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Hello, Darryl, I don't think we've conversed before.
I sometimes wonder whether those of us who have some Australian aboriginal lineage really give a tinker's cuss about someone saying 'sorry'. If that truly is the case, then why? I doubt that any non-aboriginal would not ascribe to that view in our current age.
Don't, please, get me wrong. If Mr Rudd wishes to offer an apology I will not be complaining. Let the legal eagles sort out the mess afterwards. I'd like to see some sort of centralised study and remedial action taken on such things as:
Education (including getting children to school) which involves parents in the final "equation"
Responsibility (which includes getting up off your arse and doing something rather than waiting for the dole day or the local petrol tanker). Responsibility also means ridding oneself of the nepotism and general corruption (or at least the misdirection of funds provided by all Australians) which, at least from my reading, has been endemic - no doubt assisted by bureaucrats who couldn't care less.
Pride (as opposed to being a 'victim'). I am English by stock, does that make me evil? I'm proud of my background as much as I am of my being an Australian resident for the past fifty-odd years even though in both cases I acknowledge that my forebears were not perfect. Incidentally I'm still waiting an apology from all the nations/clans/tribes who invaded my motherland.
OK, Darryl, I jest, but with serious undertones. As a white fella I too used to earn a few quid as a youngster. In my case it was pumping petrol on the weekends (10/- per day) or caddying at the local golf course (12/- as I had a 'regular') and finding and collecting lost golf balls and selling them to the pro shop (that was more remunerative than caddying, to be honest). Prior to that it was window cleaning - 6d per window, inside and out, bring your own gear) whilst at the same time breeding white mice (please don't ask me to where they went; I didn't) and selling them at 2/- each.
I think, Darryl, that you and I grew up at the same time. Our experiences are really not all that different.
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