I like Aziz'z idea of a "Public Apology" and was disappointed when it was talked about in the 90's that it didn't come to fruition. I think it would have represented a very important step forward toward civility and in not doing it when it was being talked about represented a step backwards...

There are folks who like to throw around the term "personal responsibilty" yet have no interest in our society steppin' to the plate and confessin' one big ol' sin in our history?!?!.... See, I don't get that and what it tacitly says is that bad behavior is okeedokeee... Welll, it wasn't back then and it ain't today wither...
It's no wonder that the American people were so easily tricked in invading Iraq... If folks don't hold themselve accountable, as in "personal responsibility, then it easy to justify all kinds of immoral stuff...

Talk about not ownin' up, the '06 budget proposed by Bush is as immoral a budget that has ever been proposed and *disporportunately* hurts black women and children by cutting programs aimed to help impoverished people in inner cities...

                But back to "The Apolgy":

((((As one American citizen, I am truely sorry that my country engaeged in slavery. It was immoral and disgusting and a chapter of our history that we should teach our children about in a manner that would make them better citizens and better able to not be able to rationalize immoral policies. To all black Americans who are descendants of slaves, I am very sorry.))))

Bobert