State of Virginia to issue public apology for slavery

Virginia moved forward on Wednesday to apologize for slavery, something no president or legislature has done.

[The Way]

"The sins of the fathers are serparate from own on. In PILGRIM'S PROGRESS it is forgiveness that makes whole."

[Morpheus]

More insane liberal blather. Why don't we apply this same philosophy to the parents and relatives of the savages who murdered Christian Shannon and hold them responsible for raising dogs instead of human beings. Oh, no, that wouldn't be right would it.

[PTF]

In that case then Massachusetts and the other New England states should apoloogize as well because they were the ones (especially in Mass.) that brought slavery to this country in the first place. While they are at it the descendents of the so-call "Pilgrims" should apologize for their treatment of the local Native tribes.

[Tim]

I do not believe that Virginia needs to apologize for slavery. I believe that they can express remorse and be sympathetic. What people need to know is that our ancestors were the slaves or the slave owners. We need not give formal apologies for what others did. I believe that people need to quit hiding behind slavery and move forward. I would say that if people who were slaves were alive then yes possibly offer them some compensation. Quit rehashing and move on and lets face it, blacks are not the minority any longer.

Another thing that really makes me mad is when I hear you owe me. Fact is I don't owe anyone. My ancestors may owe your ancestors but I don't owe anyone anything.

One last thing. We live in the land of opportunity called America. Why is it when we are talking about other races the America comes last. Why should it be Native-American or African American. If they are American shouldn't that come first.

We need to put this effort into something more important like guns, kids, and schools. Let find a way to work together not against each other.

[Ms Davenport]

I am a Virginian and I am also multi-cultural. I completely understand why people think that Black-Americans should "get over it", however how can we get over it when prejudice still lingers throughout this country and people of a different skin color other than white are still treated like animals or lesser creatures. Also, Jesus was a Jew, if people actually paid attention to the history of the bible and the prophets. Just in case Hargrove did not know, Moses was also Jewish. So this concept of the blonde hair, blue eyed Christ is a false concept of our diety. Sometimes people just want to hear an apology because we may not be slaves but we are still enslaved by the stereotypes and prejudices that still exist today. I still get looks of disgust from people and names are still called. I was born with this color and I am so sorry if I cannot unzip my skin color, but an apology or to recognize the injustices that this country has thrust upon people of different races from Native Americans, Japanese Americans, and African Americans does not seem a lot to ask for the hundreds of thousands of people that have been affected by hate because of the skin color they wear and not because of who they are.

[DEBBY]

What people should be apologizing for is their method of "freeing" the slaves. They didn't free them. They tossed them out with no education, no money, no home, nothing. And the American public is still paying for it.

[CJ--New Market]

I have Cherokee ancestry. Maybe the U.S. gov't (and descendants of Andy Jackson) should apologize for killing out most of the Cherokee Nation, putting the survivors on reservations and passing laws to prevent them from preserving their culture? By the way a Native American child had been given an Eagle feather (entitled to since she is a card-carrying member of a recognized Nation) which she presented to Hillary Clinton as a gift (this is a huge honor and anyone else would've felt as much). Hillary's response was to report her for it to the Feds.

How about the Irish immigrants who were treated like filth? How about the American born Japanese (and Chinese, others) who were rounded up and put into camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor? If they're going to apologize for one atrocity, they might as well start doing them all...and I can foresee there are going to be lawsuits and punitive damages forthcoming once these apologies are issued. There is a reason no President or government has done this already. If they apologize, it implies that they feel responsible for wrongdoing, which leaves the door wide open for lawsuits and BIG $$$$.

Frankly I think that many of today's 'African Americans' should 'get over' it as well. Very few can actually claim they were African born, and those who weren't should DROP the 'African' part of that misnomer. You're AMERICANS, ACT LIKE IT!
Many use the atrocities of their great great great great grandfathers to excuse their lack of success. "My ancestors were slaves, so the government owes me a living." You don't see this kind of behavior or attitude from Native Americans; and frankly in my opinion they have the greater complaint. You don't see as many Native Americans running around today. Their race was nearly obliterated, while blacks are all over the place. They were mistreated badly I will agree, but they weren't obliterated.
There is a recognized Black History Month. When is there going to be as much emphasis given to Native American History month? There is no state holiday alotted for Sequoyah or Tecumseh, or Geronimo. Yet there is MLK day. I think our goverment has done enough bending over backwards for 'African Americans.'

