Sorrowful shortcoming
A SERIOUS fault in the psyche of Australian political culture is the inability to admit it has got it wrong and then apologise.
For example, former PM John Howard would not apologise for the Stolen Generation, nor walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Reconciliation Walk in 2000. A more understanding PM, Kevin Rudd, “righted the wrong’.
The apology by Howard for deporting an Australian citizen Vivienne Alvarez Solon to the Philippines was virtually forced out of him – only after an inquiry, reluctantly through gritted teeth it seemed to me.
Lindy Chamberlain who suffered incarceration for two years in 1980 did receive compensation from the NT Government, but they have never apologised ( I believe after 38 years they are “discussing” it).
Lately the LNP Government has authorised a Banking Royal Commission, yet only a few months ago refused to do so.
They cannot admit they got it wrong, although most Australians probably already realised there were serious faults, as revealed by an earlier Four Corners program.
Only recently has Barnaby Joyce ( not now a cabinet minister) admitted he got it wrong. But Kelly O’Dwyer’s inability to do so defies credulity.
Why are these politicians termed “Honourable”.
Yet some honourable people can admit being wrong “Yes, we stuffed it up” Peter Beattie ( Commonwealth Games).
By non- Australian contrast, George Bush Sr at Okinawa apologised for the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II. Bill Clinton apologised profusely in the White House to the African- Americans still alive from the Tuskagee incident, for the experimental ( non) treatment of syphilis after World War II. Pope John Paul II apologised for the Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries.
None of these people had anything to do themselves with the issues they were apologising for. It is testament to a degree of honour when one can apologise for matters previous when one has personally done nothing wrong.
How much more so when you have.
But when a person cannot apologise or admit they’re wrong I have no respect for that person. Have you? R. L. AGACY,
Gulliver.