Im doing this as an english/history project and need a little help on the topic. I want my argument to apply to both sides of the story so dont go to wild but speak your mind.
2007-02-13 10:22:35 · 14 answers · asked by Lance s 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
No. If a person alive today can prove they were enslaved by the state of Virginia, then I would say an apology is in order. The fact of the matter is, this is not possible. What happened between the years 1619 and 1865 is in the past. No one alive today had any hand in the perpetuation of slavery. That said, who would apologize? It is time to move forward, not separately as black and white, but together as Virginians.
2007-02-13 10:34:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
An apology is an admission of guilt and therefore in the legal world of the modern USA is equal to repatriations. If the apology were made there is no legal way to prevent the repatriations from going forward.
I agree with repatiriations in a qualified way. All of those who were slaves deserve some compensation. Those that should pay for it would be the "whites".
However against the cost of slavery should be subtracted the cost of the Civil war, and the 360,000 + whites that died to end slavery for 3,900,000 slaves.
Furthermore most of the wealth of the south that was a result of slavery was consumed or destroyed in the civil war.
As for Virginia and other states of the former confederacy 1 white person in 20 was KILLED in the civil war as a punishment for slavery. Even if we accept slavery as bad and evil (as it was), killing off 1 potentialy guilty individual out of 20 at random would be considered cruel and unusual punishment to anyone.
As an aproximation the two costs, slavery and the civil war balance each other out. How to even out the exact costs over 150 years later is no longer possible. All involved and even thier immediate decendants are long dead.
The problems of inequality in America that still exist are problems that happened in human lifespans not 150 years ago, even if some causes go back that far. If any politician from Virginnia is still alive who voted for the seggregation laws he should make an apology now. Making an apology for something you are not guilty for is meaningless.
2007-02-13 11:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by Dr Fred 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK...let's try to put it into an entirely different context. In the 1600's, one of my Irish ancestors was murdered by an English landlord because they wouldn't pay the rent. Furthermore, the survivors were kicked off the land and became for all intents and purposes homeless. English law at the time held the Irish had no legal standing and therefore the virtual theft of my family's land led the survivors to enter into 7 year contracts as "servants" and came to America, without a penny to their names.
Now...should I be able to sue the descendants of my ancestors' murderers? Should I be able to sue the British government? You'd probably say No and I would agree. At some point, the past has to be closed with the promise that we will try to do better in the future.
2007-02-13 17:03:18 · answer #3 · answered by Gary E 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Virginia was once a haven of slavery because it was the system adopted by the people. Technically, it must not be blamed for the slavery but only those who abused the slaves. An apology must be made by the oppressors themselves during their time but not their descendants who had no participation in the abuse of slaves.
2007-02-13 12:24:39 · answer #4 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the only people who owe the two apology or restitution are people who've profited from slavery. maximum at the instant are lifeless, however the subject nonetheless exists relative to Sudan area, and additionally the intercourse slavery subject everywhere, and the infant/orphan slavery issues in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and a few lesser well-known places. maximum anyone now alive has ancestors who have been slaves or contributors of the relatives tree who have been slaves and left no progeny, possibly dying in this dire condition. This includes all races. via fact maximum folk now residing are harmless of this abuse, it could be unconscionable to penalize them. anyone would desire to artwork annoying and get forward in keeping with their own efforts, no longer seem for a loose holiday from questionable criminal suits. this would not mean that the courts shouldn't proceed to award in simple terms (no longer severe) repayment relative to contemporary concerns.
2016-12-17 09:21:13 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no , there's no reason for it all those who were slaves and those who imprisoned them are deceased ,my grandparents came to America in the early 30's from Poland to escape the Nazi regime so i don't feel as though i owe anyone an apology neither do my children. America has ten times the people it use to if not a hundred times and not everyone great great great great grandparents had slaves time to get over it and move on that's what my grand parents did and they never felt as though anyone owed them an apology either
2007-02-13 10:50:41 · answer #6 · answered by auntie s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. An apology would accomplish what? Lawsuits? It wouldn't change the way things are now and who would they apologize to?
No slaves are alive. No body alive has been affect by slavery directly. Also who should apologize? Families that owned slaves? All white people no matter if they owned slaves or not? What about black slave masters?
I know it's all mostly questions but I think you see my point.
2007-02-13 10:32:29 · answer #7 · answered by phxfet 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Apology? The descendents should thank Virginia for bringing their forefathers to America.
2007-02-13 10:34:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No who do you purpose they apologize to?
As far as I know all slaves have long passed away as well as the people who owned them.It's over let's move on. But will we NO because even our media can't seem to let it go.
Let's just be glad that these things no longer occur in this great nation of ours.
2007-02-13 10:38:36 · answer #9 · answered by jason s 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Virginia as a State. No.
Humanity owes the apologies.
But did ever Humanity appeal or behave in the name of Equality?
No, never did and probably for a very very long time never will.
That's just Human Nature....
2007-02-13 10:28:59 · answer #10 · answered by rumpfelt_propaganda 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