[Morpheus]

Get a grip wrote:

Oh good grief. Okay, will saying I’m sorry make you feel better? Okay, I’m sorry. There, feel better? I’m sorry that your ancestors were slaves in America and in Africa. What? They were slaves in Africa? Oh, I guess we have decided to leave to little part of history out of it. Yes, the slaves that were brought here from Africa were actually already slaves that had been enslaved by there own people. Slavery is still practiced in some areas of Africa today. I guess this puts us into a quagmire now, doesn’t it?
Now, I would like an apology of my own. When I was a child, my family was forced into moving due to the state forcing me and 10 other children at my school to be bussed 1-1/2 hours one way to another school because of desegregation. The school I was attending was 3 blocks from my home. That did not matter. Because I was white and “privileged” I had to be moved to another school so a black child could go to mine. Now, I want my apology and I want it delivered by Jesse Jackasson and Al not so sharp Sharpton.
Oh, and I would also like an apology for my ancestors…which were Irish. Oh, you did not know that the Irish had problems coming to America. Well, before any apology is giving to the African community, I want a study done of the Irish immigrants and I want an Irish history month. Oh, and I also want a Ms Irish American pageant, ITV television station, IAACP committee, Irish Academy awards, a National college program for Irish students and lets see, how about a National quota for companies to have a certain percentage of their employees be Irish. I can probably think of a few more but unlike some of my fellow decedents from immigrants, I have to go to work.
Oh, and I want the word "cracker" outlawed!

Amen brother Grip. I don't see ANY blacks stepping forward? How about you Ms. multi cultural? What does that mean anywho...multi cultural? Aren't we all multi cultural? I'm an Irish-Scottish-German-American , I just dropped the title because it was too tiring to say. How ridiculous this whole argument is. Get the **ck over it and focus on the future instead of the past...geeesh.

[Larry Price]

No one living in this country who was born in this country is or ever has been a slave or a slaveholder. The issue of slavery in America has no bearing on persons living today in the US.

[Greeneyedsista]

Funny how everyone wants black people to "get over it." And this comes from NON BLACK PEOPLE! As if you have a right to tell a black person, who is still treated with a great deal of prejudice to move on. How can we when our race is thrown in our face on a daily basis? I am educated, and my parents provided a great life for me and my brothers. We all went to college, and I cannot relate to being poor. However, I see on a daily basis that this country does not treat us equally. Not when I apply for a job, have more experience, am told so over the phone, and then it's a problem when they see me, because the employer thought I was white based on my name and my manner of speech over the phone. How many times has that happened? More than any white person would care to admit. I don't hate white people, and as a matter of fact, I am multi cultural, including German and Cherokee blood, but the fact remains that being black in America is damn sure not the same as being white. I've been turned down when looking for a place to live. Same BS. On the phone, it's all gravy, they don't know I am black. In person, it's a problem. Yeah...so what's that mean? It's not my income as my husband and I make over 100k/yr, and neither of us have criminal records, and we both know how to present ourselves, nor are we threatening. Don't tell me what to get over until white people get over treating us differently. And yes, Native Americans should be issued a public apology as well. My grandmother was 1/2 Cherokee. I am sick and tired of people whining that black people have Black History Month. Every month of the year is white history month. That's primarily what is taught in school. It would be stupid to have an Irish Miss America, Irish Academy Awards and so forth. Black people are a totally different race. Irish is still white...GET A GRIP! If black people have organizations to celebrate their own beauty and culture, which no one else can seem to respect, why is there a problem???

CJ: I guess I should be glad I wasn't "obliterated." Thanks!

Get A Grip: I went to a high school in Philly for smart students. Guess when it changed? When more white kids had to be admitted that were not as smart.

Tim: Explain to me how black people are not a minority? I don't think you can. I've never heard a black person say a white person owes them, except to owe them equal treatment. And I guess you don't know this, but white people always treated themselves as if they are Americans and no one else, which may explain why minorities are differentiated by being "African-American" and "Native-American." No one else seemed to have had the right to live here as equals but white people.

Until white people change how they treat us, then don't tell us how we should feel!

[Greeneyedsista]

Morpheus: Multicultural is also multiracial. Being Irish-Scottish-German-American means you are just white. Being Afro-German-Native American like I am is a little different. Do I say that every day when describing myself? No. That's silly. Black will do just fine.

[Jimmy Two Crows]

If you want equal rights, act equal. Stop asking for hand outs for no reason. How far back do we have to go with the apologies? To the cavemen? I apologize for them killing all the dinosaurs. Would you like money for that also?

[Patriq]

Larry Price wrote:

No one living in this country who was born in this country is or ever has been a slave or a slaveholder. The issue of slavery in America has no bearing on persons living today in the US.

Then would you agree since no one thought to be living in America had anything to do with the German concentration camps need feel sorry for what happened to the jews in WWII. The camps were in Europe not America so why care?!!? Maybe 6million jews were not killed?!? Who kept records and how do you know they are accurate.

