Abolition of Slavery: Apologise or Not Apologise. Discuss.

[cykophysh39]

This is a basic element of Democracy.

In a democracy people have the choice of whether to say sorry or not.
I exercise my right to not to say sorry, as I feel there is nothing to say sorry for. I choose to move on and forget about it.

If others feel that they want to say sorry that's fine, but it must be madew clear that a Portion of the Society would like to say sorry, and a portion would not like to say sorry.

I can't see how as if the apology must come from a nation and the nation is divided on the issue, then it can't possibly be seen to come from a nation.

I feel as a nation we appologised 200 years ago, when we brought it into our constitution that slavery was illegal. And we are still appologising when we allow these people access to British citizenship.

[meridian]

I've got some Australian mates whose ancestors were forcibly removed from England and transported across the world in fetid conditions to basically work as slaves on a tropical island.

Do they apologise with one hand and accept the reparations with the other?

[lordlummee]

If only that were true.

Yes, it is. We have electricity and the interweb for one thing...

[dang65]

Ken Livingstone's statement.

Stunning.

I'm not going to post any more on this topic. Thanks.

[wendigo100]

Ken Livingstone's statement.

Stunning.

I'm not going to post any more on this topic. Thanks.

He doesn't speak for me on anything, but if you're happy, we're all happy.

[DimPrawn]

Before you go, aren't you going to publicly apologise for slavery?

[lordlummee]

Ken Livingstone's statement.

Stunning.

I'm not going to post any more on this topic. Thanks.

Typical of Red Ken and his ilk. Why did you London folk vote this idiot into office!

[realityhack]

I don't know about the rest of you but I feel like I'm choking under a constant stream of political correctness (read: cultural Marxism) that is dragging the trousers of this great nation down around it's ankles.

Sod it. Really. Apologise for slavery? Hmm. I'm 30 years old, I know no-one who has directly benefited from slavery. Very few people alive have directly benefited from slavery. Those who did can apologise for the actions of their ancestors if they like.

It can be argued that we as a society benefited indirectly from slavery. It can also be argued that most nations on the planet have indirectly benefited from slavery, as they have from countless atrocities thoughout the age of human history.

Of course, we (hopefully) all recognise that slavery was a horrendous crime on a global scale, that it contributed towards racism as Red Ken infers, that this kind of atrocity should never be repeated, ever again.

That should be sufficient. Unless the leaders of every single nation in the world would like to get together in one place and apologise to the world as part of the anniversary of the abolition - and to commemorate those not present who worked tirelessly to end slavery.

All the leaders of the world in one place... hmm. Briefcase bomb, anyone?

[BrilloPad]

All the leaders of the world in one place

More global warming from all the flights...

[cykophysh39]

Ken Livingstone's statement.

Stunning.

I'm not going to post any more on this topic. Thanks.

I can't believe you have accepted this crooks words. Of course he is going to ask publicly for an appology on salvery , he depends on a large portion of London Multi cultural society votes to stay in office, so he can cream off the top.

So what use is an applogy going to do?