The RTD reports today that:
“Sen. George Allen, under fire for wearing a Confederate flag pin as a teenager, said yesterday he will pursue a proposal for a congressional resolution for slavery.
“We want this to be a meaningful resolution that is adopted,” Allen said in an interview.
He stopped short of saying he would support an apology resolution. (Huh?)
Ken Woodley, editor of the Farmville Herald, had challenged Allen and Georgia Congressman Lewis to spearhead a congressional resolution apologizing for slavery and to provide some type of reparations for the losses suffered by blacks. By reparations, Woodley said he envisions a sort of domestic Marshall Plan that would address education, health-care and economic development issues for blacks.”
Follow the money. When politicians who never owned slaves apologize to politicians who never were slaves, follow the money – and the votes. It is perfect feel good politics. I thought Bill Clinton had a patent on this guiltless guilt exorcism.
On whose behalf would the U.S. Congress be apologizing?
Apologize on behalf of Western Civilization for having human bondage when every civilization that ever existed practiced slavery and then getting rid of it voluntarily – while Muslims still enslave Black Africans today?
Apologize on behalf of the United Kingdom for having race-based slavery among other forms of involuntary servitude from 1619 to 1833 when Parliament outlawed slavery throughout the Empire?
Apologize on behalf the U.S.A. for having slavery from 1776 to 1865. Especially, for keeping slavery legal in the border states and occupied Southern counties from the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) until the 13th Amendment (1865)?
Once Sen. Allen figures out who is apologizing for, he should get serious about it. Don’t make a speech at a ceremony followed by light refreshments. Even if listening to the blather of pompous pandering is painful. Let’s see some crimson ‘A’ for long days and nights in the public pillory. How about some sack cloth and ashes? Or walking up steps on bare knees?
Who else gets an apology? Americans of Japanese ancestry interned by FDR got an apology and bucks – because they are still alive. Who else gets cash?
Honoring the victory of the Civil Rights Movement is a celebration of American values. Empty apologies are the antithesis of honor.
P.S. Sen. Allen sponsored a resoluton for Congress to apologize for not outlawing lynching. Outlawing lynching was up to the states, not the Feds. It’s that Constitutional division of powers thing. ‘Racist, Jim Crow, whites only’ Virginia passed the first anti-lynching law – and never had another lynching. Virginia leads and other states follow.