[Greeneyedsista]

I think I get the problem here. White people want us to be dumb enough to believe that not only does racism no longer exist, but that they like us...they really do...and we should move forward holding hands singing "We Are the World." All those examples I just gave showing prejudicial treatment were all in my head. There's really no institutional racism either. We are really treated all the same. YEAH RIGHT! White people are born with the luxury of not having to think about the color of their skin and the impact it has on their very survival, as in finding a decent job and home and providing for their family. It's a given that race most likely won't be an issue. I sure as hell love my blackness, but it would be nice to not have to think about it and its impact on my existence on an almost daily basis. White people that don't like us REALLY don't like us when they realize we are smart enough to not believe the BS they are trying to spoon feed us. I am waiting to see ONE post from a white person that acknowledges what I am saying, and I might have to wait a long time.

The only time I have ever heard a white person acknowledge any of this was a friend of mine. I have more respect for her than most people because she at least doesn't have the blinders on that most white people seem to have.

[Beth]

Can everyone not just forgive for past wrongs so we don't have problems like this?

[DLC]

How will an apology help? Who's really sorry since it wasn't anyone living today who offended?

[Patriq]

Greeneyedsista wrote:

I think I get the problem here. White people want us to be dumb enough to believe that not only does racism no longer exist, but that they like us...they really do...and we should move forward holding hands singing "We Are the World." All those examples I just gave showing prejudicial treatment were all in my head. There's really no institutional racism either. We are really treated all the same. YEAH RIGHT! White people are born with the luxury of not having to think about the color of their skin and the impact it has on their very survival, as in finding a decent job and home and providing for their family. It's a given that race most likely won't be an issue. I sure as hell love my blackness, but it would be nice to not have to think about it and its impact on my existence on an almost daily basis. White people that don't like us REALLY don't like us when they realize we are smart enough to not believe the BS they are trying to spoon feed us. I am waiting to see ONE post from a white person that acknowledges what I am saying, and I might have to wait a long time.
The only time I have ever heard a white person acknowledge any of this was a friend of mine. I have more respect for her than most people because she at least doesn't have the blinders on that most white people seem to have.

I must say Green eyes your a sight for sore eyes for sure ha ha, by the way thats not me thats Dave Chappell ha ha, anyway. You see they are saying oh well nobody who's here now lived in slavery days, but my point to them about that is, what the hell happened after slavery!!! ok we were supposed to be free and yet we were treated less the human on many levels clear from 1865-1968!!! what about that our parents lived thru all of that so it is truly on one generation which is still living that saw first hand and were punished, hung, beatdown, denied a reasonable wage, and just outright denied the civil liberties we as Americans were supposed to be afforded, in the country that claimed it was the land of the free and that was proven to be a lie!!! 1865 in fact is a long, long time ago, but the 60's is more recent in memory for those who should just get over it.

[Greeneyedsista]

An apology is pointless. Equal treatment is what we need.

[John]

Yes this is stupid. The 13th Amendment went into effect in 1865.
No one that was alive back then is alive now.
So why waste government time to issue an apology to people that were not wronged when
there are far more important things that need to be dealt with. Any apology that should
have been given should have been given back then. Yes I agree that slavery was wrong
and I am aware that there is still racism today. I also see that the racism is going
both ways from "African Americans" toward whites as well as from whites to
"African Americans". As an example i see in the news about schools banning
rebel flags but allowing "black pride" symbols to be worn. So why not ban those as well.
I mean isn't the entire point to create a non-discriminatory,
race-neutral society(if this isn't the point then what the hell is).
I agree with CJ about dropping the African or other country from American.
According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary:
Main Entry: Amer·i·can
Pronunciation: &-'mer-&-k&n,-'m &r-,-'me-r&-
Function: noun
1 : an American Indian of North America or South America
2 : a native or inhabitant of North America or South America
3 : a citizen of the United States

Note #3 You are Americans. I believe I will leave it at this for right now

[Tired of It]

Fuck the apology. It will never makes a difference. And I am SO F*CKING sick of hearing about race and racism. African Americans have more given to them now then whites. They are the first chosen for certain things whether it be housing, jobs, goverment assistance, offices etc etc etc Because others are so *d a m n* afraid the race card will play a part against them. It's simply pathetic! Greeneyes if you feel you are still being wronged, then why are u still in America? And making more money than any "white person" I know for that matter. No one is holding a gun to your head to keep you here! And that question is to anyone, not just greeneyes.

Give it a rest already!

More often than not... African Americans are the ones still holding rage in their hearts over the past. NOT the other way around!