Slavery In America

[stormiestl]

Here is an axcerpt of an article
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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/16/politics/main2365138.shtml Slavery Remarks Spark Outrage

(AP) A Virginia state legislator is sparking outrage over remarks made arguing against a proposed apology by the state to the descendants of slaves.
Republican delegate Frank D. Hargrove, in comments published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Va., said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added: "I personally think that our black citizens should get over it."
The newspaper also quoted the 79-year-old lawmaker as saying: "Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

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Frankly, I agree with the man. None of us living today had anything to do with slavery. Even if our anscestors did, WE did not. I agree. Get over it. But they all need to consider this: If you were not brought here to begin with, where would you be now? You would be sitting somewhere in Africa maybe in South Africa or drinking some monkey blood or hey you could be catching Ebola or Aids. Perhaps you would be tring to get to some other country so you would have the chance to be someone's servant or you could be living in a hut in the middle of nowhere without your chance for an education, without electricity, without the freedoms and the rights you have now. The US did not start slavery. The tribal chiefs and other countries started slavery long before we did. So now I suppose they will want a WORLD appology. GET OVER IT! We are all afforded the same education and the same opportunity to do with our lives what we want. I am tired of hearing the poor me attitude. We are all a part of this country, black, white, red, yellow and every other color under the rainbow. This country is a melting pot. There are many races and nationalities that make up this country and more want to live here and die trying to get here. This is the United States of America and you live here. Act like you belong to this country. Men died to make sure this stayed a free country. Men and Women are still dying for that freedom. A freedom that we all enjoy! I would not want to live in any other country in the world. I like what I have here. I may struggle with my bills and making sure there is food on the table. But damn it all, I am in a free country where I can and do say what I want about the government without fear of reprisals. When everyone can stand up and say "I am a citizen of the United States of America and I thank that I am living in a free country" and MEAN IT only then will we all be free. In the meantime, Get over it.

Comments

[lil-mischif.livejournal.com]

While I agree with much of what you say, I can't agree with all of it. In many places in this country, people of color are still not treated as equals. Many, for what ever reason, never get the equality of opportunity you speak of.

I do not believe our generation owes descendants of slaves an apology. However we do owe them that long promised equality, especially where it comes to opportunity.

The amendment I would make to your statement; **When everyone can stand up and say "I am a citizen of the United States of America and I thank that I am living in a free country" and MEAN IT only then will we all be free.** is that we must ALL look on our fellow Americans with equal fellowship and respect, regardless of color or faith. As difficult as it may seem to some, not making any decisions based on race is key to ALL of us being free.

[kskaife.livejournal.com]

I can agree with amending that statement!

Disappointed

[valkyriefire.livejournal.com]

I had no idea your beliefs were so vehement and so completely different from mine.

Since when has humility and a reflection on the harm that we, as humans, have done to one another been such a disgusting proposition? What do we have to lose if we apologize?

I think we need to apologize to one another on a regular basis. Apologize for the daily hatred, nastiness, bitterness, miscommunication, dishonor, and other slights we do to each other.

I think we need to apologize for slavery, to apologize for the genocide of First Nations people, to apologize for being too prideful, spiteful, scared, bitter, or hateful to apologize for things we still reap the benefits of, consciously or unconsciously.

I benefit not only from the privilege of a Caucasian heritage, but from a middle class/upper middle class heritage as well, in little ways every day. And I have no problems saying, "You know, we fucked up. My people fucked up big time and harmed your people in ways we are still trying to work out and I am so sorry." I don't hold pity or disdain or guilt in my heart, just the sorrow of being an inheritor of such an ugly legacy - one that is a part of America and always will be.

I'm really disappointed in the language used in your post and the vehemence with which you used it - also with the condemnation of the peoples of Africa as inferior to Americans because some of them live in a manner different and apparently thoroughly repugnant to you. I'm sorry if my words hurt, anger or upset you. I can't imagine what place in your heart that stemmed from or how it came to be there, and I never thought I would find a place like that in someone who, before now, I considered to be a loving woman.

