Va. lawmakers apologize for slavery

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

I want an apology from the Italians for the Romans that enslaved my people 2000 years ago.

Did the Roman Empire have a Constitution which declared that all men are created equal? We (the US) owes a lot of apologies in every case where some act or law was instituted by the government against a group of people which contradicted the Constitution, IMO.

The taking of the Black Hills from the Native Americans would be a good example.

"White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo. When millions of people have been cheated for centuries, restitution is a costly process. Inferior education, poor housing, unemployment, inadequate health care--each is a bitter component of the oppression that has been our heritage. Each will require billions of dollars to correct. Justice so long deferred has accumulated interest and its cost for this society will be substantial in financial as well as human terms"

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

[pedroh 21]

Why go all the way to SC?

I drove by a colonial built in the 1800s yesterday that has a Confederate Flag flying in front of it. This is New Jersey. The flag is new, they had a regular American flag flying before.

And before some Southerner tells me the flag is about heritage, stuff it. It's about your heritage as a slave-owning people.

i think the apology was a nice simbolic gesture.. again, it sends a message to the unfortunate sad people who still think about slavery, or that a race is superior to another... lol those guys must be bleeding because of that message...

I want an apology from the Italians for the Romans that enslaved my people 2000 years ago.

Did the Roman Empire have a Constitution which declared that all men are created equal? We (the US) owes a lot of apologies in every case where some act or law was instituted by the government against a group of people which contradicted the Constitution, IMO.

The taking of the Black Hills from the Native Americans would be a good example.

"White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo. When millions of people have been cheated for centuries, restitution is a costly process. Inferior education, poor housing, unemployment, inadequate health care--each is a bitter component of the oppression that has been our heritage. Each will require billions of dollars to correct. Justice so long deferred has accumulated interest and its cost for this society will be substantial in financial as well as human terms"

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

owned..

[Fandango 1,439]

"White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo. When millions of people have been cheated for centuries, restitution is a costly process. Inferior education, poor housing, unemployment, inadequate health care--each is a bitter component of the oppression that has been our heritage. Each will require billions of dollars to correct. Justice so long deferred has accumulated interest and its cost for this society will be substantial in financial as well as human terms"

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

and an apology does what exactly?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo. When millions of people have been cheated for centuries, restitution is a costly process. Inferior education, poor housing, unemployment, inadequate health care--each is a bitter component of the oppression that has been our heritage. Each will require billions of dollars to correct. Justice so long deferred has accumulated interest and its cost for this society will be substantial in financial as well as human terms"

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

and an apology does what exactly?

Well as pointed out previously its a symbolic gesture, it's not too difficult to understand.

Virginia (and the Confederacy) practiced slavery. It's part of the state's history and legacy (white supermacist racism is still prevalent in the South, unless things have drastically changed), recognising that doesn't seem too unreasonable to me.

[mawilson 2,133]

Why would you be offended by a symbolic gesture?

I am not offended by it, but I agree with Lisa - you can't apologise for something that wasn't your fault.

[Fandango 1,439]

"White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo. When millions of people have been cheated for centuries, restitution is a costly process. Inferior education, poor housing, unemployment, inadequate health care--each is a bitter component of the oppression that has been our heritage. Each will require billions of dollars to correct. Justice so long deferred has accumulated interest and its cost for this society will be substantial in financial as well as human terms"

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

and an apology does what exactly?

Well as pointed out previously its a symbolic gesture, it's not too difficult to understand.

Virginia (and the Confederacy) practiced slavery. It's part of the state's history and legacy (white supermacist racism is still prevalent in the South, unless things have drastically changed), recognising that doesn't seem too unreasonable to me.

So you're saying that somehow this apology makes it somehow better? Like descendents of slaves are thinking 'phew, sure glad Virgina apologised'

An apology implies guilt, which the Virginia of our time has no business assuming.

Just you watch, class actin lawsuits for reparations are next. This has laid the foundation for such.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I don't believe that people comprehend the depth in which slavery has affected the plight of African Americans in this great nation. Remember, we are simply two generations away from segregation. The pain of slavery and segregation in African Americans lives on to this day and will for generations to come. It's like telling Jews to get over the Holocaust. That's not going to happen! There has been many strides taken to improve the opportunities for African Americans and others disenfranchised in this great nation. I believe the time for apologies and providing reparations for the centuries of oppression has long sailed and should have happened when slaves were freed. Today, apologies and reparations are completely unnecessary. America has many other domestic issues that need resolution and apologies should not be on that list. The American history has been carved in stone and those who come after us will judge and know the monstrous and horrible truth surrounding the foundation of this great nation. It's time to continue to quest to move forward in order to build and re-build the bridges of hope and opportunity for all Americans. God bless America!

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

NOTE: These are simply my opinions…

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't believe that people comprehend the depth in which slavery has affected the plight of African Americans in this great nation. Remember, we are simply two generations away from segregation. The pain of slavery and segregation in African Americans lives on to this day and will for generations to come. It's like telling Jews to get over the Holocaust. That's not going to happen! There has been many strides taken to improve the opportunities for African Americans and others disenfranchised in this great nation. I believe the time for apologies and providing reparations for the centuries of oppression has long sailed and should have happened when slaves were freed. Today, apologies and reparations are completely unnecessary. America has many other domestic issues that need resolution and apologies should not be on that list. The American history has been carved in stone and those who come after us will judge and know the monstrous and horrible truth surrounding the foundation of this great nation. It's time to continue to quest to move forward in order to build and re-build the bridges of hope and opportunity for all Americans. God bless America!

