Reconciliation Requires Acknowledgement, Apology and Forgiveness

This is my third post on the upcoming VOICE referendum.
The first (Reconciliation Requires Equality) addresses the unjust principle of giving Australians different rights in a liberal democracy based on the race of their ancestors.
The second (Reconciliation Requires Beneficial Results) briefly discusses two major undesirable consequences of passing the referendum to put the VOICE into our Constitution, together with doubt of its ability to produce its promoted benefits.

This post will discuss the current situation and how that could be improved without resorting to changing our Constitution.
Although there is nothing we can do about changing the past, we can certainly do something about the past.

Non-ATSI people can acknowledge the errors of the past, regret them and apologise for them, and show the sincerity of that apology in practical ways.

A formal apology was offered to ATSI people by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008 for "the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians".

Some of the ways that show the sincerity of that apology are:
a. We have a National Sorry Day, officially the National Day of Healing, on May 26 each year as part of the continuing efforts towards reconciliation between ATSI and non-ATSI Australians.
b. We have a Federal Indigenous Affairs Department.
c. We have an Indigenous Affairs Minister.
d. We have 11 Members of Parliament who are Indigenous.
e. We have hundreds of Indigenous groups lobbying and advising our various governments.  
f. State and Territory governments administer services just for Indigenous people.
g. We have a television channel (NITV) just for Indigenous people.
h. The ABC and SBS always have Indigenous panel members on every talk and current affairs program that broadcasts about Indigenous issues.
i. More than $30 billion dollars of taxpayer money is spent every year on Indigenous affairs.

And although there are some ATSI people still living in shocking conditions, there are many others who live very comfortable lives and enjoy professional careers and fulfilling work, education and social opportunities in our cities and regional towns.

This is especially true of those who seem most active in the promotion of the Yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the VOICE and whose attitude towards non-ATSI peoples for providing these opportunities seems unappreciative.

So if the acknowledgement and apology is there and the evidence of its sincerity is there, what is missing?
The obvious thing missing is an appropriate response from ATSI people.

Thank you for your acknowledgement, regret and apology. We accept it and forgive you.
And thank you for the benefits so many of us have received and the efforts you are making to listen to us and help us achieve our best.

But I don't see any suggestion of such a response associated with the VOICE. Indeed, quite the opposite.

Normally people only need to say sorry once. But non-ATSI Australians are expected to say “Sorry” every year – on National Sorry Day -- demonstrating the “Sorry” is never accepted, let alone the offering of forgiveness, resulting in victim status, retribution and other demands continuing endlessly into the future.

I believe there can never be reconciliation between ATSI and non-ATSI people without acknowledgement and sincere apology for errors of the past, its acceptance and the offering of sincere forgiveness.

Jesus taught us to love God, love our neighbour as ourselves, and to forgive even our enemies, so no matter what relationship currently exists between ATSI and non-ATSI people, Jesus surely has that situation well-covered with this teaching and advice.

Here is a link to a thought-provoking article for everyone, especially Christians.
https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/religion/2023/06/five-reasons-christians-should-reject-the-voice/.
Some of the comments below the article are worth a read too.

I believe reconciliation and consequential "Closing the Gap" progress is now in the hands of our ATSI peoples - to stop the grievance war, offer forgiveness and move on together with their fellow Australians without requiring separate, additional privileges.

Blessings, Barry
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Published BLOG at https://barrysgracespace.blogspot.com
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au