Va. lawmakers apologize for slavery

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As far as symbolic gestures go - I wonder if anyone knew that up until 2001, Virginia held a 'Lee-Jackson' day, celebrating two Confederate generals on the same day as Martin Luther King. "Insensitive and insulting" doesn't quite cut it...

[Heracles 417]

At the same time it is interesting to see no one mention that not all African-American slaves where treated badly and quite a few where treated exceptionally well. As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.

Some might say what would I know about slavery. Well my ancestors where slaves for over 363 years under the ottoman era (Turks) and where only freed 41 years prior to African-Americans.

Edited February 27, 2007 by Infidel

[heishe 2]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

maybe that free health care everyone wants

[heishe 2]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

maybe that free health care everyone wants

And the immigration benefits!

[Heracles 417]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

I thought someone would throw that out. Not everyone who was a slave was treated poorly by their owner. Was it wrong to have slaves yes. Did people know any better back then, of course not...

Yet much like working in any business, there are great bosses and their are extremely bad bosses..

[heishe 2]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

I thought someone would throw that out. Not everyone who was a slave was treated poorly by their owner. Was it wrong to have slaves yes. Did people know any better back then, of course not...

Yet much like working in any business, there are great bosses and their are extremely bad bosses..

Not every slave was abused, but every slave was still a slave. I wouldn't call that a good side, I'd call it a slightly less bad side.

[Heracles 417]

Not every slave was abused, but every slave was still a slave. I wouldn't call that a good side, I'd call it a slightly less bad side.

So where does the blame stop. The Muslim Africans who sold them off. The tribal leaders who sold their criminals off. The Dutch who purchased and sold the slaves. The British who profiteered from transporting them.

Slavery is sure as hell not the only bad event that happened throughout history. What about people apologizing for genocide, war crimes, murder, violence?

Edited February 27, 2007 by Infidel

[Niels Bohr 72]

I don't support Affirmative Action. But, there are cases where it must be used. For example, some families (minorities) who immigrated to the US and have no money (refugee), and have kids who are like 1-2 years old. They may need support to get them through school. Their parents don't speak English, and aren't rich. But, the kids must rely on their own abilities to be able to learn a culture with no support. As you understand, how is the kid suppose to learn about a new culture since their parents hardly understand English. A translator? No, too expensive. The kid goes to school, and the only Asian kid in school, and also works very hard. The other kids who have English speaking parents comes to the parents night, while that Asian kid have no parents who comes to parent night. Sure, it's over rated; however, the point is that kid has no support. It affects the kid mentality, and makes him hard to compete with other people when there's no support.

I understand the point being that Affirmative Action is wrong. But, if it's used incorrectly it causes problems in the community. My point I would like to address is that the Asian kid now is pusuing a very high degree, and is doing so well in school right now because of Affirmative Action (High Honors).

Children needs support in schools. Some children, like myself, don't have any support. It breaks you down mentally. It's not a matter of whether Affirmative Action is wrong, or not. Some may think it's wrong, and some may think it's right. I think it's wrong to think of Affirmative Action as a discrimination process. If you need clearification of what I'm trying to make, I'll be happily to explain them.

When you are about to mentally break down, do you think you can do your best? You know, don't throw out situations that you have no experience with. I see some kids who are not minorities, and entered college with full support from their parents and abused that privilege. Drinking, drugs, partying. I don't know what else to say. The US has grown weak in terms of education because of situations like Affirmative Action used as discrimination, etc...

[Heracles 417]

I understand the point being that Affirmative Action is wrong. But, if it's used incorrectly it causes problems in the community. My point I would like to address is that the Asian kid now is pusuing a very high degree, and is doing so well in school right now because of Affirmative Action (High Honors).

Children needs support in schools. Some children, like myself, don't have any support. It breaks you down mentally. It's not a matter of whether Affirmative Action is wrong, or not. Some may think it's wrong, and some may think it's right. I think it's wrong to think of Affirmative Action as a discrimination process. If you need clearification of what I'm trying to make, I'll be happily to explain them.

When you are about to mentally break down, do you think you can do your best? You know, don't throw out situations that you have no experience with. I see some kids who are not minorities, and entered college with full support from their parents and abused that privilege. Drinking, drugs, partying. I don't know what else to say. The US has grown weak in terms of education because of situations like Affirmative Action used as discrimination, etc...

Like many things, affirmative action needs to be revamped and re-worded and should apply to anyone who is underprivileged. Be it Black, White, Asian, Hispanic whoever.. Unfortunately too many people in the US have the attitude of, 'this is the way it has been done for years so we do not want to change it..'.

I believe Asian Kids do well in school because they are pushed and encouraged to learn and do their best. They are taught education comes first and not fame. They are taught to study hard during college rather than get caught up with the ####### other kids do in college, like you mentioned above.. Thanks to your E! and Hollywoods etc, the kids in this country are obsessed by fame and bling, aka the quick buck. Weak in education is not the word. The US is ranked 17 among industrialized countries in the world, just above Mexico.

[Heracles 417]

When you are about to mentally break down, do you think you can do your best? You know, don't throw out situations that you have no experience with. I see some kids who are not minorities, and entered college with full support from their parents and abused that privilege. Drinking, drugs, partying. I don't know what else to say. The US has grown weak in terms of education because of situations like Affirmative Action used as discrimination, etc...

Of course. In the US job market it is obvious that to get any sort of decent white collar job, you must have a degree.. What is really funny though is that so many people graduate US colleges with degrees yet have no clue about anything, as they spent most of their time doing what you mentioned above.. Yet there are people who are three times smarter and would work five times harder than your average college grad that are not allowed the opportunity to apply for a job, due to the fact they have no degree, period..

Edited February 27, 2007 by Infidel

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

I thought someone would throw that out. Not everyone who was a slave was treated poorly by their owner. Was it wrong to have slaves yes. Did people know any better back then, of course not...

Yet much like working in any business, there are great bosses and their are extremely bad bosses..

True. If a slave was hurt the owner suffered financial loss. If a worker (after slavery was abolished) was hurt it was too bad for the worker and the plantation owner just hired someone else. Poor people are often slaves whether or not they are owned.

[Heracles 417]

The good side of slavery? Please, go on!

I thought someone would throw that out. Not everyone who was a slave was treated poorly by their owner. Was it wrong to have slaves yes. Did people know any better back then, of course not...

Yet much like working in any business, there are great bosses and their are extremely bad bosses..

True. If a slave was hurt the owner suffered financial loss. If a worker (after slavery was abolished) was hurt it was too bad for the worker and the plantation owner just hired someone else. Poor people are often slaves whether or not they are owned.

Exactly. The north made children of new white immigrants, as young as 8 to 10, work 14 hour days in factories and paid them a few cents a day, with 15 minute breaks. Was this any better than slavery?? Hey, they where free right? wrong..

Edited February 27, 2007 by Infidel

[Peikko 1,575]

Which all goes to show that there are some people who will exploit any given situation for profit, but then we all knew that anyway, right?

[spiritee 0]

"quite a few where treated exceptionally well"??? Gosh, so if you were forced to labour for someone for free you would consider yourself to be treated well!

“As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.” This is an interesting comment you commented earlier on Oprah etc and how lucky they must feel not being in Africa! Have you actually been to Africa? Have you studied African history from an African perspective?

At the same time it is interesting to see no one mention that not all African-American slaves where treated badly and quite a few where treated exceptionally well. As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.

Some might say what would I know about slavery. Well my ancestors where slaves for over 363 years under the ottoman era (Turks) and where only freed 41 years prior to African-Americans.