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Old December 13th 03, 06:08 PM
Victor Manta
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Peter,

Therefore, as I understand your opinion, the First Minister of Mongolia
should indeed present his excuses to Russia, China and to dozens of other
countries, because the atrocities committed by his ancestors in the distant
past *did* happen.

And that, consequently, the official, elected representatives of different
native tribes worldwide should officially present their apologies for the
massacres that they permanently perpetrated in the past against all who
happened to live on the same territory (natives like them or not)?

I just wonder if I speak here about a third category of massacres and
injustices, about which any remembrance is politically incorrect...

I continue to think that a country shows its respect for the humans of the
past, present and future by implementing a proper political system and not
by (thousand of) reciprocal excuses for times when the individual rights
weren't properly observed (by nobody!).

Victor Manta

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"Peter Aitken" wrote in message
.com...
"Victor Manta" wrote in message
...
Our current Prime Minister hasn't the bottle
to offer a simple apology. (Rodney)


Hi Rodney,

Of course, it is your right to "feel in my heart, not my head" or anyway
else. :-) You are also free to present your excuses to anyone you wish

for
anything you wish (as long as you do it in your name).

It isn't the same for a Prime Minister to present excuses, as long as
neither s/he nor people that s/he represents directly participated in

these
crimes.

It is necessary and sufficient that the Constitution of a country

qualifies
these kind of behavior as crimes and enforces the corresponding laws. As
much as I know, this is the case for your country.

This hopefully answers your second posting too.

Greetings,

Victor Manta


Victor,

I think you nee to realize that apologies fall into two categories. One,

the
kind you are talking about, is when there is direct personal

responsibility.
The other is simply a way of expressing regret. For example, if your
friend's mother died you might well say "I am sorry that your mother died"
even though it had nothing to do with you. I think this is the sort of
apology that is being discussed here. If the prime minister made such an
apology it would not be an admission that present day white Australians

bear
any personal responsibility for events long ago. Rather it would be an
acknowledgement and expression of regret that this wretched treatment of

the
native people *did* happen.


--
Peter Aitken



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