Yet against those evils, an apology seems inadequate. How can words alone atone for a genocidal effort to erase cultures, languages and spiritual identity, and for the legacy of multigenerational pain that residential schools inflicted on Indigenous peoples?Nearly all of us have first-hand experience with apologies — receiving and giving them. And we’re pretty good at recognizing fake ones — the “I’m sorry if anyone was offended by what I said”s.
But when it comes to historic wrongs, apologies are a relatively recent practice by our federal government. It was only in 1988 that Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologized for the internment of Japanese-Canadians and the confiscation of their property during the Second World War. And just last month, the Prime Minister apologized to the Black members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, and their families and descendants, for the racist treatment they faced before, during and after the First World War.Yet some cringe at the thought of the Canadian government apologizing at all, let alone for a wide range of historic wrongs. They try to argue away the harm, minimize the damage and grasp for straws to justify terrible atrocities.
Give us millions so we can blow it
Actions? Aren’t thoughts and prayers enough? Have a little faith…
oh, fook off already.