Bush to Visit Infamous Slave Port During Africa Trip

The Associated Press ^ | Jun 25, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Jun 25, 2003

Bush to Visit Infamous Slave Port During Africa Trip

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Like his predecessor five years before, President Bush will visit an infamous former slave port during a trip to Africa next month.

Bush leaves July 7 for a five-country tour of Africa. While in Senegal, he was to stop at Goree Island, a former slave barracks off the coast of West Africa where slaves were shackled and shipped to American colonies, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Wednesday.

More than 2 million slaves passed through the island during a more than 100-year period ending in 1786, according to one estimate.

Former President Clinton visited Goree Island in 1998, ending an Africa trip in which he earlier had told Ugandan schoolchildren that America's history of slavery was wrong, but did not directly apologize for it.

Fleischer gave no indication that Bush would change his position against apologizing for slavery during his visit.

The Bush administration opposes offering financial reparations or a formal apology for slavery, saying they would not help fight racism today. Fleischer said Bush would talk about slavery in the context of promoting democracy in Africa and helping people move "forward in life."

Asked about an apology, Fleischer said: "You'll hear the president's remarks in their full context when you hear them. And the president is looking forward to the trip and reflecting about history and about the future."

AP-ES-06-25-03 1512EDT

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGABOFKPDHD.html

[Finalapproach29er]

Photo-op politics. Disgusting.

[Fzob]

More than 2 million slaves passed through the island during a more than 100-year period ending in 1786, according to one estimate.

I'll hazard a guess that of the 2 million slaves that passed through that island, about 250,000 went to the USA. Leaving the balance to go other places in the world.

[Mears]

You answered my question,I was going to ask "Why?".

[1rudeboy]

I'm shocked.

[Bogolyubski]

Given W's recent track record, I wouldn't be completely surprised if he used it as a backdrop to call for a federal bill for reparations (gotta take all the Dem issues away, right?).

[puroresu]

It's a safe bet that media coverage of this event will focus 100% of the buyers at this particular market, while failing to mention who the sellers were.

[Dilly]

And this is different from the "photo-op politics" on the USS Lincon how? Were you disgusted by that?

[NEWwoman]

It's a safe bet that media coverage of this event will focus 100% of the buyers at this particular market, while failing to mention who the sellers were.

Good point! And it's still going on in Africa today.

[BamaGirl]

It's a safe bet that media coverage of this event will focus 100% of the buyers at this particular market, while failing to mention who the sellers were.

Good point! And it's still going on in Africa today.

Yeah, why doesn't he go to the places in Africa where slavery is still going on? That would produce a lot of nice photos.

[SwinneySwitch]

Senegal was taken over by les french batards in 1802!

[Finalapproach29er]

No W. earned that because he took the risk and I believe he was sincere. I should have said touchy -feely, "white people bad", politics. I wasn't alive during that era and am not going to be guilted by Clinton or any other politician. I tired of these "gestures of empathy, understanding" and politics by race.

Everytime an American President goes to Africa, is it going to become standard custom to stop there to acknowledge white people terrible past?- as if that has anything to do with the present?

[NEWwoman]

Yeah, why doesn't he go to the places in Africa where slavery is still going on? That would produce a lot of nice photos.

Very good question, BamaGirl.

As an aside, with all the yapping about reparations for something we stopped ~150 years ago with the Civil War, where are the voices to stop slavery - NOW?

Could it be that there is no money in it for them?

[Veracious Poet]

"Given W's recent track record, I wouldn't be completely surprised if he used it as a backdrop to call for a federal bill for reparations (gotta take all the Dem issues away, right?)."

That's exactly what I was thinking (Actually, the thought of him actually doing it sends shivers down my spine).

"Yeah, why doesn't he go to the places in Africa where slavery is still going on? That would produce a lot of nice photos."

That wouldn't be politically expedient, besides wouldn't that take good ol' American guts?

[dagnabbit]

Given W's recent track record, I wouldn't be completely surprised if he used it as a backdrop to call for a federal bill for reparations

Not to worry, these will be "smart" or "targeted" reparations.

[goodnesswins]

Maybe he'll say something like...."Weren't all those who went to the USA LUCKY, considering the problems of Africa today?" (Hoping, dreaming....)

[cyborg]

I would not expect Bush to say that. For one that's pretty insensitive to say. Lucky to be enslaved and thrown down in the bottom of a slave ship? Having said that, unless he goes to the Sudan and to thailand and other places where there's wholesale slavery going on, i think he's pandering.
It's not good to focus on the past. The present has challenges of its own.

[BamaGirl]

Of course not! "Always go for the deep pockets!"