Bush Calls Slavery Historic 'Great Crime'

ABC News, AP wire ^ | July 8, 2003 | The Associated Press

[zook]

Frankly, I'm amazed at all these Freepers getting bent out of shape over Bush's remarks. Slavery was a crime, a terrible crime, and a terrible stain on our nation. It does no good to rationalize about how "others did it too," or "it's still going on," or by advancing other forms of the "those damned Africans/blacks" theme.

I believe that Bush is showing tremendous leadership, real and symbolic, by reaching out to Africa.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I'm not surprised at all. Its what I've come to expect.

Sadly, your post will be in the minority on this thread.

[wtc911]

exactly.

[CWOJackson]

Good reply. All the President did was acknowledge the truth...which for some appears is nothing more then political pandering.

[William McKinley]

Not if I have any say in the matter.

We can fairly judge the past by the standards of President John Adams, who called slavery "an evil of callosal magnitude." We can discern eternal standards in the deeds of William Wilberforce and John Quincy Adams, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Abraham Lincoln. These men and women, black and white, burned with a zeal for freedom, and they left behind a different and better nation. Their moral vision caused Americans to examine our hearts, to correct our Constitution, and to teach our children the dignity and equality of every person of every race. By a plan known only to Providence, the stolen sons and daughters of Africa helped to awaken the conscience of America. The very people traded into slavery helped to set America free...

This is fantastic stuff.

[zarf]

Non the less, this country was founded with an institution in it's midst that was a direct contradiction of it's ideals. That's called hypocracy.

We've dealt and are dealing with that fact- and we're a better country for it.

[wimpycat]

Some people just aren't happy unless they're miserable, and want to spread the "joy" around to other people. No thanks!

[XJarhead]

Nice post.

The answer to all the people who point to ongoing slavery in Africa, or the involvement of Brazil, is that it is up to the government of those countries to address slavery within those countries. It is the responsibility of our President to address the actions committed within this country.

This whole "other countries did it so don't point the finger at us" excuse is lame. It's like a vandal who breaks car windows but pleads innocent because a lot of other people did it as well.

I didn't see anything in Bush's speech where he took personal responsibility for slavery, or blamed the current generations of Americans for the evil of slavery. He simply acknowledged the (presumably undisputed) truth that the institution of slavery in this country was morally wrong.

[aimhigh]

Frankly, I'm amazed at all these Freepers getting bent out of shape over Bush's remarks. Slavery was a crime, a terrible crime, and a terrible stain on our nation. It does no good to rationalize about how "others did it too," or "it's still going on," or by advancing other forms of the "those damned Africans/blacks" theme.

I agree, however there is a blind spot the media is creating, which is the myth that the USA was MOST GUILTY. I remember reading about slavery in South America, where the slaves lived about 10 years due to the harsh treatment. We need to emphasize that we were one of the first to eliminate slavery.