|
4
Nerd-Its
|
|
current event
by The state of New Jersey is considering the issuance of an official apology for slavery. As one of the Union States, New Jersey was the last to abolish slavery in 1846. Legislation is set for debate this week, after which Governor Corzine would sign the apologetic resolution into law. The proposal highlights that New Jersey held the largest population of slaves in the North and continued to honor the Fugitive Slave Act.
According to the resolution's sponsor, "This is not too much to ask of the state of New Jersey ... to say three simple words: 'We are sorry.'" However, New Jersey Assemblyman Richard Merkt counters, "Who living today is guilty of slave holding and thus capable of apologizing for the offense? And who living today is a former slave and thus capable of accepting the apology? So how is a real apology even remotely possible, much less meaningful, given the long absence of both oppressor and victim?"
Add a Comment (6)
Email This
Message Author
If they really want to show they're sorry they should make donations to the united negro college fund and other initiatives tro help deprived african-american communities
Maybe if they change it to two words, "We're Sorry" it will save some taxpayer money!
Good thing that NJ made this apology. Now its time to file the lawsuits! Nevermind that its impossible to tell who owes who what. The easiest thing to do I guess is to establish that all blacks are in an entitlement class and all whites are liable for damages.
This is the most pointless news i've seen in a while. who is sorry and for what? should i apologize? hell no. i've never met a slave or a slave owner. we should definitely acknowledge what has happened in the past but i think an apology serves no purpose and has no merit unless delivered by a former slave owner, and i don't see many of them around.
So was this just a big waste of time or what? Does anybody "feel vindicated" now that 160+ years have passed since New Jersey allowed slavery? As if this resolution really wouldn't pass ... anybody voting "nay" would surely be derided as a racist or be similarly ostracized. And yet, all the hubbub really amounts to - nothing.
Resolution 270 reads - "The Legislature of the State of New Jersey expresses its profound regret for the State’s role in slavery and apologizes for the wrongs inflicted by slavery and its after effects in the United States of America; expresses its deepest sympathies and solemn regrets to those who were enslaved and the descendants of those slaves, who were deprived of life, human dignity, and the constitutional protections accorded all citizens of the United States; and we encourage all citizens to remember and teach their children about the history of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and modern day slavery, to ensure that these tragedies will neither be forgotten nor repeated."
I'd like to apologize to the boys I went to elementary school with. Occasionally I may have said they play sports like a girl which surely must have hurt not only their self esteem but caused them to quit early and prevented them from becoming multi-million dollar professional athletes. See? Just as pointless.
RSS
Title Bout by milhous :: NR6 :: on 04 January 2008
William Payne vs. Richard Merkt
African American Democrat vs. White/Non-hispanic Republican
Check out the educational backgrounds.....
Politics as usual in New Jersey......you decide.....