... closing the gap ...
As I walked to work this morning the excitement was palpable - from the council workers here tidying up The Block in Redfern to the young photographer who simply wanted to tease. An hour and a half later, this area was teaming with both Indigenous and Non-indigenous Australians all listening to our Prime Minister utter that essential word - Sorry.
In May 2000 I walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with thousands upon thousands of my compatriots pleading with our government to effect reconciliation in the most simple of ways. Finally, we have a man who has the courage, the moral fortitude and the empathy to do what others could not bring themselves to do.
This must not be the end of it though. And I feel sure that Kevin Rudd will not let this momentum stall. He'll probably have to answer to Therese if he does! With his "war cabinet" (and what a way to snooker the lilly-livered-liberals) and with "compensation" money, he now needs a policy mix that delivers education, health and a future if not for this generation then at least, for the next. He will need strength. He will need determination. He will need empathy. He will need ... love.
You have my support, Kevin.
Julie I am also an almost-rusted-on classico, have been since the age of about 6 i think! However, all my life I have gone off on wonderful musical tangents....still do....most important thing in my life...i would shrivel and perish without music. When I lived in Sydney, I was a long-term SSO subscriber, and aslo occasionally went to the opera. Actually live opera is what i miss most...it's just not the same on the radio, CD or DVD. Going up to Brisbane to the opera is just too much of a drag.
Posted by: Jude wagner | 16 February 2008 at 08:58 AM
Thank you for the comments, Ladies. The blogs have made for interesting reading in the last 24 hours. Amazing how many people were deeply touched by the courage and sincerity of the man. I hope his Mum and Dad are looking down over a cloud somewhere. It is fascinating to try to trace how character is formed in people. Nature or nurture ...
Posted by: Julie | 14 February 2008 at 10:39 PM
Yes, Julie,I went through lots of emotions also...I thought Rudd was mesmorising, and spoke so sincerely, from his heart.And, yes, i certainly agree with your comment about being good theatre. And JW Howard has shown himself for what he is, and what a lot suspected....mealy-mouthed,ungenerous,opportunistic,etc
Posted by: Jude wagner | 14 February 2008 at 08:28 PM
He has mine too Julie. I like the man.
Posted by: Melody | 14 February 2008 at 08:56 AM