise.

[@gregbailey45]

It is to his eternal shame that Howard did not.

[@nkelly.9]

Breaking the strongest bond that exists in nature, that which exists between a mother and its child, has always been heinous. It is not something that became bad in a modern context. It was/is/always will be bad. howard and his mealy mouthed, thread bare, mendacious, carefully worded attempts to justify his appalling conduct are beneath contempt.

[@richo2501]

@@nkelly.9 Always bad? So, in current context then (let's not try to discuss events 120-60 years ago in the comments on youtube), you'd say it was a bad thing for a child to be removed from their home if the home was an unsafe environment? Is that what you're saying?

[@nkelly.9]

@@richo2501 You have set up a strawman argument. Look it up. Did you see the word "home" in my comment? So you are going to wade in to this one then? Let us discuss this homes and unsafe environments. Well, you are going to need to define "unsafe environment" , you are going to need to define "home". You are going to tell me who is qualified to determine these things. Then you will need to display that those that have made these decisions understand the cultural mores of the situations. You can take me on son but I will hit you out of the park all day. I know blokes who were patrol officers that sent children away because drovers played cards for them to keep their swags warm. Instead of calling the police and having paedophiles arrested the patrol officers sent the kids away. I have lived and worked in the NT. Kids sent away because they had runny noses. Kids sent away because there were no clean sheets on the bed. Sending 21 year old, wet behind the ears, blokes up to determine the fates of children of first nations peoples with no understanding of their culture and viewing all through a white fella prism is what led to the damage. You have no clue about the unnecessary damage that was done to human beings. I'd like to have seen you taken away from your mother because she didn't know how to cook a kangaroo on the coals and see how you liked it.

[@GenXOriginal1972]

@@nkelly.9 Would you please consider making some videos on your channel re: these stories??? Just thought I'd ask...

[@MrTanorton87]

there's something dissonant with saying that apologising on behalf of others is wrong, when the purpose of a democratic government is to speak and act on behalf of others

[@Isaac-ho8gh]

Another example of conservatism being less democratic lol

[@mykemollard6870]

Kevin your growing social media commentary and views should be applauded and valued. It’s great to see your continued voice in support of bettering this country.

[@joshsmyth130]

This is what more people need to realize, you cant just celebrate the good and ignore the bad. It's all history, you cant pick and choose.

[@gregbailey45]

So how come some people claim that the Holocaust didn't happen?

[@joshsmyth130]

@@gregbailey45 that's clearly ignoring the bad. Historical revisionism at its worst. You're kinda proving my point.

[@Vinnay94]

But you'll ignore what Liberal and Labor have done and still doing throughout 2020-2022.

[@joshsmyth130]

@@Vinnay94 I don't, have actually considered running as an independent in my electorate. I don't believe either party is the best option. Need to have public funding of elections and laws regarding jobs after office. There are a lot of problems but we can't get better by ignoring the past.

[@manremba0198]

Not at all kiddies. You can celebrate the good, and with accurate knowledge of the bad, we the people will defeat it at the ballot box. Never listen to a tyrant. Always remember, you can pick and you can choose, variety is the spice of life. Use discernment, and don't let anyone make a decision for you. Especially if you are confident in making a decision. However if you are not aware of the issues, all the more reason to research and educate yourself. Remember to way up the pro's and con's and trust yourselves, be confident and don't have fear. The truth always, always becomes exposed. Vote Independent, the Great Australia party, or other independents . Labor and Liberal are two wings of the same body, they pretend that they are debating each other, while they both share the same status in the United States Securities and Exchanges Commission (which is a government entity) as a "Depository Receipt".... Any reason for this listing Kevin? Why are foreign nations listed as such but Australia does not have a nation status? Peculiar.

[@napalm5]

"That was done in the 2007 election". Shots fired!

[@resourcedragon]

'A formal apology to indigenous Australians affected by "family separation" was judged not to be appropriate given the practices of the time were believed to be in the best interests of the children.' Howard cabinet response to 1997 Bringing Them Home report. 'I was not in favour of an apology for a couple of reasons. The first one was that the idea of one generation apologising for the acts of another is an empty gesture and if you apologise for your own behaviour that has meaning but I think it's a very empty thing for one generation to say, "Well, we apologise for something that was done by other people. That,' said Mr Howard, 'was just meaningless.' 2022 interview. The problem I have with this is that Howard's reason for opposing an apology has, going by these statements, changed considerably. The first irks me because it's trying to use a "good intentions" defence which is rarely acceptable. We've all heard the saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." At the same time Howard was resisting an apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008 the Victorian parliament pardoned Colin Campbell Ross who was shown by DNA evidence to have been wrongly convicted. That was 86 years after the event and unquestionably involved one generation trying to fix the mistakes of another. With a man of Howard's age, there is a second issue: Howard belongs to a generation that *_did_* participate in taking indigenous children away from their families. He's trying to weasel out of being a decent human being by lying. He may not personally have stolen children away from their families but people in his age group did. So that would make it particularly appropriate for him to apologise - if he could just drop the unstated racist attitudes that lead him to think that separating indigenous children from their families and kinship groups was way to go.

