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| 19th Century Apache |
The current out cries about the way aboriginal children were mistreated and how cultural genocide was practised is well meant, however, it is also part of history. No one person, group, religious sect or government should have to apologise for any historic act. You should acknowledge the facts, but not apologise for them.
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin”. -Deuteronomy 24:16
“It is unfortunate that in most cases when the sins of the father fall on the son it is because unlike God, people refuse to forgive and forget and heap past wrongs upon innocent generations”.
― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
Should the Jews apologise for the crucifixion of Christ?
Should the Italians apologise for the Roman occupations and the Colosseum butchery?
Should the Spanish apologise for the annihilation and extinction of the Incas, Taino, Olmecs, Astecs and Mayans?
Should the Germans still have to apologise for Hitler and WWII?
These events are part of history. We may (in today's way of thinking) feel some shame or remorse of what occurred, but not to apologise for it.
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| 19th Century Apache |
As an individual, maybe you bullied someone, fought with someone or maybe even shoplifted or stole something. Did your conscience bother you? Maybe a little, right? But have you as an adult gone back to that person or shop etc. and seriously apologised for how you misbehaved? I would venture to say No. You learned from your mistakes and made amends with future events. That is my point. Always 20-20 vision when looking into the past, but the present is never that clear.
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| Students 1879 |
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| St Pauls Middle School Manitoba Circa 1900 |
“It is true that all of us are the beneficiaries of crimes committed by our ancestors.... These are good reasons for keeping our mouths shut about the past: but tell me, what are our reasons for silence about atrocities still to come”?History is a tool, a tool that allows us to see what right and what wrong we did as individuals and as societies. We learn from history and try to not repeat the bad. As for these children, we cannot undo what has happened. We can show remorse and learn how to more appropriately assimilate the aboriginal peoples into our society and to learn their culture — not apologise.
― Damon Knight, One Side Laughing: Stories Unlike Other Stories
