History in the Making: Sorry

In a brilliant, moving speech, Rudd has apologized to the Stolen Generations and to Australia's indegenous peoples. It was eloquent and sincere, and cannot help but raise hopes that real progress will be made in Aboriginal affairs under this Government. With that, Howard's relaxed and comfortable, "pragmatic" approach is justly consigned to history's scrap-heap, and not a moment too soon.

It's an all-too-rare moment when a person can feel morally uplifted by a speech in parliament, so enjoy it. It's even rarer to feel unqualified pride in our political leadership, but this is one of those times.

The less said about Nelson's droning followup, with its tired resort to "good intentions", strange appeal to the memory of 100,000 dead diggers, and creepy litany of rapes, the better. The crowd responded appropriately, turning their backs and chanting "get him off!".