Re: Apology for Slavery - a new suggestion.
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| Also listed in: Cruel and Illogical Twits: |
Okay, am I going to apologize for something I had no control over? No. I do not carry the burden of guilt for that. Besides, my family paid in blood with Southern men who volunteered to fight for the Union because slavery was wrong. So - apologize? No. And to whom? I could go down to TN and go find an old slave cemetery and apologize to some rock markers in the ground, but I don't think that's what you want.
It gets tricky trying to extract a heartfelt apology from people more than 100 years removed from the thing they're supposed to apologize for.
HOWEVER,
let's talk about the current situation. The inequality that remains. The fortunes made over the years of slavery and Jim Crow. The money that flowed easily into the bank accounts of powerful white men, and seldom trickled into the pockets of post-slavery Black America.
If a leveling is what's needed, then it's needed. Just once, to even the score, and make the world my children and grandchildren inheret a more fair and equal world, then yea, I'm for reparations. No one can go back and undo history. We only have this moment, and the future. That's all I'm concerned with. Not then, but now. If now is in my hands, then now I want to do whatever will make it right for the generation that comes after me. My grandparents didn't do it. My parent's didn't do it. And I don't want my children to live in a world where it becomes their responsibility. Pretty simple to me.
It gets tricky trying to extract a heartfelt apology from people more than 100 years removed from the thing they're supposed to apologize for.
HOWEVER,
let's talk about the current situation. The inequality that remains. The fortunes made over the years of slavery and Jim Crow. The money that flowed easily into the bank accounts of powerful white men, and seldom trickled into the pockets of post-slavery Black America.
If a leveling is what's needed, then it's needed. Just once, to even the score, and make the world my children and grandchildren inheret a more fair and equal world, then yea, I'm for reparations. No one can go back and undo history. We only have this moment, and the future. That's all I'm concerned with. Not then, but now. If now is in my hands, then now I want to do whatever will make it right for the generation that comes after me. My grandparents didn't do it. My parent's didn't do it. And I don't want my children to live in a world where it becomes their responsibility. Pretty simple to me.
I owe no one an apology for what happened before my ancestors even came here! I also call myself and American and proud of it. I don't fall back on an excuse that that my grandparents were poor so the country owes me something.
Maybe the slaves families that were left behinds became so depressed and angry and hurt, that they could not move forward like they could have done if they had not experienced such sadness and pain.
Can you even imagine having your husband, your son, your children ripped away from you and hauled off to a foreign land, and you don't even know where they are or if they are alive or if they are being tortured?
Can you even imagine the damage that would have done to a whole country of people's pschi? (sp)
Do you believe that America would be as great today and we would have recovered if that had happened to our anscestors. (sp)
sorry about all the spells
I am just too tired today.
I think I will stop now.
For you who had family in the north that fought for the release of the slaves ----- even you too benefited by thier suffering and sweat.
ALL of America has, did and is.
and
good blog Anne, I agree, but I don't think there is a chance in he** and I am not even sure we could afford it.
That is why I keep calling for at least ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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As for being taken from Africa, you need to read history more. Most africans that became slaves were sold by africans. Many of those were captured in tribal conflicts that still flare up in africa to this day. Then instead of killing those they were fighting they sold them and made a profit. So they remove foes and make a profit at the same time.
Good read on that subject.
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here is the blog link
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If we paid for every disgruntled American and non-American, everyone would get a check and guess where it comes from? Maybe it would be better to become a communistic country, where everything is equal? In ignorance, it's what they are driving for. If this is the notion to nominate BO becuz they think this will bring a bank payroll for them, they have a hard lesson to learn. What a let down it's going to be.
I can vote from home in TN (which is what I will do - drive down and vote there.) OR I can mail in from here and vote as TN absentee, OR I can go and vote in Toronto at the embassy.
I voted in the primary at a coffee shop on a university campus back in Feb. American voters are EVERYWHERE in Canada. and there's lots of ways for us to vote.
The oath of allegiance is:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
In some cases, USCIS allows the oath to be taken without the clauses:
". . .that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law. . ."
Sorry I used your blog to post this but some people still belive this. Obviously you are still a proud American!
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;-)
I still like your take, though!