We live in the 21st Century. I would like to believe that in this day and time NO ONE thinks slavery was a good idea. Which is why I believe it doesn't exist any longer. It was abolished.
Abolish- To do away with; to repeal; to obliterate.
Which in the most simple terms means its gone...Its not coming back. So I have to say it bothers me that something that was clearly thought to be a bad idea and done away with a very long time ago is still an issue.
Could someone please explain to me why legislators from states such as Alabama, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina are all writing legislation to officially express regret and apologise for their states involvement in slavery? Are they serious?
I am a 20 year old living in the south. I wasn't around during the time of slavery. I never personally kept a slave. Nor did I promote those who did. I have never profited in anyway from slave labor. In fact....I can pretty much assure you that if there was any sort of slave labor around our home while I was growing up...I WAS IT.
So to me the idea that ANYONE now owes an apology at this point for something that happened two hundred or so years ago is totally ridiculous. Not only that, but I am completely tired of hearing how every bad thing that happens is directly related to the raw deal their ancestors got.
If you are a person living in this country for several generations now.....No matter how you got here or where your ancestors came from there is one thing for certain.....YOU ARE AN AMERICAN!!
You are an American with all the freedoms and privileges given to you by our constitution and laws of this country. Just like every other American. You are not the only group that has been wronged in our nations history or has had its share of struggles.
If you feel that being denied this apology is about a of lack of respect for you. I would like offer a thought.....If you desire respect...look closer to home. I heard someone say that "We can not expect others to respect us if we first don't show respect for ourselves". I think that's pretty true and good advise no matter what race, religion or gender you are.
There is a trend to promote music, movies and a culture that demeans women, race, religion and a respect for the law. This is done for no other reason than for monetary profit. Today we have more respect for the dollar than we have for people. And it doesn't seem to matter how much we have to degrade ourselves, our standards and values to achieve it.
An apology is not your problem here....You have much bigger concerns than that. You're culture is deteriorating right before your eyes. And you are allowing it.
However if you still want an apology for slavery and feel you can get it from someone who actually committed this crime...then I say go for it. But I have a feeling that most who participated in this act are long since gone.
So I have to ask..Wouldn't the time be better spent looking at how to make the future better rather than looking for someone to take blame for the past?
11 comments:
yes, we're all americans, but unlike my ancestors, theirs didn't have a choice and it's been so long, they wouldn't even know anything about where they came from to go back even if they wanted to leave.
cadiz12
I agree..Their ancestors didnt have a choice.
We can not change our history. But we can do something about what kind of future we have as a country and as a people.
I see no benifit that can be gained from apology in this case.
It would be like me asking asking the people of germany to apologise to me because my ancestors were forced to flee poland.
NO ONE is condoning slavery. But slavery is long since over and the decendants now have many choices their ancestors didnt.
Do we continue to be victims and stuck in the past or do we move on and focus on the future?
maybe it's lessons from the past that will make the future better. everyone has a different take on apologies; it'd be too little, too late for me, but if it allows others to be able to move on, then i don't know if i can personally question it.
also, making an apology official can be seen as the united states publicly acknowledging the not-so-pretty parts of our history and making a commitment to be vigilant that things like that shouldn't happen again here.
It's much different than today in Cambodia, where history being taught to children is sickeningly empty of references to the Khmer Rouge regime, which was only about 30 years ago.
cadiz12
I also believe its important to understand through our history where we came from and how we got here.
But knowing the mistakes we made in our history and trying to make their desendants feel guilt or responsibitly for something that was done long before they were born seems pointless.
Where does the apology train stop then? Lets face it..if you exmine the history of our nation and us as a people..there were many groups who were wronged in the past.
But I think if you look at our history it proves we saw those as an injustice and we as a people have tried to make changes in our country and in our laws in the way we deal with and treat others.
I was taught that you cant blame the kind of person you are on your crappy childhood..or the mistakes your parents made...etc.
At some point..you have to decide that its about the choices you make for yourself today...not trying to place the blame on the past.
I just believe that as a people we have much bigger concerns and issues we should be looking at than whether slavery was wrong or who was to blame for it.
We already know the answers to those questions and have long since done something about it.
Jen,
We've got a similar issue over here, one that's been festering for years.
It involves our indigenous people demanding apologies and compensation for things that settlers and white people have allegedly perpetrated against them in the past.
(I say allegedly because some of the things the indigenous people are claiming have never been proven and others have been proven to be fabrications)
Rightfully so, our government has so far resisted these demands and I for one am pleased about that.
Like you, I don't want a government saying sorry on my behalf for something I'm a) not guilty of and therefore b)not sorry for.
You asked "Where does the apology train stop?" - exactly.
A precedent would be set that could have potentially huge ramifications for a government and it's ecomony, and we both know that the government can't afford that to happen.
It's just the do-gooders and the muck rakers that are trying to get something for nothing, that's all.
...Fizzy.
Fizzy
Exactly. This country abolished salvery a very long time ago. Those who were slaves and those who kept slaves have long since passed on.
So I guess I have to ask are we guilty then just for the simple fact we live in the south? Am I guilty just because I am not one of the desendants of slaves?
I say NO. And I do not want my government saying other wise on my behalf.
Thanks for the comments
I've been of the opinion that such apologies were ridiculous concessions to vocal agitators. That said, raising public consciousness about lies they've been taught isn't a bad thing, even if it requires a bit of misdirection.
The only reason for the legislated apology is to pave the way for reparations. Has to be, what other purpose would it serve?
It's total nonsense really, but such is the state of things in America. yay
obit
I have no problem with the truth. No matter what that truth might be. History, not just from our country but around the world is full of ugly truths.
But I do not think it nessecary to apologise the desendants of slavery who have never themselves lived as slaves for salvery itself.
scott
Dont even get me started on reparations. As I have already stated a few times..NO ONE is saying that slavery was a good thing.
But to try now and accommodate a few individuals who feel they were wronged because of something their ancesters went through??
If they want to do something for themselfs as individuals...or as a culture, or even as Americans that will actually address current problems and benifit those who are alive today. Ok.
But I dont think becoming a victim to a problem that was ended hundreds of years ago is the way to go.
Jen - Heh. One of the saner blog posts I've read today.
I've always said it simply - the child does not inherit the sins of the father.
Post a Comment