This is all utter nonsense. How can anyone be held accountable for their ancestors?
Hey, it might work.
“I looked up my family tree and found out I was the sap.”
- Rodney Dangerfield
He Been Affleckted.
Given his ability... he did them a favor.
If you’re of African or Arabic ancestry, there’s an excellent chance you have slave owners in your family tree.
Ben....no one cares.
Who cares?
If anyone should be embarrassed about their slave-owing ancestors it should be 0bama. His ancestors probably sold Michelle’s ancestors to someone like Ben Afflecks ancestors.
I am conflicted on this. first off, he shouldn’t be ashamed of that fact. his ancestors were not alone in what they did. we all have ancestors somewhere along the line that owned slaves, I would imagine. but regardless, it’s odd that he would want that kept out of the show. I would think that it would make the show more interesting to examine that part of your unknown past. on the other hand, I imagine I might want a certain detail of my past not broadcast on national television (if they were doing a story on me) so shouldn’t that be my prerogative? it’s not like when you do a tv show you put your hand on the bible and swear to tell the whole truth, punishable by perjury if you leave out juicy details. thirdly, he’s a liberal douche so I don’t care about his troubles but it’s an interesting predicament nonetheless
I looked up my tree, and I had slave holding ancestors, but also had people involved in helping with the underground railway, so I guess I balance out.
Reparations! Reparations! Reparations!
OH NOOOOOOOOOEZ
Are you kidding, Ben will love nothing more than to cry some crocodile tears and proclaim his mia culpas about this. It will satisfy his white guilt pathology and get some publicity for his upcoming movie.
Would have never heard of him unless some FReepers wasted bandwidth on him. Ditto for Bill Maher, etc.
The point of appearing to NOT have any slave owners in your ancestry is so that you can be sanctimonious and superior to everyone else who you can then to proceed to simply call all racists at your whim (you being so pure and all).
That is the point of the whole exercise.
It’s the same as people who assume that if they were living in Germany at the time of the Nazi’s that THEY would not have participated, but of course most everyone else would have. They of course are far superior.
People just love to play these “what if” games and place themselves in the best possible light and most everyone else in the worst. It’s become a national pass time to run around calling everyone and his dog a racist.
Oh Ben, how could you and your family do this? Even by today’s standards, slavery in Connecticut must have been brutal. Ben you must pay for this; rid yourself of your dirty wealth.
Oh Ben, how could you and your family do this? Even by today’s standards, slavery in Connecticut must have been brutal. Ben you must pay for this; rid yourself of your dirty wealth.
Nathaniel Stanley of Connecticut. James McGuire of New Jersey.
Well, if they shot his Georgia ancestor Benjamin Cole and burned down his farm during the Civil War then it all balances out...
Do not punish children for the sins of the father.
There shouldn’t be a punishment unto the sixth generation for anything.