Confession and Repentance

Updated: October 25, 2024

In recent months the Idle No More movement, which originated among First Nations activists in Canada and soon spread to the United States, coupled with the increasing prominence of First Nations and Native American voices among those protesting construction of the Keystone XL and Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines, have helped to raise awareness of the many injustices which fill the history of relationships between the U.S. and Canadian governments and the Aboriginal peoples of North America.  I wrote this article in February 2008 when the Australian government was preparing to issue its first formal apology to Aboriginal people for the decades-long practice of forcibly removing Aboriginal children from their family homes and placing them to be raised by white families.  Current events make it apparent that it is still relevant in February 2013.

The Australian policy, in effect from 1915 to 1969, had been intended to compel assimilation of the indigenous people into the dominant white culture.  The wording of the apology was worked out in consultation with Aboriginal leaders.  It acknowledged the great harm done by past governments while refraining from ascribing any guilt to current political leaders.  Both sides were hopeful that this action would permit some healing and an improvement in relations between the Aborigines and the Australian government.

We Believe in Violence

If anything positive can be said to have resulted from the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, it may be that it has generated a national discussion about gun control that seems to have more seriousness and staying power than that which followed other recent mass shootings.  President Obama has set forth a concrete plan to address the issue, a combination of actions that can be taken immediately via executive order and legislative proposals which will require action by Congress.  Vigorous discussion is taking place in the news media and social networks.  One can only hope that reasonable and effective regulations will eventually be put in place as one step in efforts to reduce the slaughter.

It is not my purpose here to rehash the hundreds of arguments that are being made for and against the President’s plan.  Instead, I want to invite reflection on our attitudes toward violence.  For purposes of this discussion, I will focus on physical violence, while recognizing that verbal violence can also do substantial harm.