Sanders: 'We have got to apologize for slavery'

[Saint Milei]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/247257-sanders-we-have-got-to-apologize-for-slavery


Meh not really.

[windjammer]

You find slavery normal?

[Lyin' Steve]

lol, this is bottom-of-the-barrel pandering.
Hope the Sanders nuts are proud of him.

[defe07]

I don't know if this makes me a vile conservative, but I think the best way to apologize for slavery would be to invest in black business, to try and build a base of minority industry. Only then can the effects of slavery truly be mediated. It's somewhat late to just apologize.

I actually think your idea is a viable one! It makes sense!

[Xing]

Perhaps not apologize, but recognize that it's part of our history, and that minorities have been disadvantaged since then because of it. It's ignorant to pretend that there's a level playing field in this country.

[Mehmentum]

We have no need to apologize for something that we didn't do.  None of us can be held responsible for something that happened over a century ago.

What we are responsible, however, are the racial inequalities in our society today.  We as a nation need to work toward a fairer and more equal society, not in order to 'make up for' slavery, but simply because its the right thing to do.

[°Leprechaun]

Wow. I have always wondered how people can defend slave owners. Sadly, William Penn owned slaves as did a number of others, like Thomas Jefferson. I don't like it when I hear, "well they didn't know any better, it was ok in their time". There were opponents of slavery even in Penn's era. It is considered radical to be against slavery? Strange. Yet, the slightest politically incorrect words are considered racist? It makes no sense to me. It sounds like group think at it's worst.

[Tender Branson]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

[Clark Kent]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

Blaxicans? Seriously?

Guess people weren't exaggerating your racism.

[Pyro]

Reparations for slavery and global imperialism is due, I agree. And although you cannot blame the current government for past sins, the fact that black unemployment is double the national rate and that 1 in 4 black people are in poverty is directly linked to repercussions of the slave trade.

Just as Japanese Americans who were jailed during WWII and American Indians who have had their land and mineral rights robbed, descendants of black slaves should receive a substantial motion of apology. Personally I think a ton of this money should funnel into programs to relieve black suffering, like funding inner-city public schools, expanded job training programs, increased drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and other public services.

[Torie]

OK, on behalf of the citizens of the United States, I would like to apologize that slavery ever existed in our nation."  There, it's done. Now what?

[Lief 🗽]

You find slavery normal?

Most libertarians support slavery, in my experience.

[Torie]

You find slavery normal?

Most libertarians support slavery, in my experience.

You need to get out more. Freedom of contract requires two consenting parties.

[°Leprechaun]

We have no need to apologize for something that we didn't do.  None of us can be held responsible for something that happened over a century ago.

What we are responsible, however, are the racial inequalities in our society today.  We as a nation need to work toward a fairer and more equal society, not in order to 'make up for' slavery, but simply because its the right thing to do.

I would hope that most people would agree with this sentiment. I don't think that slavery, per se, is the issue, but Sanders and others like him would support this sentiment nevertheless.

[Col. Roosevelt]

We have no need to apologize for something that we didn't do.  None of us can be held responsible for something that happened over a century ago.

What we are responsible, however, are the racial inequalities in our society today.  We as a nation need to work toward a fairer and more equal society, not in order to 'make up for' slavery, but simply because its the right thing to do.

Pretty much this.

I, nor anyone in my family tree now living, has ever owned a slave, taken part in a lynching, or denied a black person or any other minority their rights. I have nothing to apologize for. Nor does our nation. Slavery was an unfortunate mar on our history, but without compromising and accepting slavery, the thirteen colonies might never have joined the Union. Some saw slavery as wrong in the 1770s, but they were a minority of people. It's like damning your grandparents for being against gay marriage now because a handful of people in the 50s supported it. You can't damn people who were products of their time simply because 'well, this small group over here was more forward thinking.'

In 50 years, or a century, one or more beliefs you hold now will likely be considered repugnant. But I'm sure you believe in whatever you believe not because you're some cackling villain, but because you believe your way is right. I believe the same is true of the Founding Fathers who owned slaves. Now, the Confederacy is a different story - The Confederacy was founded on the ideal of preserving slavery and on the concept that 'blacks are inferior to whites.' Even though our Founding Fathers owned slaves, our nation in general was not founded on racist or racialist principles. Our nation has nothing to apologize for. I think the 500,000 or so boys who died in the Civil War so men could live free was enough of an apology.

