Quote :

"The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the wrongs of slavery. "

Come on give me a fucking break.
Is it 1909 not 2009???? Slavery has long since been over; how long are we going to allow this PR guilt trip above slavery continue???
I'd say easily a majority of white americans today do not even have relatives that were slave owners if even in this country yet.

Yet even 140+ years later after electing a half black president we still have this shit coming up on the national stage. If I were a senator
I would have voiced a loud NAY. As I am not apologizing for something that happened long before I was born while my entire dad's side was living in Europe.

Quote :

"Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery. "

Than we have this awesome tidbit......

these cash payments already exist... they are called welfare payments and affirmitive action

Not to condone slavery or imply the ends justify the means but I think these members of the "African-America community"
should respect and be grateful for the strengh of their ancestors to survive through the struggles of slavery which gave their
descendants the chance they have today to succeed in our modern day country. What would be the alternative? The chance of getting caught
in the instability, civil wars, and other ongoing problems like AIDs in Africa.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/18/senate.slavery/index.html

[Edited on June 18, 2009 at 5:23 PM. Reason : aa]

6/18/2009 5:16:40 PM

DEY TUK URR REPARATIONS!!!1

6/18/2009 5:19:33 PM

Quote :

"these cash payments already exist... they are called welfare payments"

I know you like to assume that poor = black, but you're usually not so overt about it.
If you want to name a "payment" of sorts, it exists as affirmative action. But welfare? Really?


...as for the overall topic of this thread, I'm actually pretty fucking surprised that a pointless and sentimental resolution like this hadn't already been passed a long time ago.


EDIT: Also, I read to the very end of your post, and you seriously just said that African Americans should be grateful for slavery. Dude. Examine yourself; that's fucked up.

[Edited on June 18, 2009 at 5:22 PM. Reason : EDIT]

6/18/2009 5:19:46 PM

^ Bill Clinton already did--sort of.

6/18/2009 5:22:27 PM

i never said "grateful for slavery"

grateful for the strength and courage of their forefathers to go through such hardships and difficult times

6/18/2009 5:24:29 PM

Quote :

"Yet even 140+ years later after electing a half black president we still have this shit coming up on the national stage. "

Well, its kinda still with us in subtle and seldom talked about kinds of ways.

6/18/2009 5:25:48 PM

Quote :

"should respect and be grateful for the strengh of their ancestors to survive through the struggles of slavery which gave their descendants the chance they have today to succeed in our modern day country. What would be the alternative? The chance of getting caught in the instability, civil wars, and other ongoing problems like AIDs in Africa."

Granted, you did use a somewhat roundabout and bullshit-laced way of saying it, but that's about as close to "they should be grateful for slavery" as one can get without using the exact words.

6/18/2009 5:26:46 PM

Quote :

"I know you like to assume that poor = black, but you're usually not so overt about it."

Rofl, you don't pay close enough attention to a HUR post. He is easily the top racist in all of TSB.

6/18/2009 5:30:47 PM

surprised he didn't drop a "now i'm not a racist but...."

6/18/2009 5:31:32 PM

Is black wealth / white wealth greater than or less than 1.0?

Quote :

"The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the wrongs of slavery."

Is Obama going to sign it?

6/18/2009 5:32:46 PM

what does an apology hurt?

^do presidents sign congressional resolutions?

[Edited on June 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM. Reason : honest question. i don't know.]

6/18/2009 5:33:34 PM

I'm still not over the native american genocide....
Shouldn't we give back all the land?
I mean, we helped create israel to give back to the jews, so why not give back america to the few remaining natives?


[Edited on June 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM. Reason : ]

6/18/2009 5:36:45 PM

Quote :

"what does an apology hurt?"

They could be doing something worthwhile with that time...

On the other hand, I highly doubt they would use that time to legitimately research the issues they legislate on or use said time to pass regulations heavily limiting their own power...

...so on second thought, I do support this. I'd rather have my power-hungry incompetents doing nothing than trying to push their own agendas.

6/18/2009 5:36:49 PM

Quote :

"Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery."

I don't know if this has been said but i thought that was what we call welfare?


and personally these people didn't suffer. The slaves suffer. Why should someone 200 years later get benefits for that? If they want benifits bad enough put them through a 'weekend slave warrior camp' to qualify.

[Edited on June 18, 2009 at 5:39 PM. Reason : .]

