why shud we apologize for slavery, i don't understand?

[brooksieb]

why should we be apologising to black people for slavery i don't understand?, the tribal chief leaders of africa actually sold their own people to us to use and if they wernt so greedy africa maybe wudnt of been in the state it is now, also my family would of been to poor to have had a hand in slavery or anything to do with it. and why shud white people get all the blame? what about the arabs who also done things like that, and if another race had the power to do all that stuff we did they wud of done it regardless of if they were black, white, asian, or whatever they wud of done it.

REMEMBER THIS IS ABOUT SLAVERY IN THE 17TH, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY

also i think we should apologise for recent events like apartheid in the west and mainly south africa and the aboriginies where the current generation is still alive but only that generation shud apologise not any other generation but then saying that not all people in that generation did stuff like apartheid, its a confusing issue but to slavery i say why shud we apologise???

[InkL0sed]

why should we be apologising to black people for slavery i don't understand?, the tribal chief leaders of africa actually sold their own people to us to use and if they wernt so greedy africa maybe wudnt of been in the state it is now, also my family would of been to poor to have had a hand in slavery or anything to do with it. and why shud white people get all the blame? what about the arabs who also done things like that, and if another race had the power to do all that stuff we did they wud of done it regardless of if they were black, white, asian, or whatever they wud of done it.

REMEMBER THIS IS ABOUT SLAVERY IN THE 17TH, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY

also i think we should apologise for recent events like apartheid in the west and mainly south africa and the aboriginies where the current generation is still alive but only that generation shud apologise not any other generation but then saying that not all people in that generation did stuff like apartheid, its a confusing issue but to slavery i say why shud we apologise???

Why shouldn't you?

[Iz Man]

Why shouldn't you?

Because he has nothing to apologize for.

[btownmeggy]

I agree with you on many points, brooksie.

I don't think there's any reason for individuals with no guilt in the matter to apologize. However, slavery, apartheid, genocides (and others forms of exploitation) were strengthened, supported, encouraged, or tolerated by many organizations and institutions. I think leaders of those institutions that still exist today, whether it be the President, the Pope, or the CEO of a corporation, are in good positions to offer formal apologies.

What's the worth of an apology? A lot of times, not much. But it can be symbolically powerful, as we saw so recently in Australia.

Apologies for past wrongs can be important means of moving forward. And that's true on many levels.

[Frigidus]

Why shouldn't you?

Because he has nothing to apologize for.

I have always shown regret for slavery having occurred, and I am ashamed for any of my ancestors that took part in it. That said I have never apologized for it. Slavery is illegal now, and even if it wasn't I would never "own" a person. I refuse to take the heat just because of the pigmentation of my skin.

[strike wolf]

Do I think that I should have to apologize? No, because there is not a single member of my family that participated in slavery nor was ever a supporter of segregation or anything similar. But I do think that there is a good reason for something to be done becaust the effects of slavery, Jim Crow laws and other forms of unequal treatment has continued to have a negative impact on the African-American community.

[suggs]

Brooksieb, you are 100% right. I've been described by some as a "wanky right-on Liberal" but the slavery thing is PC gone nuts.

Should the Germans have to apologize for Adolf Hitler?
Next.

[brooksieb]

hey suggs what happend to the avatar u had on last time?

[suggs]

Don't like how i look-too embarrassed. So its back to George.

[DirtyDishSoap]

Why i wont apologize...
I wasnt there so i couldnt care.

Dont get me wrong, i think it was bad enough enslaving people, but honestly if im not in that time period then what do i need to apologize for?

Its like having me say sorry for a pillaging that happened 2000 flippin years ago by my great great, etc. grandfather.

Shutup and leave me alone

[Napoleon Ier]

You tell it like it is brookise!

[brooksieb]

thread rename!!

[brooksieb]

Why shouldn't you?

Because he has nothing to apologize for.

I have always shown regret for slavery having occurred, and I am ashamed for any of my ancestors that took part in it. That said I have never apologized for it. Slavery is illegal now, and even if it wasn't I would never "own" a person. I refuse to take the heat just because of the pigmentation of my skin.

how do u know any of ur family actually took part in it?

[soka]

"we" im assuming "usa" should apologize. not as an individual, but as a nation that has lead many to suffer ... apologize and we shall be forgiven.
its ok to admit when wrong, as a nation its wrong to ignore it and move on.

[Grooveman2007]

"we" im assuming "usa" should apologize. not as an individual, but as a nation that has lead many to suffer ... apologize and we shall be forgiven.
its ok to admit when wrong, as a nation its wrong to ignore it and move on.

But it also gets to the point where the focus turns to the past instead of the present day problems. We should apologize once, and live up to the apology by furthering racial equality.

[soka]

"we" im assuming "usa" should apologize. not as an individual, but as a nation that has lead many to suffer ... apologize and we shall be forgiven.
its ok to admit when wrong, as a nation its wrong to ignore it and move on.

But it also gets to the point where the focus turns to the past instead of the present day problems. We should apologize once, and live up to the apology by furthering racial equality.

true

[InkL0sed]

Obviously, individuals shouldn't be apologizing

That is, unless they DO own slaves... in which case they need to do a lot more than apologize.

But there's no reason that I can see for a nation as a whole not to apologize. Do it and move on. As Grooveman said, apologize once, and then live up to it.

[william18]

The U.S. is still prejudice towards blacks. And the blacks in some community are prejudice to the whites. There is very serious segregation in the U.S..

[muy_thaiguy]

"we" im assuming "usa" should apologize. not as an individual, but as a nation that has lead many to suffer ... apologize and we shall be forgiven.
its ok to admit when wrong, as a nation its wrong to ignore it and move on.

Problem is, only about half of the states that are here currently were around during the time of the Civil War and after. Besides, that's over and done with now. Only if a state feels the need to apologize as a majority (more then 51%, closer to around 60%-70% of the state's population), then they can do so. But to say it as a nation when not all states where even in existence, much less territories, should apologize for what a few people actually did is a bit overboard. What about the Irish, Italians, Chinese, and other people that came and lived in similar conditions, but in "free" states during the same time? Kind of throws that out of the fence when you think about it.

[Nobunaga]

"we" im assuming "usa" should apologize. not as an individual, but as a nation that has lead many to suffer ... apologize and we shall be forgiven.
its ok to admit when wrong, as a nation its wrong to ignore it and move on.

... But "as a nation", apologize to whom exactly? Not a single man woman or child who lived as a slave in the US still lives.

...

[HayesA]

As individuals - no. As a collective of people, and as a nation - a resounding YES!

I cant believe you guys are voting no for this. Just goes to show how little the majority of people have not changed in the most essential human rights. It's very sad.

[soka]

i guess it hurts to say sorry and move on , but while slaves were being held down and whites were improving on there lives it affected the slaves and there future families lives .... im not for giving them a pay check every month for there troubles but to say sorry and have congess vote on it is priceless

[Frigidus]

As individuals - no. As a collective of people, and as a nation - a resounding YES!

I cant believe you guys are voting no for this. Just goes to show how little the majority of people have not changed in the most essential human rights. It's very sad.

But none of us did anything. I don't feel responsible for the actions of my nation any more than those of members of my race. Should I apologize for being in Iraq? Should I apologize for taking so long to get involved in WWI and WWII? On that note, should every German apologize for the Holocaust?

[JACKAZZTJM]

todays white people shouldnt apologize they didnt do it .......todays black people shouldnt think they deserve one it didnt happen to them

[brooksieb]

well sed jack