House approves apology for slavery

[Cold_Zero]

The US House of Representatives passed a resolution apologizing for Slavery and Jim Crow lawshttp://cohen.house.gov/index.p...d=590

Thoughts?bud

[Cold_Zero]

Quote »Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865; (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)

HRES 194 EH

H. Res. 194

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

July 29, 2008.

Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865;

Whereas slavery in America resembled no other form of involuntary servitude known in history, as Africans were captured and sold at auction like inanimate objects or animals;

Whereas Africans forced into slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage;

Whereas enslaved families were torn apart after having been sold separately from one another;

Whereas the system of slavery and the visceral racism against persons of African descent upon which it depended became entrenched in the Nation's social fabric;

Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the passage of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865 after the end of the Civil War;

Whereas after emancipation from 246 years of slavery, African-Americans soon saw the fleeting political, social, and economic gains they made during Reconstruction eviscerated by virulent racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws that imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually all areas of life;

Whereas the system of de jure racial segregation known as `Jim Crow,' which arose in certain parts of the Nation following the Civil War to create separate and unequal societies for whites and African-Americans, was a direct result of the racism against persons of African descent engendered by slavery;

Whereas a century after the official end of slavery in America, Federal action was required during the 1960s to eliminate the dejure and defacto system of Jim Crow throughout parts of the Nation, though its vestiges still linger to this day;

Whereas African-Americans continue to suffer from the complex interplay between slavery and Jim Crow--long after both systems were formally abolished--through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity;

Whereas the story of the enslavement and de jure segregation of African-Americans and the dehumanizing atrocities committed against them should not be purged from or minimized in the telling of American history;

Whereas on July 8, 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush acknowledged slavery's continuing legacy in American life and the need to confront that legacy when he stated that slavery `was . . . one of the greatest crimes of history . . . The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times. But however long the journey, our destiny is set: liberty and justice for all.';

Whereas President Bill Clinton also acknowledged the deep-seated problems caused by the continuing legacy of racism against African-Americans that began with slavery when he initiated a national dialogue about race;

Whereas a genuine apology is an important and necessary first step in the process of racial reconciliation;

Whereas an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs committed can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help Americans confront the ghosts of their past;

Whereas the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia has recently taken the lead in adopting a resolution officially expressing appropriate remorse for slavery and other State legislatures have adopted or are considering similar resolutions; and

Whereas it is important for this country, which legally recognized slavery through its Constitution and its laws, to make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor, Jim Crow, so that it can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all of its citizens: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) acknowledges that slavery is incompatible with the basic founding principles recognized in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal;

(2) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow;

(3) apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow; and

(4) expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.

Attest:

Clerk. [/quote]

[Cold_Zero]

What is interesting is this comment:Quote »(4) expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.[/quote]

[rn79870]

So, the House really can pass something. That's good to know.

[smockers83]

So, the House really can pass something. That's good to know.

No **** eh? Glad to see they're being productive over there. Next on the apology list should be an apology to the American people.

[AZhitman]

Next on the apology list should be an apology to the American people.

NObama can handle that - He's been running around the globe, apologizing to oppressive regimes, pissant third-world countries and dictatorial chumps all month.

If America is so bad, why is it the only place people will risk everything to get to?

Wonder how well-off the descendants of said slaves would have been had they remained where they were?

Hmmmm? Whine all you like, but it had to be asked.

Perhaps they should say "thanks" for the opportunity and we should quit worrying about apologizing to people who have been dead for a century.

[rn79870]

They should ask McCain to do it personally, he probably knew many of them.

[AZhitman]

They should ask McCain to do it personally, he probably knew many of them.

SOLID.

[smockers83]

Not to take away from the good jokes, but I was referring more to the fact that they, themselves, the Congress have done such a poor job serving us, the people. So poor that they can waste their time and our money passing an apology while we have much bigger issues to deal with. How many times does the government have to apologize for this over nearly 150 years, once a decade?

[srellim234]

Just so they don't have to waste all that time debating and voting and the like......

I'd like to apologize to PETA on behalf of my ancestors who used brutal clubs and spears to kill mastadons. Rest assured that the situation has been corrected and none of my relatives will ever kill a mastadon again.

[AZhitman]

^ Also well-played.

When do I get my apology for my Dad having to change his name when he came through Ellis Island?

Bah - He'd tell them to STFU.

[smockers83]

We can't even find records at Ellis Island from my mom's side of the family. Can't find them under the original last name or under the changed name.

[Cold_Zero]

I still would like an apology issued by the Turkish government (and people) to all Armenians for the Armenian Genocide and stop denying that it happened. While I don't think this is a bad resolution, we really need to make amends for Slavery, the bad treatment of Native Indians (still to this day), the Americans of Japanese ancestry interned in WWII as well as the Americans of German ancestry and Italian ancestry. While we are at it, we probably need to apologize to the Guatemalan people for propping up a dictator and paramilitaries that brutalized their country.

My family too had its name changed by our Engländer oppressors because these slack jawed idiots in Pennsylvania didn’t know the different between a 'B' and a 'P' sound. Needless to say, our name got butchered. I guess I dont have much room to talk because I married one.

[smockers83]

The Japanese were forgiven under Gerald Ford I think. The executive order that placed Japanese under surveillance and internment hadn't been canceled and had no expiration, so he officially terminated it. They or their families were eventually paid as well.

[AZhitman]

My family too had its name changed by our Engländer oppressors because these slack jawed idiots in Pennsylvania didn’t know the different between a 'B' and a 'P' sound.

Yeah, but then we'd have to call you "Pud". Not so cool.