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Symbolism, John, symbolism. Do and accomplish nothing symbolism. It's the way of the left.

I, too, John do not feel an aplogy for a way of life 175 years ago is necessary. Things were different then. Besides, research of my family tree done by my aunt a few years back revealed that my family assisted in hiding run-away slaves. For what do I owe an apology?

I'd like to know how they figure my yet unborn Great, Great Great grandson has anything to do with the way I behave today.

Excuses, John, excuses. It's never our fault, as long as there's someone at the back of the line to catch the blame - usually it's the fault of the people getting mistreated, anyway. Ignore the evil and corruption within. That's the way of the right.

Actually, I feel much the same way as John does about Adam's problems, but the difference is that slavery and racial discrimination were and are real.

"... must have complained of his indolence ..."
Yeah, the lazy sod. Maybe he just didn't like being taken away from his family and friends and kept at labor for no more than food and clothes. It's a wonder he didn't beg to go to war with his beloved Massah to pitch his tent and tend him at the end of their hard day's march.

How about these apologies, John: for not demanding law 'n order to suppress the riots in Wilmington at the turn of the last century, for not demanding justice and fair treatment for all soldiers traiined in NC during WW II, for not demanding fair employment practices in the textile and tobacco industries, for not demanding an end to the "colored Balcony" at movie theaters, for not being willing to use the same water fountains and toilets, for not sitting beside and supporting the A&T students who had the courage to demand full service at local stores, for not demanding equal educational opportunites for all students, for not identifying as horses as*s the white people who think they know who is and who is not a "real" representative of black communities, for not having enough sense to understand Dick Johnson's motivations?

What a bunch of self-serving, cold hearted, nasty minded codswallop, John. Glad to see that Cap'n Huff'n'Puff agrees with you - would be disappointed otherwise.

"Symbolism, John, symbolism. Do and accomplish nothing symbolism. It's the way of the left."

Yeah, like promoting unpassable constitutional amendments against flag burning and abortion. Your're right, like trying to legislate school prayer. I just never realized this type symbolism was from the left.

Let's reverse this and suppose Dick Johnson bought your great-great grandfather.

Suppose he had him to take orders from a scrawny black woman, doing whatever she asked whenever she asked and threatening to whip ol' Stephen Taylor for daring not to obey her?

Going to an extreme, suppose Dick Johnson raped your great great grandmother and you were a few shades darker than you are today?

Would that unsettle you at all?

Let's suppose 'Dick Johnson' assigned his original family name to your family? Would that bother you, Shassa Umguddi Umbassi?

Not a whole lot of Umbassis in Reidsville, are there?

An apology is just that. It is a statement that says the State is sorry for legalizing the purchase and possession of human beings. It does not apologize for any particular offenses such as I have detailed above; it covers the gamut of assumptions and I think it is the right thing to do.

Prag, if you are a heinous bad egg in your lifetime should your great great great+ grandchildren apologize for your behavior? (assuming you have kids)

It is clearly unfair- and unconstitutional- to force anyone alive today to apologize for something their ancestors did.

Which is why the State apologized. The State expressed regret for legalized indenture because it is the same institution that once allowed it.

Much the same as if a 200 year old man expressed his remorse for something he did wrong.

Apologize for "not demanding". Who was alive and in power then to demand?

Hell, Dick Johnson (funny name by the way) is dead so who is left to apologize to?

I'm sorry but the idea of "the State" apologizing to dead people is just dumb symbolic hogwash to me.

Besides, "the State" that existed then is not "the State" that exists now? It may go by the same name but it just isn't the same institution. If it were, it would not be apologizing.

Ah, that ol white liberal guilt. It must be a heavy burden to carry around for 200 years.

Cap'n Planet, I'll bet if we backtrack far enough we will find Strom Thurmond's (or some other dastardly republican's) dna mixed in there somewhere along the line. Whatcha think?

Btw, I hear mars is getting warmer. You and al gonna look into that?

Odd you should describe "the State" that way, Nit, because Virginia obviously was not a state when it became the source of slavery in North America in 1617, 8 years after the founding of Jamestown.

However, the Legislature, in its vote on the issue, held that the arrival of Statehood, particularly original statehood flush with the premises of freedom embodied in the new American Constitution, presented an opportunity to disavow the hypocrisy that All Men Are Created Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others. But, the new State failed to do so.

Even into the 20th Century, Virginia continued to pass legislation limiting or abolishing the supposedly emancipated rights of some of its citizens, based solely on the color of their skin. Should St. Benedict, or Othello, or even a young Morgan Freeman have walked down the streets of Richmond just 40 years, none of them could have bought a sandwich at most 5 and dimes.

The vote, by the way, was unanimous. Even 80-year-old Republican Frank Hargrove, who likened the statement to asking the Jews to apologize for killing Christ, voted in favor of it.

Interesting points and history lesson.

Last week, my wife and two daughters voted that my toilet seat should apologize for being left up all the time 200 years ago when some guy used to leave it up and some 19th century ladies had to put it down. Of course, I always put it down but that doesn't matter. They still give me dirty looks every time I come out of the bathroom

I imagine you hear, "put a lid on it", often, Nit.

Good one, Prag.

:)

I'm actually a pretty quite guy. I only turn into a loudmouth when I put on my NP cape.

I couldn't resist. I apologize. Don't get your cape stuck in an elevator door.

Greetings from Charleston, WV.

Apology = admission of guilt = reparations = money.

Follow the money. There are groups demanding reparations (read: money) from the govt. and corporations for slavery.

So here is Dan, a descendant of Irish & German immigrants of the 1890's expected to pay increased taxes and/or higher prices for goods to reimburse comtemporary blacks due to what happened prior to my ancestors arriving in America. Does that make sense?

http://www.ncobra.org/index.html

"Reparations can be in as many forms as necessary to equitably (fairly) address the many forms of injury caused by chattel slavery and its continuing vestiges. The material forms of reparations include cash payments, land, economic development, and repatriation resources particularly to those who are descendants of enslaved Africans."

BTW, apparently this group isn't getting too far as their homepage references the Million Man March of Oct. 2005.

I'm a Republican, just like the Great Emancipator:

"The monstrous injustice of slavery... deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world- enables the enemies of free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites- causes the real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especially because it forces so many really good men amongst ourselves into an open war with the very fundamental principles of civil liberty."

So, what's your point?

Sux, here's a "quick history lesson" for you:

Which Party voted unanimously to endorse Virginia's resolution of profound regret?

a) Birthday
b) Democratic
c) Republican
d) Superbowl
e) B and C

97-0.

Can I go ahead and get my apology now for how gays are not treated equally? I mean, why wait 200 years?

Good God people! I mean really!!!! Slavery was wrong, we all know that. But nobody alive today was a slave or slave owner...nor were their grandparents. POSSIBLY and I mean POSSIBLY a great great grandfather/mother was a slave/slave owner. What does that have to do with anything today?

I have always claimed to be for equal rights for all and special rights for none. In today's world, being white (imo) automatically makes you evil and an oppressor. I've never oppressed anyone! Why should I apologize for anything?????

Sorry to butt in here John, as you obviously do not require any assistance defending your position, as you have done so well here.

I would ask that you contact me by my personal email: mailto://Marine@glasgow-ky.com so that I might share some past family info with you on our mutual (verified) family member; Stephen Taylor.

Thanks for your statment. I agree completely.

Paul