Va. lawmakers apologize for slavery

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well the Virginia legislators (as representatives of the government) are apologizing on behalf of that government - which was certainly around when the country was profitting from slavery.

In the US where Race and Class are intertwined, is it really possible to separate the two - especially when there are economic factors to consider too.

Slavery doesn't happen any more, but certainly there are still lingering inequalities from that period of history. As far as that goes, my conscience tells me that I'm the beneficiary of an unfair system.

How about an apology from the Dutch who enslaved and sold them as slaves? Or from the Muslim Africans who sold off so many Africans as slaves.. Or from the tribes who sold off their criminals as slaves... How about an apology for 40 years worth of crime and murder committed by so many African-Americans? Even till this day, every time I turn on the TV I see an African-Americans wanted or charged with a murder or some crime.

80 years of slavery vs 40 years of violent crime.. If we can blame every Caucasians today for something they did not do we sure as hell should be able to blame every African-Americans for the crimes committed by their brothers, sons, daughters, fathers etc..

I hope you see my point..

I believe the race issue is more than about slavery - but certainly slavery and the subsequent marginalisation of blacks and other minorities that resulted from it is the primary reason for the racial (and class) divide in this country.

[Alex+R 0]

Hehehe... I read the title of the thread and I easily predicted the second post (LisaD's). Rolled my eyes preemtively and opened the thread. Sigh. Wish I hadn't.

It's quite a shame you don't have more tolerance for the existance of differing opinion. You should work on that

oooohh. Alex is going to get you now. Just look at how you spelled existence..

I respect your right to your own opinion. It's just one I find a bit...predictable. I agree that there are many reasons public apologies could be considered silly. I'd just like to see some variety of argument from the other camp once in awhile

And what like your view is not.

With all due respect, I didn't say anything about what my view was; read carefully. And for the record, I've only ever corrected your spelling. And only because you tried to claim that your blatant error was just the Australian grammar.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You tell me!

You tell me - you said it was about 'placation' after all.

[Elle 0]

People can give ###### about me mentioning Australia all they like but no wonder Australia is where it is. They where sentenced to death and tortured by the English. Bashed, humiliated, tortured etc.. Guess what, they got over it. Forgiveness is the fastest way to curing one's self. The results for Australians speak for themselves.

Who is "they" -- do you mean the native Aboriginals?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Before this gets out of hand - perhaps people shouldn't be so touchy.

[Heracles 417]

With all due respect, I didn't say anything about what my view was; read carefully. And for the record, I've only ever corrected your spelling. And only because you tried to claim that your blatant error was just the Australian grammar.

I understand you seem to only have a one track mindset. I was speaking about your overall views..

People can give ###### about me mentioning Australia all they like but no wonder Australia is where it is. They where sentenced to death and tortured by the English. Bashed, humiliated, tortured etc.. Guess what, they got over it. Forgiveness is the fastest way to curing one's self. The results for Australians speak for themselves.

Who is "they" -- do you mean the native Aboriginals?

The people considered convicts.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Who is "they" -- do you mean the native Aboriginals?

There's a can of worms right there. Didn't the Australian government apologise (in some form or other) for the treatment of aboriginals following the European colonisation.

The crime stats for aboriginals are interesting too... Darn me if another 'formerly repressed' minority doesn't occupy the lowest position on the social ladder.

Come to think of it... that's also true of the Maoris in NZ isn't it?

[Niels Bohr 72]

perhaps you missed it the first time around. show me any place that has plenty of money for schools and roads. i'm in virginia right now and i've driven over quite a few shoddy roads. dodging potholes seems to be a way of life here. along with perpetually crowded roads.

yes they will always "fix roads" and provide "funding" for schools, but that does not mean the money for either is adequate, does it? so let's have some more meaningless yet feel good legislation, shall we?

furthermore, their wages are paid for by taxes. don't they have something more important to do than pass useless legislation is my point.

Are you qualified as a State Accounting Analyst? Can you do better, if you can do better then run for office right? You will find out why there's potholes. You shouldn't be thinking of that. And, it's not easy as it sounds to make new roads. I hope you already know this. Hey, but I'm open. The solution to this problem is that you must be competent to tell your city or state to improve way of life and you must also have a solution to this problem. Believe me, that they have experts that they consult everyday on economical issue. A mere non-expert like myself and you have no idea what is involved.

You should support your state. Some decisions are political factors, but, if you're worried about your tax dollars tell your state to hire less experts that gets paid 100k/year. I'm sure your state will run better with less experts.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Better not ask Infidel about National Sorry Day

Edited February 26, 2007 by erekose

[Heracles 417]

Who is "they" -- do you mean the native Aboriginals?

There's a can of worms right there. Didn't the Australian government apologise (in some form or other) for the treatment of aboriginals following the European colonisation.

The crime stats for aboriginals are interesting too... Darn me if another 'formerly repressed' minority doesn't occupy the lowest position on the social ladder.

Come to think of it... that's also true of the Maoris in NZ isn't it?

The Maoris where cannibals prior to the English. Don't get me started on the aboriginals. Then again they where treated 100 times worse than African-Americans..

Better not ask Infidel about National Sorry Day

The country has not apologized nor should it..

Edited February 26, 2007 by Infidel

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The country has not apologized nor should it..

Really? Seems awfully like it to me

[Alex+R 0]

OMG "civilizing them" was just written

OMG OMG OMG

That is the most literate response I can muster, sorry

[Heracles 417]

perhaps you missed it the first time around. show me any place that has plenty of money for schools and roads. i'm in virginia right now and i've driven over quite a few shoddy roads. dodging potholes seems to be a way of life here. along with perpetually crowded roads.

yes they will always "fix roads" and provide "funding" for schools, but that does not mean the money for either is adequate, does it? so let's have some more meaningless yet feel good legislation, shall we?

furthermore, their wages are paid for by taxes. don't they have something more important to do than pass useless legislation is my point.

Are you qualified as a State Accounting Analyst? Can you do better, if you can do better then run for office right? You will find out why there's potholes. You shouldn't be thinking of that. And, it's not easy as it sounds to make new roads. I hope you already know this. Hey, but I'm open. The solution to this problem is that you must be competent to tell your city or state to improve way of life and you must also have a solution to this problem. Believe me, that they have experts that they consult everyday on economical issue. A mere non-expert like myself and you have no idea what is involved.

You should support your state. Some decisions are political factors, but, if you're worried about your tax dollars tell your state to hire less experts that gets paid 100k/year. I'm sure your state will run better with less experts.

I would not be proud of the

dumb asses

people who work for so many states.

[Heracles 417]

OMG "civilizing them" was just written

OMG OMG OMG

That is the most literate response I can muster, sorry

Is that the best you can do?

[Heracles 417]

The country has not apologized nor should it..

Really? Seems awfully like it to me

There are certain liberal ACLU equivalent groups demanding it but the government will not apologize for something they where not personally responsible for..