Social networking Sorry. Facebook groups can do big things in terms of mobilising public interest and support for causes. Most major advocacy and social justice organisations have jumped on the virtual bandwagon. Think people power, Gen Y style. So, being interested in Indigenous affairs, and with the apology tipped to be delivered within the next few weeks, I decided to search to see if anyone had started any apology-related groups. And lo and behold, they had. But the results were mixed. Although there are groups like “One Million Australians Feel Sorry” with memberships around the 17,000 mark, there are also numerous groups popping up with names like “NO I’M NOT BLOODY SORRY AND HAVE NO ONE TO BE RECONCILED WITH” , ” I don’t have anything to feel sorry about” and “NO to sorry, YES to the real road to reconciliation”.  — Road to Sorry

Media reacts. It’s interesting, and disheartening, to read some of the international mainstream media reaction to the Rudd government’s decision to offer an official ‘Sorry’ (to the tens of thousands of Aboriginal children removed from their parents in the first half of the 1900s) the initial item of business for the new government’s first day in Parliament on February 13. — The Ostrayhun  

Why we must say Sorry. Sorry is not about admitting weakness. In fact saying sorry demonstrates the strength of your character. You are able to admit that you are not perfect without damaging your ego. Saying sorry also allows the other party to put past grievances behind them and look to the future. Saying sorry should also not be about winning and losing. The person saying sorry is not the loser. — Christopia

Nelson not yet ready. Apparently [Brendan Nelson’s] concerned that we haven’t been talking about an apology for long enough: “He says the wider Australian community should be consulted before an apology is considered.” Too right Brendan babe, maybe Kevin could commission an inquiry of some kind, cos we’ve never really had any into indigenous issues have we? This guy is really shaping up as an impressive alternative prime minister, doncha reckon? — The Road to Surfdom

Libs get it right on Sorry. In response to Rudd’s woeful decision to say ’sorry’ to the Aboriginal community there has at least been some signs of intelligence from the Liberal Party. It would also lock in a mentality of “victimhood” among many Aborigines, Dr Nelson said. Outspoken Liberal backbencher Wilson Tuckey went even further. “It won’t take one remote area Aboriginal off the booze or the petrol,” he said … Well said. These two at least have the ability to look past the meaningless symbolism and look to what is really going on with our Indigenous community. They identified the victim mentality and saw the obvious exploitation going on by many Aboriginal leaders. Go to the head of the class! — The Midnight Sun