Should we be sorry for slavery?

[budda]

Leaving aside all the expected comments about it being a stain on our nations history and the obvious truth that it was vile, should we the people alive now be actually sorry for it?

[VinylVicky]

Not sorry personally but like all bad things that happen we should feel empathy.

[katchika]

Originally Posted by budda

Leaving aside all the expected comments about it being a stain on our nations history and the obvious truth that it was vile, should we the people alive now be actually sorry for it?

I think everyone would agree that slavery is unacceptable. However the past is the past. Cannot apologise for every bad thing one's distant ancestors may have done.

I do not expect all German people to apologise to me for the deaths of my family members in concentration camps.

[Flashman's Ghost]

Can't see the harm - if we celebrate the good things our ancestors have done, its probably just as well to acknowledge the bad.

[Thunderstruck]

If I'd had something to do with it then yes I would feel a certain degree of responsibility and thus probably feel I should apologise for it.

That said, it happened years and years before I was born so why should we have to apologise for what our ancestors did?

[Aladdin]

*dreads the arrival of Seeker to this thread...*

[sophia]

.

[Bullseye]

No, we shouldnt feel sorry. We ourselves and no one around today in this country has slaves in chains do they? So we shouldnt feel sorry for what our ancestors did, only they should feel sorry for it...but they are all dead.

[Miffy]

I personally find the suggestion that we should give financial compensation much more extraordinary. Whom, exactly, ought we to compensate? And what else should we pay compensation for? Perhaps Muslims would like some compensation for the Crusades. Where does it end?

[Kermit]

The figurehead of the country should apologise for the country's behaviour, but Blair as a person doesn't have to be sorry.

And we shouldn't be handing over a penny of "compensation".

[budda]

Originally Posted by Kermit

The figurehead of the country should apologise for the country's behaviour

Why? What does it actually achieve? He (to my knowledge) had absolutely nothing to do with slavery, so saying sorry for it is hollow and pointless. He can say its a shame it happened, and he can wish it hadn't happened. But surely you can really only say sorry for something you were responsible for.

Also I notice that no African countries are being asked for compensation, which seems a little odd - they were just as heavily involved in it as us.

[Bullseye]

What about the English people from the south coast who were abducted and put into slavery? Do their familes get apologies and compensation from the countries who perpetrated the acts of enslavement of their ancestors? The answer is No because the whole notion is ridiculous! The past is the past...remember it, and do not repeat it, but thats it!

[Teagan]

Originally Posted by budda

Also I notice that no African countries are being asked for compensation, which seems a little odd - they were just as heavily involved in it as us.

Perhaps even more so. The slaves were betrayed by their own people and in Africa, still are today!

I think that as Britain was the forerunner in getting slavery abolished globally, we did a lot to put right the wrongs of an abhorrent practice.

This group that is currently calling for compensation should be suitably ignored ...

[budda]

Originally Posted by Teagan

Perhaps even more so. The slaves were betrayed by their own people and in Africa, still are today!

Indeed, slavery is alive and well in parts of Africa and the Far East, surely if you're going to fight for anything it would be an end to this.

[Kermit]

It doesn't do very much, but it is symbolic for the leader of a country to apologise on behalf of that country for that country's actions.

As I say, Blair doesn't have to say a word of sorrow, but I think the Prime Minister should.

The idea of compensation is ludicrous- after all, it was the tribal nature of Africa that created many of the slaves. One tribe attacks another, and the winners sell the losers for a nice packet, job's a good un.