Ala. legislators OK slavery apologies

AP/ Yahoo "news" ^ | Tue Apr 24, 6:19 PM ET | PHILLIP RAWLS, Associated Press Writer

[Hatband]

Now that it has been firmly established that the slinking Whites are guilty, all that remains is to establish an exact monetary amount to determine how much that guilt is worth. Suitable reparations can then be paid to the oppressed descendants of the slaves. Jesse and Al will see to a fair and equitable distribution of the proceeds.

[Cementjungle]

Some of us can't begin to heal until we have an apology.

I can't wait to see what's going to be required during the "healing" phase.

[fhayek]

I am not arguing FOR slavery in any way. History has its funny twists and turns. One empire invades another, and their genetic history is altered forever. William the Conquerer invaded Britain in 1066, and a new people were forged. I am sure the Anglo Saxons at the time were against the invasion, but modern day Brits owe their existence to the invasion. African Americans, similarly, owe their existence to slavery. Its not that they would be living in West Africa today; they would not exist at all, anywhere. They had the superlative good fortune to be born in the United States of America, with all the opportunities and benefits associated with that. Slavery created that. THAT is their payoff.

[Bob J]

“Not all legislators agreed with the apologies. Some Republicans feared the resolutions would be used to seek reparations...”

YA THINK!

[jch10]

I think the Democrats should immediately apologize for slavery. After all, it was the Republicans who freed the slaves.

[ladyjane]

So who do you propose gets reparations? Anybody who is black?

What about all those blacks who were slave owners?

Do they pay reparations? or is this only a one way street?

[britemp]

Speaking as an Anglo-Saxon celt I am still waiting for an apology from the Romans and a free Ferrari in reparation. . . . . .

[RussP]

Actually, I would give “reparations” to anyone, black or white, who promises to leave the US permanently. I would set the level at something like $10,000. If someone is willing to leave the country for that much money, then we are better off without them in the long run, and the $10,000 is a good investment. (Unfortunately, this probably wouldn’t work for the simple reason that people would take the money and refuse to leave, or leave for a short time then come back.)

[Redbob]

"An apology goes a long way," said Sen. Hank Sanders, a Democrat from Selma who sponsored his chamber's resolution. "Some of us can't begin to heal until we have an apology. Some of us can't move into reconciliation until we have an apology."

Wow, I've got to get Hank Sanders' address!
I didn't know there were any former slaves still alive!

If he's a former slave, I'll go over there to Selma and apologize to him in person!
</dripping sarc>

[Redbob]

"African Americans can justifiably rail against the historical crime of slavery, but the truth is that without slavery, Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Willie Mays, and Clarence Thomas would never have existed."

Thanks for stating a point that few seem to understand, yet it's as obvious as Mount Rushmore would be if you plopped it down in Kansas.

Without slavery, there'd be no more "African-Americans" than there are for example Finn-Americans.

And Africa would be a rotting hell-hole.
Well, I guess it is anyway...

[Redbob]

"Now that it has been firmly established that the slinking Whites are guilty, all that remains is to establish an exact monetary amount to determine how much that guilt is worth."

No, by their own admissions it has been firmly established that Dimocrats are guilty: any reparations should be paid by them alone!
I say, let the reparations begin!

[pepsionice]

My family has lived in Bama since the late 1700s...where they had a modest piece of property just family members working it. When you examine the nature of Alabama in the mid-1800s...the vast majority of farm owners in the state...had no slaves. When historians do reviews of black history of Alabama...they are drawn to mega-sized plantations and simply repeat various facts which have been known for over 100 years. So when you have 90 percent of the people of a state...over the age of 18...and owning no slaves...this becomes a non-story. These guys who want to meet in Montgomery and devote valuable time to the past...ought to be looking forward and finding jobs and economic pluses to enhance the state.

[LowOiL]

Bama BTTT...