[@soulfulenthusiasm4327]

With Respect & Gratitude I totally Agree. Howard indeed, owes the Nation a long overdue Apology!

[@docstevens007]

Well said Kevin. Times change yet some things stay the same. The NT is very tricky culturally to negotiate. Cheers

[@Lalabaster]

Thank you tremendously, Kevin. I look forward to mr howards response 🙂

[@horwoodg]

I remember when Kevin Rudd said "Sorry". I knew what I was seeing was somehow important but I couldn't see how it related to me. Nonetheless, it did cause me to at least investigate what happened in more detail, and to empathise with those that it happened to. So I guess my heart and attitude are softer now, more understanding. I'm less arrogant. I desire a united Australia - walking along side the First People. I also acknowledge I wasn't there, and so my understanding is virtually zero. But I acknowledge it happened and it was painful. "Sorry" is just a word - but it's a start.

[@gregbailey45]

Words matter.

[@truthlifefishing1730]

1 and counting.....

[@eddyfong6486]

@@truthlifefishing1730 2

[@mickadams1905]

It was t meaningless virtue signal that didn't change anything or help anyone. JACINTA PRICE 4 PM!

[@paulsingleton7056]

You can walk with your brothers and sisters united even now, just because politics and media say we're devided doesn't mean it's true

[@terminalvelocity3132]

The wording is important. None of our lot in their right mind expects everyone else to assume "responsibility". Simple acknowledgement without the qualification of "It seemed like a good idea at the time" and a genuine approach to restitution to those directly affected is sufficient. Without this, nothing else is possible. Worse than that, in so much as the justification of "Its for your own good" still holds water, then what happened before can happen again.

[@truthlifefishing1730]

That was never the apology position though. Your eloquent peaceful wording would have been shelved very quickly and you would have been pushed off the committee. The apology was only ever a means of division, never unification. Now that it has happened it will one day be used to utterly divide the nation, we literally will not be able to cross large sections of the country and will have to pay reparations forever, this is only the beginning. The problem is the right wing of politics doesn't know who and what the enemy is doing. As for Australia, It will be CLOSED........SORRY.

[@AussieAquatic]

Compassion, empathy and the basic goodness of humanity, seem to always be absent in generation after generation of Liberal, National Conservative politics, where the sole aspiration in public life can reasonably be ascribed to be pure personal self interest, under the deceptive guise of if we enrich ourselves first, that will eventually trickle down to you, the public, eventually. And somehow, people vote for it. Rupert is very pleased.

[@richo2501]

I think you're just as delusional as KRudd if you think that is limited to conservative politicians only. Have you not been seeing what's going on around the country with state Premiers? McGowan, Andrews, Palachook, Gunner and the authoritarian way in which they e dealt with the pandemic? Or the corruption that is being investigated in the state LABOR governments of Qld and Vic? You've swallowed his coolaid.

[@betula2137]

@@richo2501 I have a feeling, that when Labor institutes the Federal ICAC, there will be a lot of screaming about how corrupt Labor is, but no mention of the clearly more questionable L/NP, who would no longer be so scrutinised after leaving office. If however, the L/NP had instituted an integrity commission WITH TEETH during its tenure, there would be a lot of "what about Labor?", and shifting blame away from the culprits, and onto the ICAC. The main voice of this hypocrisy is likely to be the Murdoch media.

[@richo2501]

@@betula2137 Again with the Murdoch media narrative. When are you lot going to give up on that pathetic trope. Just because Kevin "felt" he had to garner the love of Murdoch and his media channels, or he'd fail and just because Turnbull wants to now be the darling of the ABC and agree with little Kevvy on everything, doesn't mean it's true. It's a partisan argument, not a factual one. And don't tell me it's not partisan because Turnbull is singing from the same hymn book as KRudd. He's about as Conservative as Greta Thunberg.

[@betula2137]

@@richo2501 Australia's print media is one of the main influences into other media. Australia is the developed country with the most concentrated newspaper ownership. You can tell that this has an influence on people and the government. Government leaders are frequently meeting with the owner of all of it (from Sky News, the Australian, to Fox News), and there's obviously something odd when leaders even give the priority of meeting someone powerful, to a media mogul. The same story is in the UK and USA, where Murdoch had a hand in Brexit and the Trump presidency after a while. It is not a narrative to be pedalled by vested interests to want a media diversity inquiry into News Corp., it is certainly an agenda for an enterprise as powerful as them to be pedalling the mistruths that benefit them as widely as they have. Mistruths such as the Liberal "economic responsibility", when they are now and have historically been the highest taxing government, laggards in the OECD, and far worse for common rights and freedoms as expense for foreign corporations.

