Sowwy.

Dear Prime Minister,

     When white Europeans came to this country they were immediately surprised at finding another race already inhabiting the island. The Europeans, now white Australians, thought themselves much more superior to these original land dwellers and set out to wipe them out from the country.
     Most Aborigines were expected to only work as domestic servants or laborers and because of this widely known and accepted belief, these were the only jobs they could get. Especially for the women who were sent off to homes to work as maids and nannies.
     The APB or Aborigine Protection Board was created by the white Australians and the name seems to say that they were actually looking out for the well being of the natives while in reality, this program made it legal to take Aborigine children from their home without warning to be put in new European run homes. This was called the stolen generation. Hundreds of thousands of children were taken from their families just to be raised in what the English considered and more "civilized" environment.
     Not only were these children and families affected at the time but many years after these horrible events people were still feeling the blows. Families had been torn apart and parents lost their children without any sort of warning and were to never see them again. Children, who often grew up in thees new homes with much sexual and physical abuse, suffer depression and post traumatic stress disorder for the rest of their lives. Not only that but they can no longer retrace their family trees and try and find their family because all connections are lost.
     The people of Australia feel an immense sense of guilt towards these people who have been mistreated just as Americans did towards the African Americans. As for an official apology, it needs to be made. Although the people who have been hurt will never get back what has been taken from them, they can at least be sure that prior offenses have been recognized and no longer are being ignored. They will now be assured of the fact that their suffering has been noticed and will try to be corrected from now on.

Sincerely,
Zoe Bean