How long must whites pay for the past?

Question

We have the memorial of Soweto day this Friday and whites are once again asked to apologise for what happened. The thing is I was only 4 years old when it happened. How long must I apologise for something I didn't do? Please no hate mail. Would genuinely like to have some helpful comments.

Answer 1

Well, if you want my view, I wouldn't even think about the whites to pay for the past - if we look at compensation of what took place - it will take years upon end. But I would say "bury the hatchet" - the whites can appologize, and if they mean it, then its all well and good for both races to move on. But it does not make sense to hold on to the past - not only will it cause more hate, but it can flare into discrimination in the schools, churches, jobs, malls, airports, streets - you name it. And segreation is nothing but deterioration of civlisation. My pick is - the blacks should forgive the whites, and the whites should apologize - LIKEWISE - the blacks should apologize for their neverending hate, and the whites should forgive. When you see a co-operation as this, then this is where the seed of unity is planted and grown! Somone has to make a move. Payment cannot help - because money and compensation does not make a man happy, because after all of this has gone and perished, there was nothing substancial to get rid of the hurt, the pain, the memories, and the loses. And besides - no one should be this passionate about it. Ok, so their parents, and parents parents, and parents parents parents, et al, may have gone throught the suffering, and they may have felt bad about it, but let it go, its a new world to oppurtunities, chances, and freedom. Letting it go is the best thing.
So for you - apologize, and apologize once! One apology, and a MEANINGFUL APOLOGY is all it takes, and just be understanding and a friend - you will then see that if they still hold the hate, then they will be at fault, not you, because you made the first move - and the right move. Once you are not racist, then you are in good standing - and as long as you teach your children the right morals as to how to deal with everyday cases like these, you will he helpingg to remove the hate in the future.

All the respect to you, and go get 'em :) Bless...

Answer 2

Try looking at it from the opposite perspective. If your people had been oppressed for generations upon generations, and you were living in poverty because your people had been held in slavery, then once freed, not allowed to own property, and then, once allowed to own property, treated like some sort of monster who most people refused to sell to or live next to, how long would it take you to get over it?

I don't know what the solution is, or even if there will ever be a solution. Just remember that every story has at least two sides, and most actions don't have one single repercussion. It's a chain reaction that goes on and on.

Answer 3

Well you're begging for hate mail, the way you phrased the question.

Obviously you haven't been asked personally to be the spokesman for all whites in the country, and apologize, have you?

Instead, since nobody is asking you personally, just use the opportunity to study history, and learn why it is that some people would *want* to ask white to apologize, for what, to you, seems the umpteenth time.

Then you will understand the answer to the question, not to mention have a better understanding of why you feel you need to ask this question.

Was that sufficiently non-hateful?

Answer 4

Everyone has one thing or another that they want other people to apologize for. People should get on with their life and don't look back. If you don't like something, do something to change it. Don't just complain and ask others to apologize for it.

Answer 5

hey thats nothing, In Australia we are being asked to say sorr y to the aboriginals for taking thier land 230 years ago , go figure.

Answer 6

As long as groups are around that accentuate our differences (Mecha,NAACP,Nazis,etc) we will never come together as people. All you can do is live your life as an individual and be as color blind as you can and teach your children to be also.

Answer 7

Dat sho am a ignunt querstion

Answer 8

You need a vacation bro

Answer 9

I didn't enslave anyone or kill anyone or beat anyone. And neither did my ancestors as far as I know. So, I am not paying for sh*t.

Answer 10

we will have to do this for the rest of our lives no matter wher you live