sorry

An apology is a beautiful thing.

Even an apology that comes decades later and from a person who only represents the offender.

So I was quite moved yesterday as I watched our Stephen Harper stand in the House of Commons and say sorry to former students of native residential schools. I don't know what propelled the apology at this time and from this PM, but I consider it a courageous and noble act that I hope will be part of the healing for the Aboriginal people of our country.

One of my favourite quotes is an Anne Graham Lotz saying: "A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers." A good relationship isn't hinged on whether or not we offend each other. We're bound to from time to time. The beauty of restored relationshp lies in a heart ready to humble itself before another person and say, "I'm sorry."

So thank you, Stephen and company, for offering these humble words of truth and justice.

Now, my hope is that the apology is followed with an ongoing committment to these beautiful people. One way the government can act is to pass Bill C-292, which is currently stuck in the senate and needs to be passed soon or it may not pass at all. This is a bill about "reducing the shameful gaps between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians, gaps that exist no matter where they reside, gaps in health, in education, in housing, in clean water and economic opportunity...It's about governments and aboriginal leaders, working in partnership and in collaboration, finding new, innovative solutions, holding ourselves accountable...." If you're interested in voicing your support of this bill, check out this site by the Make Poverty History campaign. They make it easy for you to send a message to the PM and your local Member of Parliament to ask them to pressure the Senate to pass Bill C-292 into law immediately.

I suppose it's one way for us to add our own, "I'm sorry" to our native brothers and sisters.