Genocide Apology Essay -- Government

The Politics of Apology What are your views on moving on, forgive and forget or saying sorry for any(prenominal) genocide.There comes a time in the history of a nation when peoples must become fully reconciled to their past if they are to go frontwards with confidence to embrace their future (Rudd, 2008 p. 167).The concept of justification is often linked to reparations in genocide studies (Lofstrom, 2011 p. 94). Scholars will question whether an apology or an admission of transgression is an adequate post-genocidal response. If an apology is not enough, then how does any institution, government or political group approach the issue of moving on from past wrongs? Does the precise act of apologising help to mask the ongoing issues still faced by those who are oppressed? With reference to the Apology to Australias Indigenous People offered by the Federal Government on 13 February 2008, has this apology served its intended purpose, or is more work required to achieve an effective and lasting reconciliation among white Australia, and its indigenous forbears. To explore these questions, it is important to gain a wider understanding of the content of an apology, the purpose of an apology, and also to look more closely into the effects of apology in a specific circumstance.Blatz, Schumann and Ross (2009 p. 221) identify 6 key elements that comprise a comprehensive apology. These elements are remorse, acceptance of responsibility, admission of injustice or wrongdoing, realization of harm and/or victim suffering, forbearance or promises to be defend better in future and offers of repair. These elements should be present in any apology if it is to have the desired effect.Stamato (2008 p. 389) offers an interpretation of the purpose and effec... .... Axis rule in occupied Europe. New York The Lawbook Exchange Ltd.Lofstrom, J. (2011). Historical apologies as acts of symbolic inclusion and exclusion? Reflections on institutional apologies as politics of cultural c itizenship. Citizenship Studies 15(1)93-108.Murphy, F. (2011). Archives of sorrow an exploration of Australias stolen generations and their journey into the past. History & Anthropology 22(4)481-495.Rudd, K. (2008). Australia, House of Representitives 2008, Debates, vol.HR1, pp. 167, accessed 22/3/2012, http//parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2008-02-13/0003/hansard_frag.pdffileType= natural covering%2FpdfShort, D. (2010). Australia a continuing genocide? Journal of Genocide Research 1245-68.Stamato, L. (2008). Peace and the culture and politics of apology. Peace Review A Journal of loving Justice 20389-397.