Apology for Slavery

It doesn't matter what anyone says or does it will not change what happened in the past. Also, there are other important issues going on today such as racism acts and all types of other things. An even being compensated for what happened to my ancestors still isn't enough to change what happened or to make anyone forget what went on. Maybe if they acknowledged more of the black inventors and members of the naacp for their hard work to make it better for black people everywhere would be nice, but as long as there are racist people in the world there will always be some kind of slavery, racism acts, and minor recognition of the most important people of society. No apology needed.

Which slaves are you talking about? The people the Egyptians held in slavery? I'm sure there are ones before that, but at the moment, it's the ones I can think of that happened the longest time ago. So, who's going to compensate who in that case? More recently, most of Europe owned slaves... More recent than that, the US some hundred years or so ago... What about people who are still being held in slavery in some areas? Do they need to be freed first then compensated? What we need is education about the treatment of human beings. I don't think I should be held accountable for the way my ancestors may or may not have treated other people, but I do believe that it is up to me to decide how I will treat others. THAT'S what I think we need to work on.

To me sorry is just a word, it is a bit like confession, it is the easy way out, the people concerned only can be sorry in the real tense, unless you had something to do with it you can be sorry it happened but you can't be sorry in a real responsible way. I think the best thing that generations after the guilty can do is make sure that sort of thing does not happen again, and promote peace and love for the future...

Actually, compensation to the countries involved is meaningless, as the slaves were sold by those countries. They were sold by their own countrymen, therefore any "compensation" should be provided by those countries who did the selling. In fact, these same countries are still involved in the slave trade, so I would suggest going to the source, and that is not the US. I have never bought a slave, and to my knowledge none of my ancestors did either. I think the time has come to move on.

I value your opion even though I think it is wrong. My ancestors never owned slaves besides those that were taken in battle. Why should we now in 2007 be held accountable for something that has occured for centuries? Slavery is an abomanation that still occurs today. To make reperations would be to bankrupt this and many other countries. We should all be proud to be Americans no matter how we got that way. Anyone who thinks they have it rough in this country because of slavery should open their eyes and see what is going on in the world today. At least we don't have to worry about being executed for expressing ourselves.

To be quite honest there are more important and more pressing issues to worry about than an apology. As has been said, this generation and many before it had NOTHING to do with decisions made 100+ years ago.

I don't think an apology or money will change anything. What we need to do is make sure that all people are treated equal and given the same opportunities in life without pressing our own lifestyles onto others.

I think an apology is appropriate and I think some how we have to rectify the damage that is done. I have given this much thought through my years and I don't know how this is possible when many people won't let go of the past and therefore makes reconciliation impossible. A sad situation for all of us! If each individual would just govern themselves and look at others as mere human beings created by God, then and only then do we have the hope of changing this world. Does matter how color, let's all learn from the ignorances of the past and go forward in exceptance as equals.