6/18/2009 5:37:36 PM

I don't think the Democrats want to stay in power. All they have to do is not pull stupid shit like this and they easily can stay in power for around a decade minimum, but no, they have to go and be dumbasses.

6/18/2009 5:40:21 PM

^With the GOP still wandering around looking for a leader and appeasing churchies, the Democrats have got significantly more room for error than they would have against the PR machine that it once was.

6/18/2009 5:44:11 PM

Quote :

"the top racist"

I seriously am not racist. Skin color is simply letters in a DNA sequence.

What I have an issue with poor ignorant lazy people no matter the race.
In context of this article, I believe that racism continues to exist in today's society mostly
b.c those who claim to be the victims keep bringing up the issue. Sure there are still bigoted white
people out there but there are just as many racist people of other ethnicities. In today's society there is no real "racist establishment" holding any group down (except illegal hispanics).
Even with a half African American president; there are those who will not let the issue
be left to the history books that their great great great great great grandpa was unjustly bonded. Instead
expecting our continued guilt and repayment on a past injustice.

If any group truly deserves an ongoing apology and/or reparations it is the Native American population to whom we nearly wiped out
and forcefully removed from their land.

Quote :

"what does an apology hurt?"

I honestly would not have even took the time to create a post about this if not for the ....

Quote :

"Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery."

6/18/2009 6:13:37 PM

so it's news now that some african-americans want reparations? really? this is thread-worthy now?

6/18/2009 6:15:52 PM

Quote :

"What I have an issue with poor ignorant lazy people no matter the race"

Look dude, when 95% of your rants about these poor ignorant lazy people are clearly directed at black folks, you just can't claim you aren't at the very least a severe bigot.

Quote :

"b.c those who claim to be the victims keep bringing up the issue."

Yeah, you tell that to the black people who see threads created by 69 and Tiberus on this very website. Racism is alive and well.

Quote :

"but there are just as many racist people of other ethnicities"

Yeah, the difference is most of them aren't running the economy.

Quote :

"expecting our continued guilt and repayment on a past injustice"

I know this might strike you as foreign, but those that keep pushing the reparations issue are likely to get paid handsomely in the event of a payout. Behavior no different from your average white ambulance chaser.

6/18/2009 6:17:39 PM

^Tiberius and 69 both seem to be pretty obvious fake racists... as in, they're pretending to be racists to troll people.

6/18/2009 6:20:56 PM

I think it's ridiculous at this point to apologize. No one living has ever owned slaves. I'm not sorry for slavery b/c I didn't take part in it and neither did my family.
And I REALLY wish we could cut the shit with the PC term "African-American." If you weren't born there, you aren't African. It'd be nice to cut out all race terms and just be PEOPLE, but we know that's a distant future ideal.

As for passing a "we're sorry, so here's some money" deal, that's just a bunch of horse shit. I would hope that Black members of Congress, and even Obama, could raise themselves above that entitlement bullshit and say "No, we don't deserve money."

I'm just so sick of the Race Card. Go be thankful you live in a country where you aren't persecuted for your beliefs, you have the ability to acquire fresh food and running water, and you have a say in government (small, though it is).

6/18/2009 6:21:48 PM

Quote :

"Tiberius and 69 both seem to be pretty obvious fake racists... as in, they're pretending to be racists to troll people"

You're kidding right?

6/18/2009 6:28:43 PM

Nah, but maybe I just don't pay enough attention to them. Seems like all the racist shit they do is trolling, though.

6/18/2009 6:32:25 PM

I sure am glad there is nothing more pressing to worry about

6/18/2009 7:00:25 PM

Quote :

"Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery. "

there was a rider or amendment on the bill that stated explicitly that the official apology could in no way be used as grounds or justification for reparations or payment.
So, while "some members" have asked for it, no need to get your panties in a bunch over the possibility of it happening.

Quote :

"They could be doing something worthwhile with that time..."

as reported, it happened this morning in a "nearly empty" chamber and by yay/nay only, so not time was spent with a full role call and count. And, considering the amount of time Congress spends naming Post Offices and congratulating little league teams from their districts, taking a few minutes to make a token, perhaps meaningless and pandering apology, is really peanuts and not worth the time to argue about it.

of course, aren't anti-gov't conservatives usually glad when gov't spends its time doing this instead of "doing work", which, you know.... by definition is harmful to the country?