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

NOTE: These are simply my opinions…

Thank you for your post. ITA and couldn't have said it better myself

_____________________-

Just for clarification for everyone here:

I'm not saying that slavery wasn't an awful and horrendous period in American history...I want that to be clear. But throughout history, most of us can probably trace our lineage back to an oppressed people.

[Niels Bohr 72]

The point here is that you can't stir people's feelings if they apologize. No matter what the case. If they want to apologize, let them apologize. It's not a waste of time. We are wasting our times debating a useless topic or thinking that what we're doing is right. All of us went to school, and we learned alot about history. You think it's fair to justify your own belief by fighting those who want to express their sympathy. If what they're doing is a form of gesture is not war, I'll take it. It's better than debating something as pointless as this. I, and everyone who has been debating this topic should be ashamed at such statements.

Nobody here comprehend the same way because each and everyone's experience is different. We can't make conclusions of what we witnessed. It's very unfair to just follow what one person does in a community without listening to everyone's input. Whether or not you accept the apology, you shouldn't debate about such statements since we know little of what others people may feel.

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

I don't believe that people comprehend the depth in which slavery has affected the plight of African Americans in this great nation. Remember, we are simply two generations away from segregation. The pain of slavery and segregation in African Americans lives on to this day and will for generations to come. It's like telling Jews to get over the Holocaust. That's not going to happen! There has been many strides taken to improve the opportunities for African Americans and others disenfranchised in this great nation. I believe the time for apologies and providing reparations for the centuries of oppression has long sailed and should have happened when slaves were freed. Today, apologies and reparations are completely unnecessary. America has many other domestic issues that need resolution and apologies should not be on that list. The American history has been carved in stone and those who come after us will judge and know the monstrous and horrible truth surrounding the foundation of this great nation. It's time to continue to quest to move forward in order to build and re-build the bridges of hope and opportunity for all Americans. God bless America!

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

NOTE: These are simply my opinions…

There are people in the South who still won't let go of the past. They wave the Confederate flag proudly. Even politicians such as Trent Lott think that this country would have been a better place had segregation continued. These are all lingering remnants of this country's institutionalized slavery. The effects of which continue today. I don't think it's something a descendant of slavery should wear like a badge on their sleeve, but I think it's appropriate, particularly in the South, to apologize for what had been done and to make it clear that the South does not look back on that part of their past proudly.

(psst...only 5 days left!)

[MichelleandCraig 1]

It's a whole 'nother topic, but I will never, ever in my lifetime understand why the color of someeone's skin should make a blind bit of difference as compared to who they ARE. (nor do I think anyone here feels any differently to that.) It's just staggering that anyone would have ever felt that way, isn't it? M.

[Caladan 19]

As I understand it, it's a symbolic gesture not by everyday Virginians, but by the state of Virginia, which certainly did exist back then. I don't know how powerful a symbol it should be. Probably not much. But it does allow Virginia to say, hey, we as a state have done what we can now to distance ourselves from that time. These sorts of apologies happen all the time with insitutions; Japan apologized to Korea for the treatment of its women during WWII. Doesn't result in any material benefit, but it probably helps to settle some ruffled feathers.

Sort of like Alabama taking slavery off the books in 1995. No point to it, since it's not like slavery's permitted federally, anyway, but it lets Alabama say what they support now and what they don't.

I don't know if I'd say that Virginia should apologize, that if they hadn't thought of it, they should be forced to, but surely them doing so isn't a declaration that all white people now are guilty. I don't think people should be forced to give me chocolate, either, but if they do, sounds good to me.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I want an apology from the Italians for the Romans that enslaved my people 2000 years ago.

Well... The Italians who live in Italy today have about as much in common with the ancient Romans as do the British, Spanish, French or Germans. These countries were all roman colonies after all, and subject to the "Romanisation" process that followed the expansion of the Empire.

Slavery as it was practiced in the South is directly linked to the history and subsequent cultural development of the United States. In point of fact there has been a form of slavery down there up until (at least) the mid 20th century - chain gangs anyone?

Whether or not Virginia lawmakers choose to apologise for it is their business. Obviously there is a political dimension to it - but as racism was, and continues to be a problem down there, even a token gesture is better than nothing.

[Fandango 1,439]

I want an apology from the Italians for the Romans that enslaved my people 2000 years ago.

Well... The Italians who live in Italy today have about as much in common with the ancient Romans as do the British, Spanish, French or Germans. These countries were all roman colonies after all, and subject to the "Romanisation" process that followed the expansion of the Empire.

Slavery as it was practiced in the South is directly linked to the history and subsequent cultural development of the United States. In point of fact there has been a form of slavery down there up until (at least) the mid 20th century - chain gangs anyone?

Whether or not Virginia lawmakers choose to apologise for it is their business. Obviously there is a political dimension to it - but as racism was, and continues to be a problem down there, even a token gesture is better than nothing.

it's called a 'token gesture' for a reason

it's meaningless.

and guess what...racism will always exist. You cannot control the thoughts and opinions of everyone...no matter HOW many official state apologies there are.

I don't like nor tolerate racist opinion, but at the same time, it is the right of anyone in this country to be racist. Free speech and all that. If someone wants to fly a confederate flag...guess what? it's their right. No matter why they fly it. And none of us have to like it.

But I'll take that over living in a country which will jail you for your opinion.

Anyhoo....Think for yourself ONE lawmaker who would bear the political fallout for NOT voting in favor of the resolution.....a token gesture is just that....token and meaningless. Placation for no other purpose than to pat themselves on the back for being so 'gracious'

Our tax dollars at work! Hoorah!

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

Our tax dollars at work! Hoorah!

my thoughts exactly. they are busy passing meaningless resolutions rather than finding money for schools and roads and police and.........