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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

UK prime minister apologizes to children shipped to former colonies

World Feb. 25, 2010 - 10:41AM JST ( 24 )

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24 Comments

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neverknow2Feb. 25, 2010 - 11:33AM JST

neglect and abuse

Thanks to the church for the abuse and neglect. And thanks to the Australian government for doing nothing about it and allowing it to continue even as we speak.
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BrandedFeb. 25, 2010 - 11:42AM JST

"Brown said the country was sorry for the “shameful” and “misguided” child migrant program of the 1920 to 1960s, in which an estimated 150,000 British children were sent to distant colonies."

Nothing short of blatant slavery ! And to think this went on up till the 1960's ! It's easy to understand the world wide slave trade of Africans back in the 1700's. Misguided Europeans wanting free labor to colonize their new worlds- but children ? And up to the 1960's ? Funny, but I've never known a European to ever offer this topic up at anytime or anyplace- but boy when they want to talk US history, slavery seems to be at the top of their list of things they're experts on. Oh the hypocrisy.
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OdogmaFeb. 25, 2010 - 12:20PM JST

Human trafficking is in Europe's blood, literally. One little gesture of an apology won't change that.
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MrUSAFeb. 25, 2010 - 01:21PM JST

Where's the compensation?
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skipthesongFeb. 25, 2010 - 02:41PM JST

The migrants were sent off when they were as young as 3" Just what did they expect a child of 3 to do as a migrant?
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HeyLarsFeb. 25, 2010 - 05:50PM JST

Well, a real orphan is going to end up in an orphanage anyway. What makes anyone think it would have been better in Britian? But what is this "falsely told they were an orphan" stuff? I need an explanation for that. A lot more explanation.
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BadseyFeb. 25, 2010 - 08:27PM JST

There is nothing to be ashamed about -many people made alot of money off this scam.
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Bebert61Feb. 25, 2010 - 08:32PM JST

Just like the Africans, these orphans were better off where they ended up. Life might have been tough for them, but their grandchildren and great grandchildren will have a better future in Australia, whose economy will will grow along with China's. In Britain, they'd be at the bottom of a declining food chain.
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kinnikuFeb. 25, 2010 - 08:38PM JST

bebert61,

While that may or may not be true for the descendants, it certainly was not of the people directly effected be they these children or the 'Africans' to whom you refer.
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cracaphatFeb. 25, 2010 - 10:36PM JST

About as sincere as America's.
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BrandedFeb. 26, 2010 - 06:09AM JST

MrUSA- "Where's the compensation?"

Better yet- where are the British and Canadian citizens that flood this site ? What- no opinion, insight, historical perspective ? See what I mean by my previous post-

"I've never known a European to ever offer this topic up at anytime or anyplace- but boy when they want to talk US history, slavery seems to be at the top of their list of things they're experts on. Oh the hypocrisy."
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stevecpfcFeb. 26, 2010 - 06:11AM JST

This was a misguided policy that was not as the article states to send white people to the colonies but to the new country Australia where a better future was envisioned.

It was not like some foolish Americans state "slavery". The kids were not segregated as in the US up to the 60`s.
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stevecpfcFeb. 26, 2010 - 06:16AM JST

Branded, You loveth your sill nation too much. Brown has apologised as has the Australian government. As i said some kids were sadly abused, but were under the law equal to Aussies. The equality was not a right in good ole USA until 60s and is still not a right for many in Japan.

Some people love picking immature fights, when this was a sincere apology. Brown may be incompetent but he is much more sincere than most politicians.
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fleetwood77Feb. 26, 2010 - 07:14AM JST

All this apologizing for things in the past that had nothing to do with the current population is utterly pointless and stupid - Brown truly is the worst PM in the history of the UK.
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BrandedFeb. 26, 2010 - 06:18PM JST

stevecpfc;

"some kids were sadly abused, but were under the law equal to Aussies. The equality was not a right in good ole USA until 60s and is still not a right for many in Japan."

Absolute nonsense ! This is nothing short of human trafficking- slavery stevie ! Right up to the 1960's. And I guarantee you this- there was no system of organized slavery like this anywhere in the USA or Japan for that matter. Now off your high horse-

"You loveth your sill nation too much" !
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dontpanicFeb. 26, 2010 - 10:53PM JST

"All this apologizing for things in the past that had nothing to do with the current population is utterly pointless and stupid"

Because its past doesnt meen its over, especially for the victims. Gordon Brown did the right thing.

"This is nothing short of human trafficking- slavery" Its not Britains proudest moment for sure, but your hyperbole adds nothing but hysteria. The two issues are not even comparable.
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BrandedFeb. 27, 2010 - 01:28AM JST

dontpanic- What you call "unrelated hyperbole" I call "human trafficking, slavery, and abuse". Let me remind you of some of the quotes here;

-"Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologized Wednesday to the tens of thousands of poor British children shipped to former colonies such as Australia, where instead of a better life many were treated to harsh conditions, neglect and abuse."

-"The programs were intended to ease pressure on British social services, provide the children with a fresh start and supply the empire with a sturdy supply of white workers."

Let me repeat- "Neglect, Abuse, a Sturdy Supply of "White Workers"" !

And this campaign was active through the 1950's and 1960's ? Does anyone know how late into the 60's this went ? Was it almost till the 70's ??? I'll be sure to ask any Brits I may run into the details of this sordid affair- especially when they start banging on America's Civil rights era- like Stevecpfc. Talk about totally unrelated hyperbole ! What Gordon Brown termed "the child migrant program of the 1920 to 1960s" was nothing more than "white slavery" ! I am truly shocked !
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BrandedFeb. 27, 2010 - 01:51AM JST

stevecpfc-

"Nobody was sold into slavery, stop your falsehoods, typical rightwing American brainwashed view."

Then this sentence from this piece is wrong ?

"The programs were intended to ease pressure on British social services, provide the children with a fresh start and supply the empire with a sturdy supply of white workers."

"Supply the empire with a sturdy supply of white workers" !!!

Talk about brainwashed ! "Oh it's not slavery- it's just that the Empire needs white workers" ! LOL ! And the hypocricy here is undeniable-

"Britian has a much better record of civil rights than the USA."

Which is why they actively shipped off "tens of thousands" of it's citizens- those with civil rights (?) to former colonies ??? Yeh stevecpfc- that's a civil rights record to be proud of- sell off your unwanted to foreign lands !

"In my lifetime we have doen alot more good for the world than teh carnage caused by America."

I won't even go down that load of tripe, fear of being off topic etal. Let's just say Britain has a long way to go to right so many of it's international wrongs- and this meek little apology is far from enough. But thanks for the post stevecpfc- It just goes to reinforce my opinion of the average Brit- can't face the ugliness of its own history so it's easier to rag on America.
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BrandedFeb. 27, 2010 - 08:00AM JST

"Former child migrant George Walden, 82, said the apology had come “50 or 60 years too late,” adding “As children, we were a commodity.”"

A "commodity" as in a product- humans being sold and bartered for like common slaves ! Mods- you have deleted my numbers referring to Britains 800 years of slave trade activity, from 1066-1833. It is obvious by the comments of Mr. Walden and the description of the "child migrant program" posted above that Britain maintained an active slave trade/human trafficking program well after the signing of the slavery abolition act.
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stevecpfcFeb. 27, 2010 - 08:08AM JST

Brown apologised and that is the end of the matter now.