Should the next elected president of the US issue a national apology for slavery?
2007-07-10 09:02:00 · 28 answers · asked by Caleb 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
I ask this question because this nation has apoligizes for many atrocities it took part in years ago.
I'm curious as to the responses of so many who say it happen and it has nothing to do with today. America benefited from the slave trade. It is one of the main reasons why this country grew so fast.
This happens to be an issue for a large part of the population. Should we just turn a blind eye to the concerns of our fellow citizens or should we address those concerns in a public manner?
2007-07-11 07:05:30 · update #1
It's getting closer and closer.
There is pressure to do so
and will happen soon on a
national level. Some governors
have done so, and I think the
Virginia governor was the first.
2007-07-10 09:12:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
No... why should he or she?
We can not and should not apologize for the sins of our fathers anymore than we should apologize for which way a river runs.
It's idiotic to take blame for something that was so far beyond our control.
It was a bad time in our history but the slave trade started long before we were a nation and at the time there was no compulsions against it.
You should also remember who else was responsible for the slave trade, African traders. There were no white men in roving bands scouring the country side for slaves. The Slavers were members of opposing Tribes who wanted to steal land and resources. What better than to sell your enemy? There is less chance of getting killed, you make a profit and since his whole family is being taken less chance some one will avenge them.
Hell today slavery still exists in Africa and parts of the Middle east. It is part of the traditions and culture. is it right? no of course not, but it is their issue and their culture.
What the next president should apologize for is how much of a circus and a freak show our government has become.
2007-07-10 16:19:13 · answer #2 · answered by Stone K 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO, for at least 2 reasons:
1. Sharpton will use an "apology" to push for reparations. And we all know Sharpton's an idiot.
2. The slaveowners of the 1700s and 1800s were simply participating in a practice that had gone on for 1000s of years before. Look up Egypt, Phoenicia, Sumatra, Japan, China, Persia, Greece, the Native American nations, and all the other ancient civilizations. They all participated in a form of slavery.
2007-07-10 16:54:50 · answer #3 · answered by jogimo2 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would that happen? Even if there was anyone still alive who was ever subjected to slavery, what has that to do with any current office holder? I suppose if there is anyone alive that owned slaves, that person would owe an apology. Under that theory I guess we'd need to give the country back to the American Indians. No one can turn back time. All we can do is learn from past mistakes.
2007-07-10 17:11:27 · answer #4 · answered by thinkerbelle1 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why? It was done in Lincoln's address in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclaimation. It was a Presidential Order that made the Union Army committed to the war to end slavery. The 13th admendment to the Constitution adopted on December 13, 1865 abolished and prohibits slavery.
2007-07-10 16:14:39 · answer #5 · answered by Steve S 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think a big, hearty "WAH!" is in place for slavery. It's over.... African leaders sold their own kind into slavery, our ANCESTORS didn't go out and kidnap these people. As a matter of fact, several slaves actually preferred their lives as a slave. They were taken care of. That's not to say that some weren't mistreated, because some were. But this is something that happened a LONG time ago. Not a living person today has owned a slave. We haven't gone out and kidnapped/forced anyone from a minority group to force them to work. I think everyone needs to just get over it and let the past go ahead and die. Living in the past assures that you have no better future.
2007-07-10 16:25:34 · answer #6 · answered by Matt B 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
People need to stop expecting apologies for things that didn't even happen to them. And people need to stop apologizing for things they did not do to others and could not have stopped. It's retarded, in the idiotic sense of the word.
The next president only needs to apologize for the lies they will tell, the policies they will turn their backs on and the other stupid things that they do in office... Should they apologize to the USA for Bush, no.. its the peoples' fault he is there and Congress' fault he wasn't impeached. Stop uselessly and needlessly apologizing people!
PS. More than half of the American population immigrated to America long after Slavery and a bunch more people immigrated long after the Civil Rights movement... tell me why they need to apologize for something that their ancestors didn't even do.
2007-07-10 16:14:51 · answer #7 · answered by elliecow 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why? let's grab onto another inflammatory issue and divide the country again! I don't give a damn if the next president was part of the KKK as long as he improve education, combat crime, enforce border security, create jobs in the economy, and defend America and the world against terrorism.
2007-07-10 16:19:48 · answer #8 · answered by LaLyLoo 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why is this question even being asked? 144 years after a devastating war as well as the Declaration of Emancipation, plus the fact that no one ever chooses to recall that there were white slaves as well as black, and finally after all that was done to eliminate segregation and all the legislation to enhance the lives of African-Americans (who exhibit as much anti-white racism as the opposite) it is really time that people accepted that they are simply "Americans" without a racial qualification or special needs because of the color of their skin!
2007-07-11 03:39:03 · answer #9 · answered by J John M T 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why should the next president apologize for something that happened like 200 years ago? The president wasn't alive when it happened, and he/she didn't contribute to it either. Besides, it's not like anyone that was a slave then would be alive to hear the apology. So what would be the point?
2007-07-10 16:10:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
America apologized for slavery in blood during the American Civil War...
2007-07-10 16:07:46 · answer #11 · answered by gman992 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