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Sorry lass but although I don't really see where your coming from, I do feel strongly that it is the feeling better when you appologise (though not in my case - I feel humiliated) that is atleast in part why blacks want whites to appologise. But their is no sense of feeling better when it is for a bad event that happened so long ago and is so un-connected to you, but only is because your of the same religion, race etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazell B
It is connected!
Almost every town and city has buildings paid for by slave traders who wanted to be civic leaders. Schools, hospitals and all manner of establishments were funded by the men who dealt slaves. Those places are still in use. If we had had to pay to build them from taxes of the day, they simply wouldn't exist at all. Without them our relatives would never have had the life they had and quite a few of us lot wouldn't be here today.
The slave trade funded vast sections of UK life.
You have a good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazell B
My family come from Liverpool; a city built on the slave trade. So perhaps, on behalf of my ancestors, I do have something to apologise for.
Sins of the father hey Hazell? Or should that be great great great Grandfathers.....
Sounds ok to me, make your pic then :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian McC
I'd be careful about statements like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gannex
Whereas the Japanese government may steadfastly refuse to apologise for its actions in the war, the vast majority of the Japanese public are highly aware of what was done in their name in countries like China. While the right wing sponsored textbooks that deny the Nanking massacre might grab the headlines in the west, what isn't conveyed is that very few schools actually use them, and most of those controversial books are sold to members of the public who buy them out of curiosity.
I remember someone once explaining to me why Mitsubishi kept signing contracts with companies like Hyundai and Proton which were highly unfavourable to the Japanese company. They said that it was a form of corporate reparations to countries that had suffered under Japanese occupation.
Perhaps you ought to consider the Japanese 'allergy' against warmaking, and WHY the Japanese find it so difficult to consider the thought of sending troops overseas again, even if its for peacekeeping.
As for the original thread title, I'm unsure. Hazell B does bring up an excellent point, that the economic contribution made to the UK economy by the slave trade lives on, even though current generations have had nothing to do with the trade itself.
I'd like to ask one question though. Have the Africans and their descendants across the Atlantic come to terms with how the Africans collaborated with the Europeans in the slave trade?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazell B
The ansestors of black slaves living in the UK have also benefitted though :confused:
Sorry can be used to easily .
Yes they have. Thing is, they know how it was paid for, unlike so many whites who frankly don't seem to care at all. Imagine how you'd feel in their place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow
It's okay saying sorry is used too much, but again I say it costs nothing. One politician or member of the Royal family simply saying we now regret the treatment of slaves would do the trick. It really is that simple.
These people where cargo, thrown overboard if they started to sneeze, given less air than bread fruit and yet some forum mebers are still saying it isn't important. I say it is.
Like someone else has said, saying it's not important and apologising for it are two different things. I don't deny it, I don't deny the impact it had and I certainly don't deny that it was an awful thing... I don't have a problem with being educated about it and having days mark the abolition. But saying that I personally should apologise for it, or people today should apologise for it... seems... i don't know the word... like we're still accountable. And I don't feel we are. Our moral standings on these issues have changed, if anyone is in any doubt of that then it needs to be discussed, but otherwise I would hope that acceptance is more important than apologising. I'm aware that much of this country has been established on the backs of many people... over many battles, many imigrants and slaves etc etc. How far back are we going to go? Where do we end apologising for all the wrongs of the past and of our ancestors who knew no better?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazell B
I just feel there are more pressing matters... there are people STILL in the grips of similar trades and our attentions should be focussed on those.
maybe you should apologize to the ones you left behind. Like in Sudan ETC. Offer citizenship to everyone in zimbabwe.