An Apology for slavery?

March 13, 2007 6:39am CST
Slavery was clearly wrong and unacceptable but is it enough that this is just discussed? shouldn't the UK goverment be ready to make an apology for their part in it?
2 people like this
3 responses
@The_Eagle_1 (1121)
• Australia
13 Mar 07
Slavery was wrong, so was the Roman Empire's conquests of raping and pillaging, and slavery. As to the wars faught in the name of religion... do we get an apology from them too or do we move on and get on with life. Do we dig up our grandparents and abuse them for not doing the things they didn't and did do!! I iterate my initial statement "Slavery is wrong" in any form... brothels even! "Textile sweat shops"... some of our sordid past happenings require more than an appology, but the people who suffered them, well most all of them are no longer with us!
1 person likes this
13 Mar 07
It's a fair point you make about the past being the past but when you say well most of them are no longer with us whilst that may be true of the individuals who directly suffered, slavery effected their children and many generations to come, surely they are as much victims?
1 person likes this
• Australia
13 Mar 07
No denying they are, this is where my comments about the grandparents come to be understood as meaning "how long do we hold the pain" before we let go and start living completely, instead of resentment and distrust ruling our lives!
1 person likes this
14 Mar 07
the point you make about learning to let go in essence is a very valid one
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
13 Mar 07
It is a little late to start dwelling on events that took place centuries ago and that the present population have never been associated with. I find it absurd to suggest that the United Kingdom should accept responsibility for the actions of others so long ago. We may as well ask Italy to apologise for the Roman Invasion of Britain in 55 BC. We are all aware of how wrong and unacceptable slavery is, but that does not make us responsible.
1 person likes this
13 Mar 07
I appreciate what you are saying but Yes I think it does make us responsible particuarly as we have built a wealthy island state on the back of other people's misery
@rosie_123 (6113)
14 Mar 07
No, I personally don't think we should. Of course, slavery is wrong, but so are lots of other things that have happened many years ago. Should all Italims apoligise for the Romans throwing Christians to the lions 2,000 years ago for example? No - of course not - would be ridiculous! So why should the UK apologise for something that happened long before any of us were born? I don't expect my friend Tanja (who was born i Germany) to apoligise for World War II which happened before she was born, - don't see the point at all personally. Cheers.