Although this speech is one of the best-known and most
important speeches in modern Australian history, it does not give that much in the way
of specifics. It is more important for the fact that Keating openly admits that white
Australians wronged the aboriginals than for any specific practical
suggestions.
Keating says that if white Australians open
their hearts and see what they have in common with aboriginal
Australians
we
will see the things which must be done - the practical
things.
However, he does not
go on to list many specifics. He does cite the creation of the Council for Aboriginal
Reconciliation. However, he does not say what it should do. He talks about improving
living conditions and health care in aboriginal towns, but he does not say how this will
be done.
This speech is more about empathy than about
practical suggestions. What Keating really wants Australians to do is to understand the
wrongs done to aboriginals and to feel the desire to right those wrongs. Once that is
done, he believes, specific details of how to right the wrongs will become
apparent.
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