I found this interesting -- and moving. One of the deep traits of a mature masculinity is being able to take responsibility for our mistakes and make amends. That always begins with a sincerely felt apology -- and a desire to be better men.
Men say sorry for abuse, violence
By Tara Ravens
July 03, 2008 04:46pm
For the past three days in the icy desert of Central Australia, men of all age groups from Cape York, the Top End, Central Australia, NSW and WA have discussed ways to be better fathers, husbands and sons.
They also sought to repair the damage caused in the 12 months since their communities were denounced as hotbeds of violence and abuse.
Since the federal intervention to combat child sex abuse was launched in June last year, John Liddle - from the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress - said Aboriginal men had been painted as brutal and uncaring.
"We are not all bastards," Mr Liddle told the gathering at Ross River outside of Alice Springs.
"We need to acknowledge the hurt and pain that has been caused by violence which has shamed many indigenous males who are not violent."
But he conceded good men had sat in silence, and today they issued a collective apology.
"We the Aboriginal males from Central Australia and our brothers from around Australia ... acknowledge and say sorry for the hurt, pain and suffering caused by Aboriginal males," the statement said.
"We also acknowledge that we need the love and support of our Aboriginal women to help us move forward."
One of the authors of the report which sparked the Howard Government's emergency response, Rex Wild QC, said the apology was "very powerful and very moving".
He said child abuse was not just an Aboriginal problem and it had been unfair of governments to single them out.
"They are not acknowledging there is a higher rate, they are acknowledging there is a rate, that there is a level of domestic violence that they have now said sorry for," he said.
Major General David Chalmers, who is heading the intervention roll-out, denied the intervention had "put a bad name out for Aboriginal men" and called for a "total solution" to child abuse.
"It has to come from within communities and government can only facilitate that solution," he said.
Peter Yu, chairman of the board that will hand the Rudd Government a 12-month review of the reforms, said he would consider the summit's recommendations, including community-based violence prevention programs and men's shelters.
Joe Hayes, a father who lives on an outstation 25km from Alice Springs, said he walked away from the gathering "a proud Aborigine".
"We have got to try and be responsible parents and our attitudes have got to change ... saying sorry is the best part of healing," he said.
1 comment:
SUCH A PROFOUND AND BEAUTIFUL MOMENT IN TIME. THEY HAVE MY RESPECT AND HONOR AT SUCH A DEEP ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I PRAY THE DAY COMES WHEN THEIR WOMEN CAN FEEL SECURE ENOUGH TO FEEL LOVE AGAIN.
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