[@AussieAquatic]

Is that you Richo Murdoch? You can keep your Koolaid thanks. Whataboutism doesn't wash mate.

[@crazyoldworld7946]

The person who apologises is simply the messenger. The apology is from the Government. And even thought the current government was not same government of the time of the grievance, it is still the same ongoing authority that needs to evaluate the harm caused and do what they need to do to put it right. The embarrassment isn't the historical actions of others, but now it's the embarrassment of doing nothing about it and thinking that's OK.

[@paulsingleton7056]

I'm with you there, to me apologies mean nothing without action to back it up.

[@heinzii7834]

Get em son.

[@Hebdomad7]

It's one thing to say the crimes of the father are not of the son. It's completely different for a position of a government and people of a nation to acknowledge history for what it is. To acknowledge and apologise for previous actions and commiting to fix and never repeating it's previous horrible actions is all part of a nations ability to reform for the better. Because if you ignore the past, it tends to come back and bite you. We MUST acknowledge the bad parts of our history along with the good. They are lessons to guide us to be better, not burdens of shame to be swept under the rug.

[@nkelly.9]

And howard tried to sweep what you say aside by referring to proper reflection as a "black armband" view. As opposed to his white blindfold.

[@str8outtahillsbrad]

Did you record this with a potato

[@c.u.c7938]

I describe John Howard as the modern day Ramses. That's why he's heart won't change. We need to pray to God, to free John Howard from this curse🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@paulsingleton7056]

Wow I agree with both sides of the story, in short a child's love for their parents is unquestionable, and to remove them is the lowest act someone could do, and it still happens today with DHS. Still I believe the government is accountable for their actions even if the current leader wasn't responsible, but saying sorry is not enough, that just opens a wound and make things worse. They need to promise to learn from past mistakes and to never have that happen to anyone again, and look after all who have suffered from this.

[@michaelconroy9975]

I once met a lady at the pool while swimming with my friend, she told us her the testimony of her life as she was very old. She said being taken from her family was the best thing that ever happened to her. The lady told us many things, it was the first time she ever wore clean cloths, it was the first time she had her own room, it was the first time she ever had three meals a day. She said her new brothers, sisters, mother and father loved her with all thier hearts. The lady trained for the Olympics but give up that dream for the love of a man and many children with him. (She adored her life) her story will last becuase I will tell it to many people and it will never be forgotten by me.

[@TheRealLeesyKate]

My parents often said that you can't cherry pick with regards to the Bible, that it is important to put things into historical context. In turn I hope people who have been opposed to reconciliation come to see see the whole truth as people like you contextualise the situation in a way they can better understand. This is the kind of straightforward discussion rooted in compassion and justice that people need to hear.

[@Tester-sh1mn]

I’d bet you’d have a hard time getting liberal to do either of those things...

[@NathanCroucher]

The bible 🤨 Its a work of fiction, can cherry pick it all you like, it means nothing.

[@TheRealLeesyKate]

@@NathanCroucher I respect your opinion. I understand that for many people what you have said holds true, but remember there are others who base all their life decisions and morality on its interpretation. Likewise with still others' historical analysis of the way philosophy influenced world events. People draw their personal morality from all sorts of places.

[@NathanCroucher]

@@TheRealLeesyKate Not an opinion, fact. No god, no magic man in the sky.

[@TheRealLeesyKate]

@@NathanCroucher I'm not here to argue or to debate the existence of gods. I'm just here talking about perspectives and finding hope. If not believing a higher power exists and making sure other people know about it makes you feel good, then I am glad for you :)

[@fairgrowfreestyles]

Love you brother - much peace to all ✌🏾

[@penciledink9970]

love that line "that was done in the 2007 election"

[@madcoolreviews]