[Col. Roosevelt]

Reparations for slavery and global imperialism is due, I agree. And although you cannot blame the current government for past sins, the fact that black unemployment is double the national rate and that 1 in 4 black people are in poverty is directly linked to repercussions of the slave trade.

Just as Japanese Americans who were jailed during WWII and American Indians who have had their land and mineral rights robbed, descendants of black slaves should receive a substantial motion of apology. Personally I think a ton of this money should funnel into programs to relieve black suffering, like funding inner-city public schools, expanded job training programs, increased drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and other public services.

And just who should pay for this 'substantial motion of apology'? From whose tax dollars should this money come?

[Lief 🗽]

You find slavery normal?

Most libertarians support slavery, in my experience.

You need to get out more. Freedom of contract requires two consenting parties.

Oh sure, they'll philosophize all day about contracts and liberty and such, but when push comes to shove they don't evidence any strong opposition to the institution.

[Col. Roosevelt]

I think the English government should apologize for Feudalism.

[Tender Branson]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

Blaxicans? Seriously?

Guess people weren't exaggerating your racism.

There's nothing racist whatsoever in my post. Stop misinterpreting what I say.

[Pyro]

Reparations for slavery and global imperialism is due, I agree. And although you cannot blame the current government for past sins, the fact that black unemployment is double the national rate and that 1 in 4 black people are in poverty is directly linked to repercussions of the slave trade.

Just as Japanese Americans who were jailed during WWII and American Indians who have had their land and mineral rights robbed, descendants of black slaves should receive a substantial motion of apology. Personally I think a ton of this money should funnel into programs to relieve black suffering, like funding inner-city public schools, expanded job training programs, increased drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and other public services.

And just who should pay for this 'substantial motion of apology'? From whose tax dollars should this money come?

From the ultra-rich, of course. I'm sure they could spare a few billion for relief programs.
It'd be like a drop in the bucket compared to their usual paychecks.

[All Along The Watchtower]

You find slavery normal?

Most libertarians support slavery, in my experience.

but Lincoln suspended habeas corpus guys

[Torie]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

Blaxicans? Seriously?

Guess people weren't exaggerating your racism.

There's nothing racist whatsoever in my post. Stop misinterpreting what I say.

Oh admit it, you just wanted to use your favorite word to get another rise out of folks, irrespective of how apropos it might be. It makes no sense to use it, unless you really believe this apology would resonate with the "xican" part of your hybridization.

[°Leprechaun]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

Blaxicans? Seriously?

Guess people weren't exaggerating your racism.

I don't support the use of the term "Blaxican", but does anyone see an inconsistency of criticizing Branson for using it while "Blaxican's" use of it as a username has not, to my knowledge been challenged? Not that I am challenging it, just that I don't understand the philosophy here.

[Ebsy]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

Blaxicans? Seriously?

Guess people weren't exaggerating your racism.

I don't support the use of the term "Blaxican", but does anyone see an inconsistency of criticizing Branson for using it while "Blaxican's" use of it as a username has not, to my knowledge been challenged? Not that I am challenging it, just that I don't understand the philosophy here.

Anyone using Blaxican other than Tender is using it to parody his outlandish racism and bigotry and how it is accepted by the Atlas mods.

[Tender Branson]

True.

This could improve his standing among Blaxicans in the coming months.

Blaxicans? Seriously?

Guess people weren't exaggerating your racism.

There's nothing racist whatsoever in my post. Stop misinterpreting what I say.

Oh admit it, you just wanted to use your favorite word to get another rise out of folks, irrespective of how apropos it might be. It makes no sense to use it, unless you really believe this apology would resonate with the "xican" part of your hybridization.

I am not to blame that some people get worked up with that term, which I only use as another word for "minority".

People should get a life and not get worked up about non-issues such as Blaxicans or Blaxicasians.