An estimated 100,000 children were taken from their families over a 60 year span. Educate yourself here on the Stolen Generations, lest ye forget. http://actnow.com.au/Issues/Stolen_Generations.aspx Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:26:31 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://rss-net.sf.net/ I think that it is kind of stupid that this happened but even more, it took so long for the government to apoligise. Thank you Kevin Rudd. It took alot to say something like that but I think it is a step up to the re-connection of the Aboriginal and European settelers' decendents. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:26:31 GMT i am using this site for information because of a history assignment and this site is just great for inforation and has helped me understand a bit more, so thank you. and i truely am sorry to the stolen generation what they went through must have been heart breaking and torturous, my friends mum was a "stolen" child a she still cant sleep well at night. Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:07:51 GMT Its amazing how many people really understand that meaning of Stolen Generation. My grandmother was a "Stolen" child and taken away from her mother and raised in an orphanage. She suffered terribly at the hands of 'people' who thought they were 'doing good' for Aboriginal people. Its so sad that today there is still no recognition for the suffering. I agree the Official Apology was a wonderful thing, and I praise PM Kevin Rudd for this, but since then there has been almost nothing done for Aboriginal children who were stolen. In some states and territories money has been paid out but in other states the amount of monies has been lowered. While no amount of money can account for the suffering of these children, recognition and the truth, and acknowledgement go along way. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:50:44 GMT You know it doesn't really matter bout how you felt back then, what matters is how you feel right now. We can continue down the path of who is right and who is wrong or we can simply make a choice to change. Forgiveness gives you permission to move on from the old and replace it with the new. I forgive your ancestors who were only doing what they thought was right for our children and I no longer blame you, their descendants. You didn't invade our land, we let you in. You didn't steal our children, we gave you reason to take them. It is time that we, as the original inhabitants accept that our path is to walk alongside other Australians - as one. We are all in this together. - Sidney Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:03:24 GMT wow! These kinds of stories - no matter how many of them I read still baffle me to a degree! Am very glad that we're starting to really work towards a better and more equal society! Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:56:55 GMT Yay for the apology! Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:49:20 GMT I hear you Hobart, and I have read reports which indicate the same. It almost feels as though people want to exaggerate the figures. In the bigger picture, while many were taken away from their parents the number that were taken away without reason is extremely small and none to date have been able to demonstrate that that was the case. My only fear is that saying sorry will perpetuate a mentality of 'victimisation'. I argue that indigenous Australians are able to achieve anything that they want to and I challenge anyone to explain to me why such a view is racist? IN the 70s and 80s we had thousands of immigrants come here from overseas with not a penny in their wallets and were able to learn the language, get a job and support families. There is absolutely no reason why indigenous Australians are unable to do the same and what they really need is our support as compassionate fellow Australians. We stole their land, the least we can do is help educate them and ensure they receive all the opportunities afforded to other Australians. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:56:23 GMT hmm, do you know how the theory on the stolen generation started??. a historian studied the files of 800 children and only one of them were taken away for being solely aboriginal, the other 799 were taken away for being mistreated, raped or somewhere else along those lines. gg no re stolen generations a scam and the last time someone bought it up in a court room the case ended up being dismissed because she was taken away for being mistreated. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:26:48 GMT The Federal Government is set to apologise to the members of the Stolen Generations on behalf of previous Governments. National Apology, 9am AEDST Wednesday 13th Feb 2008. Watch it live on SKY, SBS or ABC. Hear it live on Radio National of Triple J. OR visit www.reconcile.org.au for a list of live sites to watch the apology. Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:19:41 GMT Tasmania has also issued an apology. Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:30:46 GMT I have to admit I had very little understanding/knowledge about the Stolen Generations until recently. As Adrienne mentioned, 'Rabbit Proof Fence' was an eye opener. Watch it if you want a better understanding of the issue. Kudos to Labor for leading the nation and finally taking responsibility for the unjust actions of our great great grandparents. Yes, it was in the past. But sometimes the past haunts us forever, more so for some than others. It's time to apologise, to bring about healing and hopefully, a greater sense of unity to this country. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:31:26 GMT i recommend the film "Rabbit Proof Fence" it is just a bit of an eye opener to see how life was back then for the aboriginals, how families were ripped apart and the negative impacts on the children who were taken away. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 02:25:32 GMT Xavier is actually right because funnily enough, he has an opinion of his own and is purely exercising his democratic right to free speech. Why is Xavier's opinion not accepted or acknowledged when he is only saying what he believes. This is not hatred but an opinion based on feelings, bounded by emotions, conceived through experience: and a lot of us feel this way. Truth: our land was stolen, our people were killed, our women raped, our children taken and our community has been totally destroyed. It is not that hard to accept but you need to accept this before you can use the word reconciliation, as a tool to support your arguments. You cast your judgements and dictate your values from an idealistic view while sitting in your ivory towers made of glass: so please I am asking nicely - do not tell us how we should feel. Or do we not have the same rights as you do here in the ACTNOW community. Sidney (Ngarritj) Watts Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:59:04 GMT Xavier, your attitude is the reason why reconciliation has not been achieved and as long as you think that way it never will. People who share your attitude should take a real good look at themselves because hate only attracts more hate. Why not make better use of your time and come up with constructive solutions to address the indigenous health issues of this country and the disproportionate high unemployment rate of Aboriginal communities. Sun, 27 May 2007 06:21:04 GMT Xavier - I hope you are kidding, I can really see us all working together with that attitude. Lets all take a little responsibility for making this country a better place - the whole victim/blame thing really doesn't go very far. Arty Thu, 17 May 2007 13:59:50 GMT Have you ever heard of Noel Tovey? Well he is an Aboriginal who was part of the stolen generation. He was sexually abused by his carer and altogether had a pretty hard life. AS a teenager he was thrown in jail for being homosexual. He now is 71 years old and speaks out for indiginous rights through performing arts. He is especially speakig out for gay rights etc. You might be interested in reading about him,,, Love Rhea xoxx Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:37:12 GMT Fri, 08 Dec 2006 22:09:34 GMT I live in a pschizo-efrfictive world and that's schroprenia, bi -polar and depression and opression from all angles. I will speak the truth. This land belongs to it's people and you wanna cure mental illness then heal this land before it's too LATE FOR YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!! PAY THE RENT to the natives all across the world and if you immigrate then you must stay here and learn and work what we taught you!!! Remeber WHITE Australia Has A BLACK HISTORY! Learn Aboriginal LORE and CULTURE! Your on our lands and you stole our children, raped our women, totally destory our community and for what exactly????????????? Tue, 08 Aug 2006 01:28:32 GMT I would agree with you XavierSnee, I am Indigenous myself Thu, 27 Jul 2006 06:32:29 GMT I disagree with when it happened, because it still happens today where aboriginal children are still being taken away today from there families and placed in either group homes or foster care. I should know because I was a member of the 1980's "Stolen Generation" Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:57:02 GMT