Vietnam veteran apology needed

[pies4ever]

Vietnam veteran apology needed
Michael Harvey
August 15, 2006 12:00am

OPPONENTS of the Vietnam War who abused Australian soldiers must apologise and admit they were wrong, federal Parliament heard yesterday.

Victorian Liberal MP Tony Smith said protesters who hurled paint and spat at Diggers decades ago knew they had been wrong but still chose to remain silent.
"It is time for those whose actions added to the emotional wounds of our returned soldiers to act to heal them," Mr Smith said.

Marking the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, he said protesters had been entitled to voice objections to the war but their argument was with the government of the day, not Diggers

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20129412-2862,00.html

[David]

shameful that they even have to ask them to apologise now, this should have been done decades ago. I don't know how anyone could morally justify spitting on returning soldiers.

[Magpie 24]

Maybe they are waiting until after the federal government apologises for stealing children from their parents because they were black.

[HAL]

waiting until after the federal government apologies for stealing children from their parents because they were black are waiting until after the federal government apologies for stealing children from their parents because they were black .

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

[David]

Fair enough, but there is a difference. No-one associated with the current government had any part in the stolen generation, if it occurred. Based on that logic shouldn't they also have to apologise for the White Australia Policy, the denial of suffrage for women in the 1800s, hell, even the invasion of britain in 1066? after all they're descended from the same people.

The difference is, these people who spat on returning soldiers are still alive, and as far as we're aware, completely unremorseful about what they did.

While the stolen generation is a contentious issue, and one that deserves a whole thread about it, I'll qualify my first paragraph. From all accounts, the 'stolen generation' was in most cases a well intentioned attempt to save aboriginal children from abuse. True, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions", and few would argue that what was done was the right thing. All the same, the issue deserves a less simplified view than what is currently held by many.

[London Dave]

[Magpie 24]

[David]

[Magpie 24]

[HAL]

Can you please rephrase that with fewer ideas, or different thoughts?

[David]

[Pa Marmo]

There is a very good reason why the government of today does not say sorry for the so called sins of the past. The minute someone apoligises it will open the litigation flood gates and we will become a nation of mega wealthy Indigeneous peoples with a poor european majority.

[Magpie 24]

Just like all those farmer's lost their land after Native Title?

[Pa Marmo]

Native title has yet to run its race M24. There will be a time of reckoning on native title.