Australia is sorry

Emotions, tears and cheers marked one of the most historic moments in the history of this country.Today, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, said sorry to the indigenous people of Australia. He said “"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.”

I say thank you Mr Rudd for your stance of justice and courage. Today, I feel proud to be an Australian. I feel proud to be part of this nation.

Kevin Rudd has shown an exemplary model of leadership. He demonstrated courage to change the direction of the nation. His speech was so strong, refreshing and honest. Today the parliament met "To remove a great stain from the nation's soul and in the true spirit of reconciliation to open a new chapter in the history of this great land Australia.''

Today, all living ex-prime ministers of Australia attended this historic moment in the parliament, except for one - John Howard. John Howard did not want to apologize to the indigenous people. John Howard was responsible for targeting and scapegoating of the Muslim community. John Howard was responsible for causing a rift within our communities and for leaving the country with a feeling of lost hope. John Howard did not attend the apology speech today. Shame!!

I hope that Australia takes this day of reconciliation as an opportunity for reconciliation with all communities in this country.

Break the siege, not the legs

The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmad abu al-Ghait, recently threatened to break the legs of any Palestinian if they tried to cross the Egyptian border again. His comments came days after Palestinians from Gaza broke through the Egyptian Rafah border seeking temporary relief from the siege that the occupying forces have been imposing on the Gazans.

The brutality of Abu al-Ghait's comments amazes me. Instead of advocating breaking the siege, he threatens to break the legs of those under siege.

This same government is one that recently had to apply to Israel to seek permission to increase the number of border patrol on the Egyptian border. The application was refused!! Ironically, this initiative by the Egyptian government was in response to Israel's request to better control the borders to prevent the siege on Gaza being breached.

So in the midst of this humiliation and lack of control over his country’s border, Ahmad abu al-Ghait decides to attack an easy target. He announces the gruesome threat to cut the legs of anyone who violates the Egyptian border. It takes no genius to work out that he is referring to the Palestinians and not Israelis. Israelis, under the Camp David peace accord, are free to enter Sinai with no visas.

Mr Ahmad abu al-Ghait, it is time to make a stance of courage, a stance of humanity a stance of justice. Break the siege ….. don’t break the legs of those under siege.