18 November 2009 / STAR ERGUN BABAHAN,
The Australian government has issued an apology to children who were sent at a young age from Britain to Australia, where they were grievously mistreated.
There are historical events which cause every government, every empire to face up to the past. And this is precisely what the Australian government has done. And now all eyes swivel to Britain, which wrenched young children away from their mothers and fathers and forced them to go to the other side of the world. We are living in an age where realities cannot be hidden away. Facing up to history is a necessity of this age, a necessity of consciousness, a necessity of humanity. And these facings-up do not divide societies, but in fact make them stronger. A healthy society must at times head into therapy, and in fact, therapy is unavoidable if it wants to stay healthy. And so, facing up to history is a form of societal therapy.
