It really has nothing about guilt but understanding what has happened. We didn't kill or kick out any of the American Indians but we did benefit from it.

If my and your family are out on the street and decide to take over Merc's house so we have a place to stay and your father goes in, kills Merc's family, and we both move in. Neither of us did any of the killing and we may be friends with Merc's kid but the fact is that both me and you benefit from your dad killing Merc and that Merc's kid is directly hurt from you killing his father.

We as a nation and a group of people have to recognize what we did, how we still benefit from it today, and stop treating the American Indians like savages.

I recognize what other people did. I acknowledge that I live on land that once belonged to someone else. (But you see - I bought and paid for the land I live on) Depending on who you ask and what year you are talking about it may have been mexicans or indians. I see both mexicans and indians each and every day of my life and it's been awhile since I tried to barter with them with them using beads and firewater.

Seriously get over your self hate. Quit buying the hype that all these people are living lives of horror and you are to blame because you are white. Would it help if I walked down the street and grabbed a random mexican or indian and offered them an apology and cash?

How much? And what exactly would I be apologizing for? That someone they never met, their great great great grandparent might have had a bad dealing with my great great great grandparent who I never met?

Being aware of the past does not mean you have to dwell in it. I certainly don't expect any apologetic feelings from dana or Sundae Girl, and I'm pretty sure that someone from the UK might have wronged someone from Scotland at some point. This dwelling in the past has to stop if you ever want to move on.

**Bold for my emphasis**

But I don't treat them as savages - never have, never will. Did I benefit from whatever happened? I don't know. My great grandparents didn't arrive in this country till 1888. They settled in New England, lived, worked and died there. My grandparents? - same story. They went to Philadelphia once.

My question is: How much culpability should I bear? What is my level of responsibility, or my children's? I think ZERO, and giving one dime to the Indians could be argued as depriving my children from that "money" or whatever.

I have to agree with PH's stance. He's got it right from the perspective of non indigenous australians. We have benefited from what our ancestors did, and aboriginal people have suffered because of what our ancestors did, and are still doing in some ways.

For instance, before white people arrived here, Aboriginal people did not have alcohol at all, but now that we're here, alcohol is the number one cause of death among Aboriginal people. The things white people brought to Aboriginal people have been far more harmful than any advantages all the new racists seem to think they have.

It seems to me that you face the same types of problems in the US with regard to attitudes towards indigenous people. I'm glad Australia as a nation hasn't taken 400 years plus to see that. I am hopeful of a more positive future for all of us.

Let's see...Yes, obviously.

Receiving stolen property?

ROTFLMAO!!!! Good one. What a load of crap.:D

You can keep on living in your guilt ridden world, I'll sleep quite comfortably in my shame free slumber.

If they want my land back, bring it on.

You can acknowledge something was wrong without feeling personal guilt over it.

Better yet, when are you giving up your place HM????? you guilt ridden poor baby. Live up to your ideals and give away all your shit you hypocrite.:D

I don't understand why some people don't get it.

All of us, including our indigenous people have to acknowledge that the world must move forward and that you can't take back the actions of the past, but surely you can see how much it might mean to someone by simply acknowledging that what was done by your ancestors was wrong?

In Australia, no one is calling for everyone but indigenous people to leave. No one is suggesting that Aboriginal people should get to claim all the land. People are simply coming to realize that past decisions have had dire consequences for many people and that it should be acknowledged out of simple respect if nothing else.

In America I totally get it. Just don't ask me for money because of it.:D

I don't quite get it. Is the general population suddenly coming to this conclusion? Or the government? Or is it suddenly politically correct to state this? I don't get why this is a sudden and major event as if diplomats suddenly signed a major treaty? What is it that makes this ceremony so significant or necessary?

It's not sudden. It's been coming for decades now, and probably would have happened sooner but our previous conservative government was too afraid to acknowledge any wrong because they felt similarly to Merc and lookout. That is to say, they refused to see that this event could be the start of a healing process between indigenous and non indigenous australians and prefered to think that if they did they'd be accepting guilt and possible financial losses. This topic has been debated in the public forum for years and years.

Maybe this will cost money, but whatever that cost is, I say it is a small price to pay for giving Aboriginal people back their dignity.