Senate Approves Slavery Apology

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Bernie Becker

The Senate apologized for slavery on Thursday, almost 150 years after the start of the Civil War.

The resolution, passed by voice vote, said it was important for Americans to apologize for slavery “so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States.” It was passed on the day before Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1865.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06...ons-disclaimer/

[nowhereman 1]

By Bernie Becker

The Senate apologized for slavery on Thursday, almost 150 years after the start of the Civil War.

The resolution, passed by voice vote, said it was important for Americans to apologize for slavery “so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States.” It was passed on the day before Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1865.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06...ons-disclaimer/

Shouldn't the Senate be focusing on current issues? Slavery was wrong, but an apology 150 yrs later is symbolic at best.

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

By Bernie Becker

The Senate apologized for slavery on Thursday, almost 150 years after the start of the Civil War.

The resolution, passed by voice vote, said it was important for Americans to apologize for slavery “so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States.” It was passed on the day before Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1865.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06...ons-disclaimer/

Shouldn't the Senate be focusing on current issues? Slavery was wrong, but an apology 150 yrs later is symbolic at best.

exactly.

[mawilson 2,133]

Shouldn't the Senate be focusing on current issues? Slavery was wrong, but an apology 150 yrs later is symbolic at best.

Plus I don't want to apologize for it - slavery was important at the time.

Slave labor built America. Do you want to apologize for the building of America?

[alienlovechild 75]

It was passed on the day before Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1865.

Hasn't black histoty month done anything? Juneteenth only applied to slaves in Texas, right? It's now recognized in other states

In his floor remarks, Senator Roland Burris, Democrat of Illinois and the Senate’s only black member, said that the “disclaimer in no way would eliminate future actions that may be brought before this body that may deal with reparations.”

That lying crook will be passing the collection plate soon.

[nowhereman 1]

Shouldn't the Senate be focusing on current issues? Slavery was wrong, but an apology 150 yrs later is symbolic at best.

Plus I don't want to apologize for it - slavery was important at the time.

Slave labor built America. Do you want to apologize for the building of America?

Well if you say slavery built America you may be correct, but its nothing to be proud of. Hell we took America from the Indians & I'm not proud of that either, but its history.

[alienlovechild 75]

Well if you say slavery built America you may be correct, but its nothing to be proud of. Hell we took America from the Indians & I'm not proud of that either, but its history.

Not entirely correct as slavery was very inefficient and the North outstripped the South which was held back by slavery and wasted potential of whites and blacks stuck in the segregated South.

[Heracles 417]

Shouldn't the Senate be focusing on current issues? Slavery was wrong, but an apology 150 yrs later is symbolic at best.

Plus I don't want to apologize for it - slavery was important at the time.

Slave labor built America. Do you want to apologize for the building of America?

Let me send you some Kevlar body armor.

Less than 2% of Americans owned slaves; which is statistically insignificant, almost zero actually. But nope every dam white man was a plantation owner. As every black slave was treated poorly. Though I am still waiting on the citation on the latter point.

What I would like to know is what percentage of tribes in Africa over the years owned slaves.

Edited June 19, 2009 by Constellation

[Heracles 417]

Well if you say slavery built America you may be correct, but its nothing to be proud of. Hell we took America from the Indians & I'm not proud of that either, but its history.

Not entirely correct as slavery was very inefficient and the North outstripped the South which was held back by slavery and wasted potential of whites and blacks stuck in the segregated South.

The North did not have slaves. They just paid 12 year old kids A few cents a day to work 14 hour shifts in sweat shops with zero safety.

Those were bad times for anyone who was not rich. People just cannot seem to grasp that. Why act as if America invented slavery and was the only country to treat people as such. Most other countries, including Africa, are in the same boat. How many slaves were sold off to the dutch in the first place by rival black African tribes? Though some would have us believe that Americans sailed to Africa and stripped these people from their families.

Edited June 19, 2009 by Constellation

[jundp 191]

The North did not have slaves. They just paid 12 year old kids A few cents a day to work 14 hour shifts in sweat shops with zero safety.

Those were bad times for anyone who was not rich. People just cannot seem to grasp that. Why act as if America invented slavery and was the only country to treat people as such. Most other countries, including Africa, are in the same boat. How many slaves were sold off to the dutch in the first place by rival black African tribes? Though some would have us believe that Americans sailed to Africa and stripped these people from their families.

Okay, first I agreed with ALC the other day. Now...I have to say Booyah's got it right here. Historically, that is the case.

I don't know what an "apology" will do, but it doesn't hurt, that's for sure. After all, Pope John Paul II formally apologized on behalf of the Catholic church for its role(s) during WWII. It didn't help anything, didn't change the past, but it was a point of healing.

[nowhereman 1]

Well if you say slavery built America you may be correct, but its nothing to be proud of. Hell we took America from the Indians & I'm not proud of that either, but its history.

Not entirely correct as slavery was very inefficient and the North outstripped the South which was held back by slavery and wasted potential of whites and blacks stuck in the segregated South.

The North did not have slaves. They just paid 12 year old kids A few cents a day to work 14 hour shifts in sweat shops with zero safety.

Those were bad times for anyone who was not rich. People just cannot seem to grasp that. Why act as if America invented slavery and was the only country to treat people as such. Most other countries, including Africa, are in the same boat. How many slaves were sold off to the dutch in the first place by rival black African tribes? Though some would have us believe that Americans sailed to Africa and stripped these people from their families.

I have heard that argument before & I don't buy it... just because a rival tribe sold a slave doesn't exonerate the buyer from guilt. Slavery was wrong... period... end of discussion. Should we apologize for it 150 years later? IMO no. I have never bought a slave so why should I apologize for what my great, great grandfather may or may not have done?

[jundp 191]

Oh, but I want to add, if 'reparations' are going to happen, they damn well better be paid to the Native Americans first.

[Heracles 417]

Okay, first I agreed with ALC the other day. Now...I have to say Booyah's got it right here. Historically, that is the case.

I don't know what an "apology" will do, but it doesn't hurt, that's for sure. After all, Pope John Paul II formally apologized on behalf of the Catholic church for its role(s) during WWII. It didn't help anything, didn't change the past, but it was a point of healing.

Lets apologize and be done with it then.

Rather than focusing on historical events that no one was even around to experience, the politicians should put their time and effort towards the poverty and disgraceful level of crime in AA communities.

Letting something go is also the first step of healing.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

You've been taking vitamins or gotten something else lately Boo?

'cause you've sound sane lately

Edited June 19, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[Heracles 417]

I have heard that argument before & I don't buy it... just because a rival tribe sold a slave doesn't exonerate the buyer from guilt. Slavery was wrong... period... end of discussion. Should we apologize for it 150 years later? IMO no. I have never bought a slave so why should I apologize for what my great, great grandfather may or may not have done?

Most people around the world are over similar historical events. I have a South African friend and I have hardly heard him mention apartheid. Whereas, if I listen to the likes of Jesse Jackson, I would think that slavery just ended yesterday in America.

Why should I feel guilty and blackmailed by the past? because I am white, therefore, I should bow my head down in shame. Actually that is racist in itself. I am more concerned about the problems facing the AA community in 2009, rather than their great great great great grandparents subjection to slavery.

You've been taking vitamins lately Boo?

You sound sane lately

Happy B'day. I'm always sane bro. Fish oil helps though..

Edited June 19, 2009 by Constellation