I remember seeing your apology to the stolen generation . When I saw the real emotion in your face I knew then this is a man with true empathy for others . The kind of man that can acknowledge that we don't know everything and make bad decisions as a human, as a man ,as a government leader . Is the kind of man we need in government . Ive learnt to read body language as I've grown up and as adult to see the lies and deception people tell . I saw no dishonesty in your face in your voice or body language .It brought me to tears to see another human being who can feel such empathy for others and actually mean what they were saying . John Howard laws broke a lot of people . By not acknowledging the pain and suffering that was caused by other governments and his own just shows he doesn't care , Im so sick of hearing the best interests of the children , from a government that caused children to share care in abusive situations and relationships . Also the best interest of the children is to always stay with their families not rip them away because some government thinks they know better .Theres so much I could say on this but I'm so tired of fighting this government to do the right thing . I'm sick of selfish people turning a blind eye and pretending they don't see the things going on around them .We all have a duty of care to pretend we don't is just as backward thinking as they were . Its time to make people accountable and follow through . We need a government with a heart like yours Mr Rudd . People can say what ever they want about my advocating some times I wish it would just go away and ignore it .But I can't I'm going to try my best to make a change to be the parent and the person who put the kids first be the person they need who's not scared of pissing off Pms and Mps by annoying them daily until they fix the things they have broken. No one else is going to do it . People are to scared to stand up to the government to Murdoch and his minions .Im sick of being bullied I'm sick of being scared , I'm sick of this non inclusive world that discriminates against minority groups and brings in religious discrimination bills so they segregate them more . I'm sick of the rich getting richer looking down their thrones at the poor throwing them crumbs . Im Mad as hell and sick to death of it . I believe your the change our government needs , I believe in you Mr Rudd and I want to help .Tell me what I can do to help .

[@jdk3]

too right Kev , its a bad move to suppress history full stop ,, not saying sorry was flat out wrong and says a lot about the arrogance keeping him from doing so

[@playmaker5601]

My GG was stolen. Nothing got passed on. The older i get, the more i realise what was lost. Still a proud Wiradjuri man. Even if i lost my heritage. Mr Howard,my question is "Are people like myself meaningless too?"

[@01brake]

NEVER EVER vote Labor Liberal or Greens EVER AGAIN - Put them LAST on all Ballots

[@grantwooldridge4807]

rip , jeff

[@arcagebuttons5987]

The apology should have come from the politicians. Not the average citizen. Children of every race were taken in that time. A lot of children were stolen and it was politics that deemed it necessary, not the choice of average Australians. Shame on politicians, no one else.

[@robertbarnier45]

What a vast difference there is between Labor leaders & the appalling Coalition politicians of today

[@rosstheboss2481]

True what a difference seen aswell they are working together you obviously know that. Honestly if we we actually lived in a country that bans misinformation this is completely false and people deserve to be told the truth

[@elizabethhalkett]

I have children who clearly understand that when you do something wrong through any action, considered and intentional or not, you apologise. We grow, we learn, we evolve our thinking and we can view our actions of the past in our current mindset therefire identifying our mistakes. Apologising for the past acknowledges our will to not repeat those mistakes and is the first step to atone for injury where we can. You were raised well Mr Rudd. Mr Howard, your patents failed you.

[@hairyscary8511]

Indigenous Australians got an apology state wards until 76 got an apology yet in NSW state ward homes & that system was operating until 96 as a ward of the state of NSW from 92-94 where's my F'n apology? I only skipped school & ran away from home twice I was charged with being an uncontrollable child yet nobody has formally apologised to or the other children in my shoes, hell other kids just had alcoholic parents yet the hell they went through the state system was worse 🤨

[@paulsingleton7056]

They don't care my friend, they never did and never will. Think about it, they spent truck loads of cash on a vote on guy sex marriage while there were thousands of homeless on the streets. It's only so they can look good in front of people that matter to them

[@hairyscary8511]

@@paulsingleton7056 F'n oath

[@kingjulian1549]

The truth is John Howard should NOT have given an apology. An apology given when it is not genuine and heartfelt is simply worthless.

[@chorleycake7942]

My son is still waiting for that laptop you promised in 2007.

[@paulsz6194]

well, don't expect an apology ...

[@grantwooldridge4807]

what else is he waiting for?

[@paulsz6194]

@@grantwooldridge4807 The Laptop,right? You would want Rudd to deliver on a promise, rather than deliver an apology for not fufilling it, right?

[@Pollytalk]

Mr Rudd started rolling out the laptops for school students but within 18 months was usurped. His vision for the future would have made Australia better positioned in 2013 for what came. But...Murdoch destroyed that. Like Climate Change, Mining tax, Solar Energy, Trade, R&D, Science, medical research, Kevin had plans... More fool my Country. *Miss You Mr Rudd

[@tanpaul2899]

Mr. Kevin, thank u for doing the right thing to undo all the wrongs done by past au govt. Salute to Righteousness.

[@fredstonham4004]

I just wish this clown would go away and take and take Turnbull with him

[@jackmann5626]

sir i believe that a greater apology is needed. i think we should be trying to keep aboriginal culture alive and present through the teaching of languages and not fucking up their ecosystem. also love ya kev :) ps how the fuck did they build those giant fish traps in nsw :)

[@ibeatyoutubecircumventingy6344]

40,000 years unmolested with every single form of mineral wealth known to man and all they have are fishtraps...................

