Slavery - Am I Sorry?
I have mixed feelings about the apologies for slavery. Yes, the government should apologise for capitalising on human suffering, because governments are like companies in that they go on and thrive on profits gained from past endeavours.
What I don’t really get is modern Brits apologising for their country have once been slave traders. Should I apologise? I’m white. Should I feel more sorry than the descendants of slaves because I’m more likely to be descended from slave owners?
You only have to go back a generation or so to see some pretty disgusting behaviour in my family for which I give no fucks. Why should I care what my ancestors did?
One reason is that you can’t apply modern morals on the standards of the past. I remember my grandmother describing a late contemporary of hers as “a fine man, a good husband - he never laid a finger on her.”
What?!? Ex-fucking-cuse me? Is the mark of a good husband someone who refrains from domestic violence?!
The other reason is that we are not our forefathers. As far as I know, there is no slave-trading gene which compels us to own plantations in the Indies, built by the toil of human traffic.
I’m not about to go and make friends with German boys whose grandfathers and fathers were killed by the seven shades of hell unleashed by generations of my family over the past century.
Slavery and war were awful episodes in my direct history which produced a scale of suffering I hope I will never endure, least of all witness, but prolonged self-flagilation, while good for highlighting awareness, is a sign of selfish despair that serves no humane purpose.
May 7th, 2007 at 7:34 am
It makes the people who think they are victimized by a social standard that went out of vogue 150 years ago feel beter.
May 7th, 2007 at 8:36 am
As a slight adjunct, I remember having a German exchange partner about 20 years ago, who came to visit and we went to Chartwell for the day (Winston Churchill’s long-time home in Kent, for those who don’t know it).
When Steffen realised where he was going, he was really nervous, because he didn’t think he be allowed in, as he was German. I’m sure things have moved on in 20 years for Germans, but we have far less to be hung up on than some countries citizens, I’m sure
May 7th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Sure is slavery bad? Abominably so. Do I feel bad about it? No. Have I missed something?
Rob - Ding! On Saturday I was standing in the room where Sir Winston was born. Coincidence that you should mention that just a few hours after my trip to Blenheim Palace.
May 7th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Agreed - I hate those grovelling P.C. apologies: the only moral standard against which we can judge a past event is that of its time.
May 7th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Hello - been lurking a few weeks….
I agree, seems a bit desperate and tokenistic - I try to think these things are done for the right reasons, but I never think much of the results
May 7th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
When I was at university every single German person I met apologised for the Holocaust as soon as they found out I was Jewish. I kept saying, “But I wasn’t there and you weren’t there, so…?”
May 7th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
… the point being that whilst someone undoubtedly owed someone an apology, they didn’t owe it and I didn’t deserve it.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Good point Katy. And nicely picked up on the rebound.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I am full of good points. I am like a machine which automatically dispenses good points if you insert £1. Or perhaps £2.
(I almost said “10p” and then realised that I was living in the distant past.)
May 7th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Peach - There’s nothing desperate about lurking. (I know you were talking about the slavery thing, just having a joke)
Thanks for piping up and feel free anytime. You’re an approved commenter now and also a descretionary Bronze Club member of This Is This. Congratulations - that’s quite a result for your first comment.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I am honoured X