BS: Apologies over slave trade?

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:39 AM

its all a bit medieval isn't it. walking round doing penance.

I should like to take this opportunity to publicly absolve my ancestors from walking round in guitar strings to apologise for all my crap gigs.

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:38 AM

Good one, Azizi.

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:37 AM

UK scientists soon to re-create the Tasmanian race via DNA regeneration experiments.

Surely they are now forgiven for being the first country to successfully eradicate an entire race.

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:33 AM

For the record:

"Ghanaian bishop offers apology for Africans' part in slave trade
By TOM ROBERTS

Bishop Charles G. Palmer-Buckle of Ghana introduced an unexpected twist into the consideration of Africa and the history of slavery in the Americas when he apologized on behalf of Africans for the part Africans played in the slave trade. "Please forgive us if in any way we contributed to what you had to suffer," he said.

In an interview with NCR, Palmer-Buckle said his interest in apologizing to blacks in other parts of the world whose ancestors were sold into slavery stems from a 1988 gathering of priests from Africa and elsewhere. At one point in the gathering, they went to one of the "slave castles" in Ghana and when they got to the dungeon, someone suggested that an African priest say a prayer.

He asked everyone to take off their shoes, "because we are on hallowed ground."

And then he proceeded to say, recalled Palmer-Buckle, "It was here my ancestors were sold by their own brothers into slavery." According to Palmer-Buckle, the comment was unexpected, "and the black priests, all of us, felt a certain guilt."

Later in the day, he said, he was approached by a black priest friend from the Caribbean who extended his hand and said, "I am your brother, Joseph."

Palmer-Buckle said he made light of the greeting, but the other priest persisted, "I am your brother, Joseph."

Palmer-Buckle said he once again tried to lightly laugh off the greeting, but it became clear that the other priest was serious. He said, "No, I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into slavery."

It brought the reality home in a personal way, said Palmer-Buckle, that in the saga of the slave trade, some Africans themselves played a horrible role.

And since that day, the now-bishop of the Koforidua diocese has been trying to impress on Africans and others the necessity for an African apology as an essential element to reconciliation and healing for those whose ancestors were sold into slavery.

The day following Palmer-Buckle's apology, during an afternoon reconciliation service, Bishop John Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., spoke of his own growing connection with Africa during the past decade. He said he took his first trip to Africa 10 years ago and has returned nearly every year since to reconnect with that continent's beauty and history.

"After several visits, I said to myself, 'What a different person I may have been had I known this' " as a child.

Given the reaction, he apparently spoke for many of the nearly 3,000 in the hall when he said that one of the effects of the shame of slavery and bondage was a disinterest in Africa. He recalled that his parents and other adults of that generation were unable to connect with Africa because of the shame. He said he remembers his parents being deferential to whites and "wanting always to please."

He added, "I think I see the shame today in the violence of our youth."

Then referring to Palmer-Buckle's apology, he said he wanted to tell the bishop, "on behalf of African-American Catholics, that I accept his apology," a sentiment that brought a rousing, standing ovation.

"In accepting his apology," Ricard continued, "we begin to travel that long road toward healing and reconciliation, so we can accept the beauty and depth of Mother Africa, so we can accept the beauty and depth of ourselves."

Tom Roberts is editor of NCR.

National Catholic Reporter, September 13, 2002"

http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/091302/091302i.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:29 AM

To make another point: Africans were involved with the slave trade, so are they going to apologise to themselves?

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:28 AM

"But then no nation is free of guilt here, all have had a hand in the trade at some time or other. And all have been victims. "

Hear, hear!

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:26 AM

Only 100 years?

When is anyone going to apologise to the English for the 100's of years of depredations by Gauls, Irish, Danes, Norse and Berbers?

But then no nation is free of guilt here, all have had a hand in the trade at some time or other. And all have been victims.

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:25 AM

Why am I a troll? I am offering an opinion, which, if you wish, you can disagree. The point I am making is that slavery was 400 years ago and in that time slavery was accepted as normal, as it has been for most of human history. To apologise for Sir John Hawkins is ridiculous because Hawkins would have seen nothing wrong in what he was doing-and neither would have anyone else at that time. You have to view history from the perspective of the people who were alive at the time. You cannot judge their actions from our perspective. Their mindset was totally different.

What next? Apologies from the UK government over the killing of Joan of Arc and apologies from the French government over the Norman Invasion? This apology craze has to stop. It is meaningless and pointless.

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:21 AM

Arabs sustained the slave trade for over 100 years by actively rounding up candidates and holding them for buyers.

Subject: RE: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:09 AM

Troll.

Subject: BS: Apologies over slave trade?
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 09:04 AM

Found this on the net today:

"Mr Andrew Hawkins from Plymouth, the United Kingdom, who claims to be a direct descendant of England's first slave trader, Sir John Hawkins, will don yokes and chains at the forthcoming Roots International Festival in The Gambia to apologise for the actions of his famous ancestor.

"Hawkins is taking part in a symbolic gesture organized by the London based "Lifeline expedition" who have already walked in chains through former slave ports such as Nantes, Bordeaux, Seville, Lisbon and Charleston South Carolina and from one of whose US "penitence walks" the above picture is taken."

A lot of people will doubtless think he is a good man doing the right thing. I think her is a sanctimonious little prig making a pointless gesture.

Any comments?