[@kosmokat111]

@@ibeatyoutubecircumventingy6344 I mean they had it good, the indigenous Aussies rly nailed down how to live best here, in real harmony with the land itself. Were rly failing on that front these days

[@user-es3tr4os2k]

Thank you for acknowledging the pain all those years ago and for continuing to help those wounds heal.

[@thtupid]

If we as humans cannot apologize on behalf of our predecessors, then we shouldnt celebrate their achievements either.

[@25emann]

My mother, who rarely swore referred to "that evil bastard, Howard" and wanted to live long enough to vote his government out. She had the pleasure to witness the change of government and celebrate Howard's humiliating loss of his own seat. She spoke of the shame that Howard represented because of Australia's treatment of Aborigines and refugees. (she spoke of Jewish boat people in the late '30's who were refused sanctuary by Menzies and doomed to die in nazi death camps)

[@yt.personal.identification]

4:24 ...that was done in the 2007 election

[@mattdowling2227]

Relevance deprivation again Kevie?

[@ShaneDR009]

Nailed it

[@dandeeteeyem2170]

Read my comments below. Your avatar tells me you'll understand the ramifications of what I said. ✊

[@logsie3918]

What happened to the Aboriginals was tried and tested on the Highland Clans removing their kids to better educate them and break apart the Clan system and culture. We know this also happened in other parts across the globe to first nation people aswell. As you put it we have to recognise that this was wrong and apologise it maybe a small token in the big picture but it all plays a part in the healing process. And to say it wasn't our generation is very small minded we are not talking over hundreds of years ago Very well said and put Mr Rudd

[@noturaveragewatcher]

Their is a difference between I'm proud or appalled by my ancestors actions and I'm responsible for my ancestors actions. Don't punish people for their fathers sins. No one should assume guilt for the colour of their skin. The government should acknowledge what its done in the past and apologise and ensure it doesn't happen again. Maybe Howard and yourself are old enough to be responsible for those actions and if so should be held to account.

[@paulsingleton7056]

Yes exactly well said. But I know deep down they really don't care as have have this happen every day still

[@richardbluett958]

Howard was the start of the politics we have today I never liked him and I never will.

[@nkelly.9]

The lead up to it was his disastrous stint as treasurer in the fraser government. Then it was his white anting of andrew peacock. It all started to explode from the moment he uttered those infamous word "non-core promise" - meaning lie. He introduced bare faced lying in to Australian politics, and here we are with an inept PM described as a liar by a French PM and members of his own coalition, just like howard was called, by his own party, The Lying Rodent.

[@richardbluett958]

@@nkelly.9 Well said my friend.

[@paulsz6194]

@@nkelly.9 which French PM was that?

[@nkelly.9]

@@paulsz6194 Pedant alert. I sit corrected. French President. Doesn't change the gist of my comment though. I note you take no umbrage at the rest of my comments. Do you have anything to add to the discussion ? Or just taking cheap, pedantic pot shots?

[@paulsz6194]

@@nkelly.9 Which French President was it ? Was it Francois Mitterrand or Jacques Chirac ? I’m just seeking clarity, because I don’t know of any French Presidents being offended by Howard.

[@jayr6637]

German children are taught about the history of their country, and as a nation Germany is apologetic & ashamed for that which was done by its ancestors. The current generation (save for some extremists) are not complicit in those historical wrongs, but they do apologise for them regardless.... if it weren't for the reluctance of politicians to admit their mistakes, I'm certain that John Howard would agree with me, and with KRudd!

[@dufus7396]

Their parents where rendered powerless to stop their children being taken. The children even more powerless and vunerable incarcerated without oversight . While many "carers" gave love..others indulged themselves without fear of discovery or consequences

[@cinemaipswich4636]

The one thing we all remember is the Public Gallery turning their backs on Howard in Parliament. I will never forget that.

[@jamieholyoak4462]

I'd ask K Rudd to reflect on spending the entirety of the Futures Fund setup by the H Government, actual savings. Spent so every Aussie at the time could buy a flat panel. Instead that money could have funded indigenous kids education, improvements upon indigenous adolescents conditions of living......conveniently forgotten by many. Id concentrate more upon working on what the issues are now rather than a former PM who's decisions were equally questionable as yours. Sure you said sorry, but it hasn't improved anything. Only with all parties giving a seat in each region to an indigenous person through vote from that local indigenous community of the area along side the existing seats. Those positions would then have a vote in all matters through the senate. A house of reps delegation should also be proposed however this may be in a different format. Neither party has even recognised or put forward the idea with both having had clear majority regarding votes. ......imagine if the futures fund was spent on this.....a future where indigenous people had a vote in the senate and the house.......imagine......all the flat panels now thrown out for LED replacements only as landfill. Food for thought when casting stones as old men at each other.