Re: Disappointed

[kskaife.livejournal.com]

I am sorry you are dissappointed in my feelings. They are mine not yours. It is a good thing that we live in a free country so that we all can have our own thoughts on the matter.

I personally do not think I owe ANYONE an apology unless it is something that *I* did to them.

My ancestors had NOTHING to do with slavery or the displacing the Indians or most anything in this country. On both sides of my family it was my great grandparents who came to this country. None of them believed in segregation based on color or religion or any other reason for that matter. As a matter of fact my father was the only one who dared to be racist. He lost his family over it and *I* was taught by my mother and my grandparents what the real world was like and why we should not be that way.

I have many close friends that are of many different races and religions. I do not look at them differently and they do not act differently. Why should I treat any of them differently or apologize to them for something *I* did not do?

It is time people took responsibility for their own actions and not blaming it on thier race or their religion. The race card does not work for me because *I* am not racist. Anyone that uses the race card best make sure that it was racism that caused the problem and not their attitude or something they did first.

I agree that there is a lot of racism in the world. Especially still in this country. However, my point is, EVERYONE is offered a FREE PUBLIC education. It is up to them what they do with it. If you quit school, you do not have the opportunity for a better paying job. My son knows this because he is raising a family on a minimum wage job. He has to have help from the government. The other son has his diploma and he has a much better paying job and can afford to support his family. It is up to YOU what you do with your education that was freely given. If you make good enough grades you can go on to college with almost no money. Otherise get a school loan and get your degree so you can have a better job.

Re: Disappointed

[valkyriefire.livejournal.com]

I simply disagree with your world view and have nothing against you personally. I made the mistake of thinking that your thoughts and beliefs were more in line with mine and that is my mistake and therefore my disappointment. I'm not disappointed in you as a person, or in any personal way, just that my assessment of you in relation to my world view was erroneous.

Re: Disappointed

[kskaife.livejournal.com]

Also, I think you need to RE READ what I wrote. I really hate it when people take what I say out of context. I said that if they (their ancestors not them) did not get brought to this country where would they be....... in Africa - still where the world is far different and less civilized and poor. It had nothing to do with my feelings for Africa or anyone living there. There is a stark difference between our country and that continent. Civil unrest exists across every border there and many are starving to death, the Aids rate there is the highest in the entire world. I was stating facts not my feelings.

Next time read and then criticize what I am saying. I appreciate the fact that your feelings are such that you need to apologize to everyone for anything the white man has done to them. That is YOUR thing. Not mine. Am I mad at you for it? No. Did I make a personal attack on you? No.

I would appreciate it if you did not put words in my mouth again that I did not write.

Re: Disappointed

[valkyriefire.livejournal.com]

"You would be sitting somewhere in Africa maybe in South Africa or drinking some monkey blood or hey you could be catching Ebola or Aids."

That, I believe was your quote about Africa?

Not all Africans drink monkey blood and despite the AIDS epidemic, not all Africans have AIDS, nor Ebola. And you don't have to be in Africa to catch either of them.

How is categorizing an entire country of people (South Africa), let alone an entire continent of people (Africa) not stereotyping, especially when you've never met them?

I honestly think that we, as humans, need to stand up every day and apologize for all the crap we put each other through, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or politics. Slavery and the Genocide of the First Nations peoples are huge, HUGE parts of American culture and will continue to be so whether we decide they are or not. They constitute, at a minimum, 90 years of America's 230 years. That's 40% of our existence. If you add in the continuance of the Jim Crow laws, lynching, and the systematic destruction of the Native American's language and culture, then it's more like 75% of our history.

I believe that addressing those parts of the American culture and history beyond "get over it" would benefit our nation a great deal. I believe it is American to love this country and mourn her faults, struggles, and failings and try to redress them and make sure they don't continue.

Again, I apologize if my words hurt, angered or distressed you. I made an error in my assessment of your beliefs and that was what I was addressing, not you as a person, and I'm sorry if you thought otherwise.