Virginia apologizes for slavery... why?

[TomCollins]

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I'm waiting for your followup argument that the Holocaust helped resolve population issues in Europe, thus benefitting numerous countries.

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It may have benefited the Jews that survived by getting sympathy and creating Israel.

I doubt anyone would say the ends justify the means.

[AzDesertRat]

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I'm waiting for your followup argument that the Holocaust helped resolve population issues in Europe, thus benefitting numerous countries.

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It may have benefited the Jews that survived by getting sympathy and creating Israel.

I doubt anyone would say the ends justify the means.

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Sure, let's open up another can of worms. How about the Palestinians that lost their land--can they blame the first wave of jews that came over, the Germans and those related to the Nazi's, the UN or any other group/country related to this whole thing?

Where and when does it end?

[TomCollins]

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I'm waiting for your followup argument that the Holocaust helped resolve population issues in Europe, thus benefitting numerous countries.

[/ QUOTE ]

It may have benefited the Jews that survived by getting sympathy and creating Israel.

I doubt anyone would say the ends justify the means.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure, let's open up another can of worms. How about the Palestinians that lost their land--can they blame the first wave of jews that came over, the Germans and those related to the Nazi's, the UN or any other group/country related to this whole thing?

Where and when does it end?

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A lot of horrible horrible things have good consequences. This does not mean the ends justify the means. That is the entire point of the post.

[elwoodblues]

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Had slavery never happened there would be no Martin Luther King Jr.

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Or MLK could have used his genius in a different way and benefitted society to an even greater extent...who knows?

You know, without the holocaust the Jews wouldn't have Israel either...They really are better off. We wouldn't have had Oscar Schindler, or for that matter Schindler's List. Adrian Brody and Roberto Benigni wouldn't have Oscars...certainly they are better off because of the holocaust.

[tehox]

Well I think apologizing for slavery really has no point. It is a meaningless gesture. As far as reparations go, I personally have mixed feelings. I think individual payments to African Americans would be a terrible idea for many reasons, but I for one think that not enough has been done to really make an effort to combat the problems caused by slavery and subsequent segregation and mistreatment of blacks.

[NT!]

If you don't think that cultural and economic differences between whites and blacks in this country can be traced, at least partially, to the lingering effects of slavery and subsequent racist policies, you're either ignorant or an idiot.

(And I use 'you' in the general sense here, I am using quick reply so it's not directed at any poster in particular.)

Now, the question of what, if anything, should be done, or whether there is equality of opportunity today, is very different. But to suggest that segregation and Jim Crow are not still relevant, when many of the people holding elective office today were alive to see it or, in a few rare cases, participated in the process, is absolutely absurd. There is no other word for it. Absurd. Society doesn't completely change overnight, or even over a generation.

[clownslayer2]

had slavery never happened martin luther king would have not been shot dead. he had a family.

[AlexM]

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I for one think that not enough has been done to really make an effort to combat the problems caused by slavery and subsequent segregation and mistreatment of blacks.

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Then you should be getting out there and doing more.

[pvn]

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Virginia played a big part in the slave trade in this country. They manned up and apologized for their indiscretions. Let's hope other states follow suit.

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"Virginia" didn't play any part in the slave trade. People did. Those people are dead. The people that are living today did not play any part in it. The people who apologized apologized for someone else's actions.

[Max Raker]

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Virginia played a big part in the slave trade in this country. They manned up and apologized for their indiscretions. Let's hope other states follow suit.

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"Virginia" didn't play any part in the slave trade. People did. Those people are dead. The people that are living today did not play any part in it. The people who apologized apologized for someone else's actions.

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Umm.... no. Virginia played a part in the slave trade by using state money to help enforce slavery. (ie if a slave ran away you could call the police to get him/her back)