Slavery apology?

Slavery is a human travesty wherever and whenever it occurs. No one can deny this. But just what does Democratic Rep. Talibdin El-Amin of St. Louis want to accomplish by asking the present day government in the state of Missouri to apologize for slavery (2/6, Local, “Resolution seeks apology for slavery”)?

Will he also ask the present-day Democratic Party to apologize for lynching the blacks who attempted to register to vote in the South following the Civil War? How about having them apologize to all the descendants of the white abolitionists who stood up to his party before the Civil War?

Granted, Missouri may have entered the Union as a slave state, but Gen. Nathaniel Lyon’s occupation of St. Louis insured the Confederacy could never get control of its ammunition and other resources.

Men like my great-great-grandfather and his sons all fought and were wounded under the “official” Missouri colors for the Union.

To have Missouri apologize for a wrong these men fought so hard against would disregard and discredit the service they did as veterans to this great nation and our state.

Ironically, Rep. El-Amin walks past the Union regiment colors on his way to work in the State capitol each day. Maybe he can find it in his heart to apologize to these patriots the next time he passes by.

George Lauer
Jefferson City

Comments

[nosheepleallowed]

Slavery is still rampant.....go read the Bradley Amendment.
I know I will never serve this POS again.

[CRD]

"If not that, then to be used to increase the basis of their claim to rights superior to those of other citizens."

This reasoning seems a tad irrational to me.

[Engineer]

The Government of Misssouri did not originate the practice of slavery, It was there when the government of Missouri was formed. Slavery was a practice that had existed throughout recorded history and was not invented either by Missouri or the United States. If there were someone alive who had been a slave, it might be appropiate to appologize to that person. But there is not. IMO, the main reason for asking for an appology is to give an entering wedge when, later on, reparations are asked for. If not that, then to be used to increase the basis of their claim to rights superior to those of other citizens.

[CRD]

Again, I still wonder, where's the harm in such a governmental recognition of the government's role in the institution of slavery?

[CRD]

"Arrogant"? Odd choice of word.

[Gary]

CRD: In brief, I find the idea that we should apologize for people who had beliefs consistent with when and where they were born instead of when and where we were born to be both absurd and arrogant.

[CRD]

Gary, serious question -- perceived absurdity aside, where's the harm in recognizing the state's official role in perpetuating the institution of slavery? No one's asking any individual to apologize.

I simply don't understand why so many people are upset at the prospect of such a governmental apology. Any insight you may have would be appreciated.

[Lost_In_Ambivalence]

I am personally waiting for an official apology from Isreal for killing my savior.

When is Egypt going to apologize for enslaving the Isrealis?

[Gary]

Recognition is one thing, apology is something else entirely. It's like asking the British to apologize for all the mean things their Norman ancestors did following the battle on Hastings plain, or the descendants of the Mongols to apologize for reducing the middle east to rubble. Maybe all of us should apologize to each other for any harm we or our ancestors may have caused and have done with it.

[CRD]

Can't help but wonder why this guy's so "offended" about the prospect of an official recognition of one of the darkest periods of our nation's history.