Collective Guilt and Forgiveness

Grashnack wrote:

"And yes, the US Senate has a lot to apologize for vis-a-vis its behaviour - as an institution - with regards to slavery."

I agree...the Congress has the right to apologize for the actions/inactions of the government.

It does not have the right to apologize in my behalf, or the behalf of the citizenry of this or any previous century.

I think the talk of "personal" responsibility misses the point. When the US Senate issues an apology like this, it isn't individual senators (who obviously had nothing to do with slavery) apologizing, it is the institution of the US Senate apologizing.

And yes, the US Senate has a lot to apologize for vis-a-vis its behaviour - as an institution - with regards to slavery.

As a descendant of slaves, who's family was directly affected by this government's actions/inactions toward slaves and the families of slaves, I feel an apology is entirely appropriate. My great grandfather was one of the slaves in Texas who was freed June 19, 1865, a full 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves as of Jan. 1, 1863.

While I do not hold any single white person or business responsible, I do think that this government whose own record of racist policies and practices should have been acknowledged and some form of retribution made many many years ago. They did not. However, in order to move forward and acknowledgment and apology are entirely in order.

I have never practiced bigotry or prejudice in any form -- being gay myself, I've been on the receiving end and I know the deep damage they do.

I am not guilty of violating any person's rights nor compromising his humanness. I owe an apology to no one and I decline to make one.

Additionally, I am not responsible for the practices of other persons. I have no intention of apologizing for the actions and behavior of other people, for any reason.

Note that I did not say that I have never 'felt' prejudice or bigotry toward another person. But I have a conscience, and my conscience has always prevented me from taking action on those feelings. I think the development of conscience and reasoning, to DECIDE how one behaves toward others, is within the reach of the majority of human beings

And for those for whom conscientious behavior is not possible, there are asylums, prisons and other institutions.

Equality is an American value.

I regret other peoples evil. But I will not apologize for it.

Perhaps there is a point on both sides of that argument, but it is questionable. From an official position, that being in this case A statement from the legislative branch of government, there is great value in making a plain statement of intent along with the apology, as it was an official position of that government to condone slavery. That governmental body, still extant and having been in continuous existence in that form, is the body that condoned slavery.

But though I am white, my ancestors had nothing to do with slavery, and some were seen as on a level similar as the unfortunate slaves of the day. The fact that I am white does not make me responsible for slavery, even as it is the white race as a whole that is associated with slavery. However, it was often competitive black tribes in Africa that would participate with slavers to capture and 'enslave' other black tribes. Indeed even in recent decades blacks have been enslaved or outright slaughtered other blacks in Africa....

That does not degrade the value of apologies and asking of forgiveness. But what is the value, really?

To make a correlation of civil rights and slavery with Biblical stories of Adam and Eve, as if that was literal and anything other than a metaphor, is ridiculous. We are what we are, and that is less than perfected. Biblical based brains need to find a more affirming way of perceiving our state than blame on "Adam and Eve", and of God, and guilt for what is.

In this way, appreciation for what is, and asking of forgiveness for when we are less that perfected is valuable, good and right to do.