[@Bennydm70]

Well said sir. Well considered argument, as usual. We accept and claim the good of the past and so we also must accept the failures... otherwise we're hypocrites...

[@themystic8634]

First, Here here! Second, I remember feeling like it was an empty gesture at the time. But I was still stuck in the 'rationalist' worldview that refuses to account for people's emotions. On reflection that was a flawed proposition. We should rationally consider our policies, but our objective should be to make people comfortable in themselves and their experiences. Thirdly, I remember wondering why we should apologise for something that happened in the past to people who weren't alive. Last year, as part of working as a teacher, I had the opportunity to engage in professional development, where I met a descendent of the stolen generation, who was able to illuminate to me how the generational trauma still affects the current generations. I'm still not completely certain about apologising for the actions of past persons, but expressing sorrow for past and present harm, and acting to mitigate or repair the present harm is absolutely something worth doing. I am sure when I do an acknowledgement of country I have students in the room sharing these thoughts, and I am pleased that I have come to a point where I can explain the reasoning for my actions, both past and present.

[@matthewjeffrey9190]

It's also because it was Government INSTITUTED POLICY APPROACH. So it's not so much the 'people' I E us the larger white population (although a lot of us did and do harbour racist views), but an apology from your Government for the 2 centuries of genocide and then stolen generations. That's why the apology mattered to indigenous Australians and wider Australian society.

[@themystic8634]

​@@matthewjeffrey9190 I had considered that, but I'm still not sure that I would credit the government today with being the same government it was then, it being made of people. I do credit that others see the matter differently, and perception matters to people's experience, and that this is worth doing to give those people comfort. Personally, it strikes me as too much "Sins of the father" to assume that an organisation made of different people is the same. What is important to me is to acknowledge the wrong that was done and the intent to make it right, as well as to demonstrate understanding of the wrong so that people may be assured that the intent will translate into effective action. I definitely agree that the larger population, including myself, have current things to address and apologise for as well. I benefit from both past and current systemic privilege and it hurts me that I can't see a way to personally shed that advantage, because my control of the system is marginal at best. My personal resolution is to achieve small change for as many as I can, by promoting empathy, contextual awareness and thoughtful engagement in my teaching.

[@matthewjeffrey9190]

@@themystic8634 I guess I would say it wasn't that far removed. The stolen generations happened well into the 60s and 70s and in Federal Parliament there were still or just were members who signed off on Government INSTITUTED policy of removal for the "best interests" of Aboriginals people's. So in Government lens of its timeline, if it's not some of the people in 2007 that were in that day that actions and POLICY you apologising for, it's really the people and house that were "just in yesterday" you are apologising for. But thanks for your thoughtful response. Government document, policy and machinery should be cast in a different light I reckon compared to an individual or group of. I am happy that is what you are taking today and forward in your life. Big love to you!

[@themystic8634]

@@matthewjeffrey9190 I suppose you're revealing the gaps in my reactive perceptions. Thinking about I'm logically aware of the crossover in time periods, but it isn't where my mind goes naturally. Something to consider, certainly. Thanks to you as well, this may be my first post directly commenting on my home politics, and I admit to having some concern that comments would be antagonistic. It was a pleasure to find thoughtful discussion. I wish you the best.

[@matthewjeffrey9190]

@@themystic8634 yes your howards and keatings and some backbenchers manage to stay in for 30-40 years either continously or on off. That's at the Crux of Rudd's question. That Howard Cabinet didn't follow the recommendations of the report in the 90s because it "wasnt in the best interests of Aboriginal welfare" - non verbatim of course. Howard himself, involved in state politic in the 60s and Federal from the 70s onwards.

[@rynwildfire4444]

An apology is to say regret for what is done and a promise to never do it again a promise that suffering for some will not be repeated an apology from people who where not responsible for the original wrong is a pledge to make sure it never NEVER happens again. An apology is not just about responsibility it's an acknowledgement that someone hurts and that hurt will not be repeated. There is never emptiness in a sincere apology only a chance for healing. Living in a country that cant even acknowledged the crimes of the stolen generation had to be like waiting the chance for history to be repeated waiting for the authorities to come waiting for your child to be ripped from you. I cant even imagine what it must have been like before this was recognized as a wrong. How fearful it must have been. I am sorry for that suffering for that fear and loss.

[@banjerism7281]

If this guy knew what he was talking about, the message to John Howard would be "Give us our guns back".

[@francespowell6923]

LOLNO. That was one of the only sensible things Howard did.

