Queen urged to apologize for slavery - UPI
It is this kind of grandstanding that mires this country in petty racial bickering while our real world accelerates to hell-in-a-hand-basket.
Who cares if the Queen apologizes for slavery. Did the royals violate their own laws or moral code? Absolutely not. They fabricated laws and codes as they went along to suit whatever need they felt they faced. During that time, as well as before and after, they had unwavering objectives – rule the land and collect the bounty, with iron fist.
The African slave trade was a way to make easy money, pure and simple. This occurred after the Queen’s ancestors had exploited the locals in every way possible, including slavery.
So forget about apologies. She is a symbol of evolution. A snap shot of a time that thankfully is gone. Let’s debate real stuff.
James C. Collier
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Technorati Tags: Queen Urged to Apologize for Slavery, Queen of England, Racism, Slavery, Apologies, Acting White
I disappoints me to hear you say that.
ReplyDeleteIt is this kind of grandstanding that mires this country in petty racial bickering while our real world accelerates to hell-in-a-hand-basket.
ReplyDeleteMan I love the way you think and write James.
That says it all. So how do we get people to stop?
republishing comment, due to bug in posting process...
ReplyDeletePosted by Bronzetrinity to Acting White at 12:09 AM
Hearing appologies for slavery would give me closure. I and the world would acknowledge once and for all that what happened was wrong, Black people were not destined to be slaves as some Bible fanatics argue, and there is no point in making economic and legal arguments for why it was okay. The outlook on Black history would change because it would be acknowledged that it was just wrong. Yes, lets just forget the past and not bother with appologies for the genocide and torture and subjugation of people of African descent. Its just so unpleasant to bring it up. Lets forget that whole period and forgive every business and instution that benefited from slavery. I think they call that getting away from murder. Is it really so hard to appologize? Its not. Why are countries and states reluctant to appologize? Because they don't want to admit they did something wrong. Maybe deep down inside they didn't think it was wrong. Maybe they thought our ancestors deserved it...they didn't consider them humans anyway right? If there is no appology then there was no wrong.
Bronzetrinity: respectful disagreement encourages thought, which moves us forward. Expressed disappointment, on the otherhand, is a tool of manipulation. The laws and moral codes, pertaining to 'wrongness', are not retroactive, regardless of what we might want or feel we need. The healing power you seek is within you - I believe.
ReplyDeleteEven though I personally don't need an apology, who;s to say that this would not help someone else? what about our elders who are still living who's parents were slaves? This may have some affect. But I will say this: An apology without some form of action or gesture to fix or correct the problem, in my opinion is pointless and it is grandstanding
ReplyDeleteAs usual, Mark, I'm in total agreement...what good is the 'SORRY' when it's just a word with no meaning being offered after the damage has been OVERDONE. We've got to stop wanting and waiting for someone to say sorry...and make them sorry, by show them what we're made of...that stock of Kings and Queens all up in our blood.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Native Son, if you REALLY want to apologize, do it with something other then your words...make me know you're sorry; I want to see it so loud, I'll be able to show my grandchildren.
thanks again Acting White for the good post.
an apology needs two things: (1) someone who is guilty of doing wrong and (2) someone who had the wrong done to them. this whole apology tripe contains none of the above!
ReplyDeletei will feel no better about being a Black man in America because some White person apologizes to me for slavery. it may be a good idea to make the white person understand the long lasting effects of slavery on the Black community. it may be nice for white people to know that the scars of that period still afflict many Blacks and their communities.
but how in the HECK does an apology atone for something that was done over 100 years ago by people we don't know to people we don't know? i just don't get it.
How far back in history do we go when apologizing?
ReplyDeleteEvery person on this planet has a history of slavery in there DNA.
Here's a little history on the subject from the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index_section9.shtml
Do Black Africans, need to apologize to Black African Americans, also?
It's over it's done in American history. Teach the truth about it, but don't try to run a guilt trip on people who had not one thing to do with it. And use it as a crutch for your own failures and bad choices.
It's a tool of division. Hasn't the black community in this country been used enough?
Hmmm...I had a followup comment about the positive implications of the appology and it wasn't posted. Did anyone consider the positive implications of the appology? There is more than one side to this issue.
ReplyDeleteIf some people want an appology then they will work to get one. You don't control them and they can do what they want. This argument is a waste of time because you are complaining about other people's actions that you don't have any control over. Why don't you do what you are claiming is more important? So you see how you are not practicing what you are preaching? You think that people should focus on something other than and appology yet you are focusing on that very issue? Hmmm....I am for an appology and I don't even discuss as much as you do and I have never even written on my blog about it.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, who says that stating you are disappointed is a ploy. Doesn't it just mean I was disappointed by something? Here's the definition:–adjective
1.depressed or discouraged by the failure of one's hopes or expectations: a disappointed suitor.
2.Obsolete. inadequately appointed; ill-equipped.
The first one explains what I meant exactly. If there is some other definition I don't know about then let me know. Thats the definition I learned in school so if I used the work incorrectly then I'm sorry.
Ms. Bronzetrinity, I meant no personal offense to you. I am sorry that Blogger did not capture your full thoughts. Software, like people, is imperfect. I hope that you will continue to challenge me, and others, with that which you believe.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. Collier. No offense taken and no offense given :)Internet glitches are a pain in the butt and they always happen.
ReplyDeleteI am inclined to agree. I wrote an article on the same issue
ReplyDeletehttp://djblackadam.typepad.com/damnitq/2007/04/black_people_we.html
perosnally, I feel apologies are a waste of time, unless some serious actions follow.
Here's a question, if some people are trying to do something good why are other people trying so hard to discourage them?
ReplyDeleteAnother question, how are you defining what is "good"? It may just be a matter of different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteWith good intentions trying to do something they consider to be good.
ReplyDelete