The seeming change of heart by John Howard on Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders as announced last night can be viewed in many ways. Many will see it as cynical on the eve of an election. Whatever one's position on what has led Howard to now make his statement, The Age editorial perhaps sums it up rather well:
"Last night, almost on the eve of calling the election, Prime Minister John Howard publicly acknowledged the need for much more practical public recognition for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. This was not the resolute John Howard of the 2001 campaign, of the children-overboard scandal. This was not the tough John Howard of earlier this year, who intervened in the indigenous areas of the Northern Territory. This was not even the firm John Howard of recent days, whose Government has unfairly restricted African refugees on spurious grounds, causing racial tension. This was the humble John Howard, repentant and contrite, doing almost everything in his power to recognise indigenous rights except to say the magic word — sorry."
That "sorry" word just can't make it past Howard's lips.
"Last night, almost on the eve of calling the election, Prime Minister John Howard publicly acknowledged the need for much more practical public recognition for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. This was not the resolute John Howard of the 2001 campaign, of the children-overboard scandal. This was not the tough John Howard of earlier this year, who intervened in the indigenous areas of the Northern Territory. This was not even the firm John Howard of recent days, whose Government has unfairly restricted African refugees on spurious grounds, causing racial tension. This was the humble John Howard, repentant and contrite, doing almost everything in his power to recognise indigenous rights except to say the magic word — sorry."
That "sorry" word just can't make it past Howard's lips.
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