[@garry839]

A Strategic tactical move from Kevin !!!! Knows how to play chess well

[@blackbarbaron5818]

on ya ruddy

[@tomcross3000]

The stupidity of “oh well, historical events having modern day standards applied to them is wrong” cannot be overstated in this case. Taking kids away from parents has always been wrong, trying to breed out the colour of another race has always been wrong, eugenics has always been wrong, slavery and concentration camps have always been wrong, and thesedays widely acknowledged as crimes against humanity.. this was the white australia experiment which howard was around for, which many in his government were too. So he failed and then some, with indigenous relations at an all time low and the rise of one nation which he hesitantly stamped down. And this is trauma that has been passed down intergenerationally.. identity has been lost irretrievably! Mental and physical health of a people which was already bad, had been colossally whacked down by this entire traumatic, disastrous regime. Howard said “well the government of the day thought they were doing the right thing” - no, they gave that as an excuse because they were white, racist and scared and they wanted to control what they could off the shoots of “populate or perish”.

[@siyaindagulag.]

Well stated Tom. Might I add that the Rev. Samuel Marsden and all his beaureacratic antecedents, both church and state are eternally polishing Satan's doorknobs in the very same hell they themselves created for both my grandmothers. No "adoption" records were kept by gov't prior to 1923.and those of the church , before that were unreliable , incomplete obfuscations of the truth. Rudd at least, knows the value of truth.

[@TroublesomeOwl]

When i think back through my lifetime of Labor MP's... i just realised how much talent has been through that institution over the past 4 decades. Just to name a few big ones - Hawke, Keating, Beasley, Swan, Rudd, Gillard, Kennearly, Trad (run her federally ALP please), Albo... if only we could bring em all back together. On the topic of this video, beautiful and eloquent as always Mr Rudd. Kudos to you sir, you were and are one of the best of us.

[@hannahchase3881]

Please don't vote Karl.

[@TroublesomeOwl]

@@hannahchase3881 Please don't speak or breed Hannah if you don't have anything constructive to add :)

[@adriannehaddow8972]

The "intervention' proved where Howard sat, and he was responsible for that, with all the force and money at his disposal. Cheered on by corporations who stood to gain from the resumption of Native Title lands.

[@nettybubba7730]

I always admired you for you standing up and apologising to the stolen generations. It's not hard to apologise. It shows what a good person does when they see something that is wrong. Thank you.

[@sticks2478]

Beautiful word's backed by zero action. If I punch you the face, then apologize, then keep punching you in the face. Did the apology mean anything?

[@damienwilloughby]

I'm not sorry for anything. We give them a good live.

[@nickbestevaar]

I think the importance of the apology is to recognise that non-indigenous Australians living today benefit from past economic development that required, in part, the stripping away of rights of First Nations Australians. I think there is a fear in the Australian people that if more rights and empowerments are afforded to indigenous Australians, the rest of us will lose some of ours. I think it’s a wholly unfounded fear, and one that we can work toward debunking.

[@SirZaydenOfNapier10]

Well said, sir.

[@shaneholbeck6697]

Well said Kevin. KEVIN22?

[@janmortimer1758]

Thank you for The Apology Mr Rudd and for seeing us through the GFC.You had your finger on the pulse with climate change also and you would have treated asylum seekers more humanely.You also would be much more diplomatic dealing with China,it’s horrid the way Morrison is poking the dragon which is actually hurting our producers.I think we all need to face the fact that they are to be the next Empire and like it or not we need to work with them.I and many others literally felt sick after Abbott was elected.Each day he pulled apart a good policy that Labor had installed.Morrison is worse,a liar and a bully.Don’t even get me started on Dutton and the rest of them.I so hope that Albo can get us over the line!!!!

[@hannahchase3881]

Albo is the worst of the lot..and that's saying something.. peop,e like you always vote the 2 major parties which perpetuates the nightmare..they are the different sides of the same coin. Wake UP

[@samueljesse2179]

Kevin if you are a Christian then you should read what the Bible says in the apostle Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 6;9-11

[@mrelusive8038]

I’m second in line, Someone apologies to me. My ancestors are convicts that didn’t want to come to this shit house anyway

[@grantwooldridge4807]

strawman.. different issue dude. still worthy to look at it, the reasons, the classist system , the sickness of industrialised systems and big cities- but it ain't this issue here.

[@mrelusive8038]

@@grantwooldridge4807 i just want an apology and compensation from the government

[@grantwooldridge4807]

@@mrelusive8038 which government?

[@i8uNWO]

This guy still blowing his own trumpet? Go grow some tomatoes..

[@TimBurbank237]

That Thumbnail tho

[@amosw766]

The only boomer I'd invite to post-work drinks.

[@kestutisbagusauskas8323]

Rudd is, was and always will be a dudd!

