The time has come, well and truly come... for all Australians, those who are indigenous and those who are not, to come together, truly reconcile and together build a truly great nation."
The time has come, well and truly come... for all Australians, those who are indigenous and those who are not, to come together, truly reconcile and together build a truly great nation."
This is what Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had said in a speech in February 2008, tendering an apology to the ethnic aboriginal population for laws and policies that "inflicted profound grief, suffering
and loss."
It would not be hard to do a reference to e context. Australia is yet again making the same mistake, though not officially admitting it, as attacks on Indian students and symbols (a gurdwara), continue. Though the case of indigenous aboriginal population cannot draw a parallel with that of Indians, but it would be interesting to note that Rudd clearly pointed out people who are not indigenous as equal partners in the effort to make a "truly great nation."
He made a very vital point in nation making. In fact, I believe that it stands true for every nation on the face of the earth and minorities should be adjudged on the basis of their role in the making of a nation or society and not on their population.
Minorities should be adjudged on the basis of the role they play in making of a nation, not on their population
While the Government of India is yet to come up with some concrete diplomatic measures to address the issue and take it up with the Australian government, the society at large is enraged. Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray also wielded his pen to express how he was furious about the attacks on Indians in Australia and talked about banishing Australian cricketers from playing on Indian soil.
What Mr Thackeray very easily forgot was that he has built his own empire in Mumbai on the basis of the same hate propaganda. His outfit has been responsible for attacking people from other regions of the country for merely setting foot on the land that he claims is his.
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Also, the BJP and the Congress and all other Indian political parties are either in denial mode or using the issue to gain mileage. No, I don't expect them to put up a united face, but they must not forget on one occasion or the other that they are also responsible for inciting hatred and putting Indians against Indians.
We all should take this opportunity to understand the importance of justice and fair play for all sections of the society. And it's high time the government must address the issue of communal disharmony on a war-footing and ensure that no more blood is shed in the name of religion.
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