Virginia Apologizes For Its Role In Slavery
Slavery was abolished in 1865 by the 13th Amendment, but the Virginia General Assembly just got around to voting unanimously to express “profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery.
Is an apology or an expression of “profound regret”, 142 years after slavery was abolished, a profound joke or an act of healing?
Some argue that the resolution sends an important symbolic message, but I tend to side with those who think it’s unnecessary and foolish. What next a resolution to demonstrate “profound regret” at the genocide of American Indians, or a proclamation that the Holocaust was an obscenity? Actually the measure also expressed regret for “the exploitation of Native Americans.”
Profound regrets over slavery won’t do Jack to alleviate the abysmal living conditions of too many minorities in the former capitol state of the Confederacy.
Profound regrets won’t bring back the multitudes of African Americans and Native Americans who were lynched and tortured.
Profound regrets at this late stage of the game only serves to open up old wounds, and it’s nothing but an insult to African Americans. We kidnapped you from your homes in Africa and sold you into slavery, but hey, we are profoundly sorry.
Slavery is a dead issue; what the Virginia General Assembly should be addressing is the wide and deepening gulf between the poor (disproportionately African American) and the wealthy.
I am profoundly sorry at the stupid antics of the Virgnina General Assembly.
I write a weekly column for a small town newspaper in Virginia, and I also write for several Web sites. Please leave a comment or send me an email at: rreyes4966@aol.com | More from Robert Paul Reyes
Stumble It!
February 25th, 2007 at 3:34 am
Having the trend established, the Italians will apologise for the Colluseum bloodshed, the French will apologise for 1066 and Jacques Derrida, the Germans will apologise for Wagner, the Danes for bringing refrigeration to Greenland, the Japanese for Go theatre, the ……
February 25th, 2007 at 4:22 am
I apologise for being born on a planet with more than it’s share of lame brain, dumb asses. I am also profoundly sorry for ever casting a vote for any of them!
February 25th, 2007 at 5:59 am
They had to VOTE to express profound regret for slavery? If you are sorry for something, voting seems unneccessary. And it is extremely late in the game. Actually, that game is over, and we are all trying to focus on a new one!
Oooooh, who wants to vote that murderers are bad? And that child molesters are bad? Let’s all vote, so everyone will know our opinions about such obvious subjects! Because voting changes everything! Forget action, voting is fun!!!! LOL!