[@chaoticneutraldan9417]

It wasn’t just done by other generations. It’s still happening. There is still segregation in Darwin if not anywhere else. To quote my boss, the owner of Hogs Breath in Darwin, “it’s an unspoken rule that we don’t allow them to eat the restaurants up here (in Darwin)” is what as he said as he instructed me to tell a father & his 2 kids to leave the establishment because they were indigenous. I refused to comply. Over the next 3 weeks they fabricated three warnings for poor conduct & fired me. This is still a current issue. Pretending it’s in the past is an outright lie.

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@victorparr1285]

Where's the Australian media reporting on the Durham report .

[@kelleeking5340]

It amazes me you people forget also this guy spent all the surplus

[@TTUploads]

We were in a recession…

[@Laayon19]

Let's Go John !!!!!!!!

[@andrewjones1417]

Enough is enough we are sick and tired of the 2 party retoric !

[@margots.3720]

Sadly, kids are being taken from their parents all over the world for no valid reasons sometimes. Thousands every day. Europe, America,, Australia etc. It happens now as we speak..

[@twilliams2558]

Cheers big Kev

[@ZyoStar]

*shots fired*

[@daveb3987]

A brilliant point. There’s no arguing with this. Thank you, Mr Rudd

[@fimmwolfnope5083]

Ideally governments would acknowledge mistakes of the past and be willing to apologize for wrongful decisions that harmed people. If I thought it right for the Japanese government to apologize for the 'comfort women' of WWII then I suppose I must also feel it right for the Australian government to apologize for the stolen generation. Note that I say the 'government' and not individual Australians, many of whom, myself included, were not born when these events took place. In that regard I agree that it would be an 'empty gesture' because I feel no personal sense of responsibility for those events. A 14th anniversary of the national apology? Indigenous mothers who had their children taken must've grieved for many years before Wednesday Feb 13, 2008. The national apology from your government was and is important, but let's not make it a yearly thing. Like Elvis getting spotted in 7/11 every year for the first 20 years after he died.

[@gregorysavage7527]

It is important for our elder statepersons to continue to grow beyond their terms of power and guide the nation. Some have made valuable contributions. One, Tony Abbott, has continued to be totally destructive. The Appology to first Australians is well overdue. Another Howard appology which should be forthcoming is Iraq. It still rankles me that Australia was an aggressor nation in Iraq.

[@basketcase6999]

Tony Abbott supported a formal apology.

[@gregorysavage7527]

@@basketcase6999 Thankyou for reminding me. I am concerned about his environment wrecking though.

[@rhysweertman1810]

A true Master paralysis his enemy, leaving him vulnerable to attack. Kyur for the itch. - LinKIn ParK.

[@chlosies]

KEVIN )07 4EVA

[@bug-kong]

"Eleguance". You are right on this tho

[@NightfireHC]

The man has a right to his own opinion. This is certainly about settling scores, as he did when he axed Gillard. I voted for Labour in 07 but will never vote for them again after the massacre in our waters north of CI. Scomo 22.

[@Sockdarner007]

Farkoooorfff ya little gnome

[@haydenlad934]

That's why he was in for so long

[@Samsgarden]

Contrition is a slippery slope. They’re coming for you.

[@currawong2011]

Kevin, Howard never resiles

[@ocevicheband502]

There can be no Re 'conciliation in lew of 'conciliation '

[@freedomcall5233]

Honourable Kevin Rudd former Prime Minister, i introduce myself to you as the Foriegn Minister of the Wakamin tribal nation, within the far north east/ western geography of the continent, as a peacekeeper and Elder initiated by our senior Lore man and Elder initiated by Lore i present myself to you and act in good faith and keep the faith of our law and from the heart my words are my bond. With recent printed press was an appeal to overturn the Thoms and Love determination of non aliens and that the current federal government as part of the appeal to the High Court has alleged that in the appeal as quoted : " Aboriginal Sovereignty did not survive colonization ", one can not fathom or tolerate an allegation such as this as a first nation man, with much consideration we seek your honour as a former Prime Minister to shed light on this situation and seek your position on the matter as being a champion to the greater cause to develop and bring together our Sovereignty with that of the Australian nation, a treaty with purpose and plan, it is heartbreaking as the willingness of the first people to wanting this exchange so as each of the many first nations of the geographical landmass are ready to meet with the minds for treaty, and with consideration and agreement bring all peoples together, to heal the prima facia evidence of transgenerational issues of which there are many that was bought to light in your address fourteen years ago. Please Mr Rudd we dilegently seek your interperetation of this alleged statement. Many thanks with peace and respect : Glenn.

[@katejudson8907]

Good points, K. Rudd. Howard gvt version Morrison has changed on this, they get worse. A change if heart would recquire having a viable one.

[@rosehill9537]

There are moments in history where ppl remember where they were when it happened. PM Rudd's I'm sorry to the Stolen Generations was one such moment. A starting point for change and reconciliation. We still have a long way to go.

[@robertbarnier45]

Kevin Rudd is a Statesman.