Dear Visitors, Welcome to our feature article on aboriginal reconciliation prepared by Stefan Carey. We hope that you will read this and make a contribution to our Forum in response. The intention of the article is to promote discussion and interest in this issue. Stefan Carey is a past Intranet co-ordinator, a qualified science journalist and graphic designer. Mr Maurice's words could be those of our indigenous people today, seemingly taunted by the lack of an apology from Australia's leader.
Reconciliation is at a standstill.
Sorry is an obvious first step, but it's only the first step. We need to go a bit deeper, and deal with the human experience on both sides, without the process getting lost in politics. Yet, as a nation, for whatever reason, we seem unable to summon the courage for the emotional honesty needed to even start a genuine reconciliation. The South African Government faced up to a problem like ours with remarkable courage - because they saw no other way out. After renouncing Apartheid, Councils of Truth and Reconciliation were set up, to publicly let white and black alike tell their own horror stories of life under Apartheid without fear of retribution.