Reconciliation Week 2019: Sad that so many won't say sorry

Particularly the evocative Memorial to the Stolen Generation, nestled in the embrace of overhanging trees.

I was there last Friday for local Sorry Day commemorations, organised by Campbelltown council, and can't speak highly enough of the dignity, diversity, and quiet reflection that we all felt.

Almost everyone has an opinion on the Stolen Generation, but when you drill right down, the reality for countless thousands of people is that for nearly 70 years it was official government policy to literally kidnap children from their parents.

Read more: Thousands turn out for Bellambi Community Walk for Reconciliation

If you don't agree with the word 'kidnap', read the Bringing Them Home report. It couldn't have been more brutal, the victims are still with us, and the pain is real.

Uncle Ivan and Uncle Daryl spoke from the heart as they introduced a range of emotional speakers.

On the pollie front, Wollondilly Mayor Matt Deeth was a standout with his short but powerful message explaining why people who are not personally responsible for something can still feel sorry and say sorry.

Days like this are important, I thought, as I watched the camaraderie between people, heard the stories, and saw the cultural pride in young local people as they staged Aboriginal dances.

The diversity of the crowd was also striking, every colour and creed, and re the pollies - events like this are normally dominated by Labor, or big-hearted independents such as Judy Hannan and Warren Morrison.

But, to his credit, Wollondilly's new State Liberal MP Nate Smith (often associated with the hard right) attended to pay his respects.

I left feeling a bit sad, but uplifted. We can build a better future together.

Then I got onto Facebook and saw some of the comments certain local people had left on this newspaper's promotion of the event.

"Sorry for what?"

"How much longer do we keep living in the past?"

"This is a joke and waste of ratepayers money."

"No (sorry) from me.." and even, believe it or not, a "LOL" [Laugh Out Loud].

My message to them is simple: This is all about a national acknowledgement, not blaming you personally. Get over yourselves.

There is something in me that wishes these keyboard warriors could see a world through different eyes.

Maybe they could be sent to fight in a war for their country and then be refused entry into a hotel on Anzac Day with their mates. See if that's a case of LOL.

Or put them hard at work in a manual job for years, but pay them only in poor quality rations while their workmates get cash wages. LOL again?

Or, here's the big one, have their own children ripped away from them because of the colour of skin...and make no mistake, that was the criteria. NSW law specifically allowed removal of children "without having to establish in court that they were neglected." Being born Aboriginal was crime enough.

Imagine being held back as the children you love are ripped from your arms, never to be seen again, as they disappear into a system that often led to sexual abuse or semi-slavery. Still LOL?

But the most head-slapping online comments were perhaps the ones like this:

Didn't KRudd say Sorry on behalf of all Australians? How many times do we say Sorry? Yearly event??

Just how many times is it necessary to say sorry for it to be accepted?

Hmmm. I can only assume these same people also oppose Anzac Day?

After all, we've already said thank you to the Diggers. Just how many times is it necessary to keep saying thank you for it to be accepted?

Well, we do it every year to acknowledge our Anzacs, to remember that tragic part of our story, to pay our respects, and to grow as a nation.

Same with Sorry Day.

The bad bits of our national story are just as important as the good bits.

Lest we forget.