Posted on 01/17/2007 7:10:30 AM PST by yankeedame
By Bob Gibson / bgibson@dailyprogress.com | 978-7243
January 16, 2007
Should Virginia apologize?
RICHMOND - A resolution to have Virginia apologize for slavery will encounter some opposition in the House of Delegates this month, according to legislators.
The highly symbolic issue likely to spark debate is a proposed state apology for African enslavement sponsored by black Virginia lawmakers, at least two of whom are descended from slaves.
“It is meant to be a resolution that is part of a healing process, a process that still needs to take place even today in 2007,” said one sponsor, Del. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico County.
“No one is asking any individual to apologize, because certainly there are no slaveholders alive today and there are no slaves alive today,” said McEachin, whose great-grandfather was born a slave.
“But Virginia is alive and well, and Virginia was built on the backs of slaves, and Virginia’s economy boomed because of slavery, and it is Virginia that ought to apologize,” he said.
Some delegates believe an apology is unnecessary and a sign of too much political correctness.
“The present commonwealth has nothing to do with slavery,” said Del. Frank D. Hargrove, R-Glen Allen, whose ancestors were French Huguenots who came to America in search of religious freedom.
How far do these calls for apologies go, wondered Hargrove, a member of the House Rules Committee that could take up McEachin’s resolution as early as Wednesday.
“Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?” Hargrove wondered. “Nobody living today had anything to do with it. It would be far more appropriate in my view to apologize to the Upper Mattaponi and the Pamunkey” Indians for the loss of their lands in eastern Virginia, he said.
A similar request for an apology to Virginia Indians is planned, McEachin said
Virginia, which received its first slaves at Jamestown in 1619, would be the first state to formally apologize for slavery.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Richmond Democrat, apologized for slavery while mayor of Richmond, said Kevin Hall, Kaine’s press secretary. “He wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to it and certainly he’s got a history of being able to act while in office,” Hall said. A governor’s approval is not required for passage of a joint legislative resolution.
Hargrove said raising the issue is not only symbolic, but “I think it’s counterproductive.” Other Republican delegates kept their views off the record.
“I personally think that our black citizens should get over it,” Hargrove said of slavery, which existed in Virginia from 1619 until the Civil War. “By golly, we’re living in 2007.”
“Nobody can justify slavery today, but it’s counterproductive to dwell on that,” Hargrove said. “Political correctness has kind of gotten us into this area.”
Any pollster would learn that “you couldn’t find a tenth of 1 percent [of Virginians] who said slavery is a good institution,” said Hargrove, who has represented Hanover County in the House of Delegates since 1982.
Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, said the issue is symbolic but that from 1619 to 1863 many Virginians were denied their citizenship.
“I think it’s appropriate and I am going to vote for it,” Deeds said.
Hopefully Portugal and other countries will be doing their part in the Euro Parliament, as well.
AND - the next step will then be, logically, REPARATIONS!
Apologize after "they" thank us for freeing them.
I want to be on record about all of this: I apologize to everyone, everywhere about everything.
Golly, I feel a lot better now.
bingo..they apologized, so they were guilty, now we want money..
This whole appology thing is incomprehensible.
How can th state appologize for something that was intruduced before the state was created? At the time the state was created slavery was an existing condition and not a product of the creation of the satate.
Just cockeyed logic.
Seems the English should apologize,
and
No black American born after 1865, in any part of the country and especially if born elsewhere, needs to receive one.
Those who would apologize pander for the sake of their own agendas; those that demand the apology cast themselves as victims for theirs. Both classes are subject to my contempt, FWIW (Not Much).
Bring me a slave circa 1861 to 1865 and I will be happy to say I'm sorry.
You know what I want? Instead of an apology for slavery, I want a thank you from the African American community that a) we got them out of that hellhole called African where their own countrymen are still selling Blacks into slavery; and b) a thank you that my ancestors sacrificed their lives to free the slaves.
With all the problems facing States today, this is the important issue? Slavery ended 140 years ago and it's common knowledge that most every American sees it as a very dark spot on our history. Very few feel different.
Not all Blacks in the country today are descendants of slaves and some might even be descendants of Slave Owners, both Black and White. Should each have to apologize for something they did not have anything to do with over a century later?
Will African tribes that caught and sold individuals to slave traders be forced to apologize for something their ancestors did as well?
Where does it end?
The Virginia that he mistakenly alleges was 'built on the backs of slaves' was destroyed ... and the Virginia we know and love today was built on the repudiation of slavery.
I am from Virginia and am the descendent of slave owners. I know that for sure because I do genealogy for a hobby. I am very sorry that slavery was a part of American history, but I had nothing to do with it and see no reason for an apology now. I find this highly offensive and a beginning ploy for reparations.
My sentiments exactly. Get over it!
You're absolutely right...the apology is just the first step in the process.
And it won't stop there. With activists, they are never ever satisfied. Using the term "healing process" is the Ultimate Pandora's Box, because in order for an activist to justify their existence, they have to keep coming up with an endless list of demands to help "facilitate the healing process".
Why not just get to the punch line and demand the immediate execution of all white people?
If the state can issue a statement clarifying that 2007 Virginia regrets the support of their long deceased citizenry for the institution of slavery, an admission that it was wrong, and asks African-Americans to forgive the state in their hearts for the legacy of slavery, it could be a very healing gesture.
Note to yankeedame - See, I'm not always a smartass... ;)
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