Feb 13 2009
One Year On. I wonder if we will remember?
The enormity of this week’s Victorian fire storms are beyond my comprehension.
Lives, livelihoods and homes indiscriminately destroyed, the erasure of deep personal and community heritage built over generations and the shared pain felt by those who lived this devastating event will unfortunately become another chapter in our history.
The survivor’s shock will be felt far into the future, when others in society have moved on, hopefully not forgetting too quickly what our fellow Australians have endured. Outsiders cannot possibly understand the deep pain, no matter how hard we try to empathise.
This tragedy has rightfully consumed our nation’s hearts and minds. I’m proudly biased so the outpouring of humanity, generosity and community spirit exemplifies why our country is the best in the world, bar none. In times of enormous grief we unite as one and rally to offer assistance as one. That typifies an Aussie. I expected that.
Unfortunately our nation’s history has not always been this compassionate. My feelings above could easily describe the appalling treatment suffered by indigenous populations, especially the stolen generations. The difference being our immediate fire tragedy was largely spontaneous and natural the other a series of premeditated policies inflicted by our nation’s forebears.
The degrees of separation, passing of time and a lack of personal connection and understanding dulls responsibility. However it does not make it right, nor should it excuse past national behaviours.
Let’s hope on this day, the 1st anniversary of the national apology, we do not forget too soon the many lives still living the hell inflicted by either Mother Nature or our fellow man.
Reconciliation and rebuilding are synonymous; let’s do both in pragmatic achievable steps and see if we can’t arrive at both concurrently. I trust Australia can and will.
If you have a spare 7 minutes, I hope you can pause and reflect on the words uttered 12 months ago. The “Get Up Mob” and assorted reconciliation friends also illustrate that historic day and prompt us all to make a difference.
“Sorry” from Tony Searl on Vimeo.