6/18/2009 9:40:32 PM

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=24407

6/18/2009 9:45:58 PM

Quote :

"of course, aren't anti-gov't conservatives usually glad when gov't spends its time doing this instead of "doing work", which, you know.... by definition is harmful to the country?"

Indeed... please refer to the entire rest of the post you quoted.

Also, I'm becoming less of an anti-government conservative and more of a society-and-the-people-it-elects-are-imbeciles elitist. Though these things are well enough in alignment.

6/18/2009 10:26:52 PM

At least congress isn't raising taxes or taking over health-care.

Keep apologizing.

6/18/2009 11:00:59 PM

if you/these people want apologies and money, they should ask their cousins over in africa, WHO SOLD THEM INTO SLAVERY/USED THEM AS SLAVES TOO.

[Edited on June 18, 2009 at 11:08 PM. Reason : .]

6/18/2009 11:08:34 PM

i say make the already dirt poor African nations pay them their dues for selling their ancestors to slave traders in the first place. Thats where the source of the problem was to begin with.

6/18/2009 11:12:36 PM

THAT'S RIGHT - GLAD THAT SOMEONE IS FINALLY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE!! FUCK THOSE 16th CENTURY MONEY-GRUBBING AFRICAN BASTARDS

6/18/2009 11:34:57 PM

I want reparations from rich people since they may have held one of my super great grandparents in indentured servitude.

6/19/2009 12:45:38 AM

Quote :

"keep bringing up the issue"

6/19/2009 1:01:00 AM

sheesh....I'm so glad the Senate apologized...

before that, I wasn't really sure it was wrong

6/20/2009 2:17:09 AM

Quote :

"i say make the already dirt poor African nations pay them their dues for selling their ancestors to slave traders in the first place. Thats where the source of the problem was to begin with."

does that then mean that Condoleeza Rice will be getting a check from Barack Obama?

6/20/2009 2:23:06 AM

There's been a number of these apologies made over the years. A quick google search reveals one made last year in the house of representatives. A few years back I thought the NC legislature passed a similar resolution condemning/apologizing about slavery.

It's just empty pandering. Who cares?

6/20/2009 2:32:57 AM

Quote :

" It's just empty pandering. Who cares?"

Because it creates the wrong mentality? Time to move on.

6/20/2009 2:06:05 PM

the mentality that The Great USA has made mistakes in the past that we shouldn't be proud of?
yeah..... that's horrible.

6/20/2009 2:13:21 PM

^ u are right we do make lots of mistakes but we merely pander to the long since dead policy of slavery that was abolished 140 years ago.

We have done lots of other fucked up shit since than; wounded knee anyone?

Quote :

"Because it creates the wrong mentality? Time to move on."

6/20/2009 6:01:47 PM

yeah, but I still don't know what this "mentality" is, or what actual damage it will do.

I do agree that an official apology is mostly pandering. But so what? There was riders on the bill to ensure that it wouldn't lead to anything that costs money or whatever, and if it makes a certain amount of people feel better or whatever, then fine - no harm, no foul.

Wounded Knee? Fine - maybe a Congressional Intern should start sorry.gov and just keep a running list of some of the fucked up things that our gov't has done in the past, which are now officially against our current policy. That would create, to me, the mentality that we acknowledge our mistakes and are willing to learn from them, instead of just "moving on".

"moving on" is what is being suggested by many as our official policy on torture during the Bush years. So, how long before we, as a country, collectively finally agree that torture is wrong? Apparently we're not "ready" to do that yet, and we're "looking forward, not looking backward," even though that "backward looking" is just 2-3 years in the past. Next thing you know, it's 100 years later and nobody has ever gone back and said "oh, holy shit - that was fucked up. Yo.... sorry 'bout that"

6/20/2009 6:10:30 PM

Quote :

""moving on" is what is being suggested by many as our official policy on torture during the Bush years. "

you are incorrect sir; you mean not torture Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

6/20/2009 6:27:25 PM

yeah, that's kind of my point.....

6/20/2009 6:42:19 PM

Quote :

" yeah, but I still don't know what this "mentality" is, or what actual damage it will do. I do agree that an official apology is mostly pandering. But so what? There was riders on the bill to ensure that it wouldn't lead to anything that costs money or whatever, and if it makes a certain amount of people feel better or whatever, then fine - no harm, no foul. Wounded Knee? Fine - maybe a Congressional Intern should start sorry.gov and just keep a running list of some of the fucked up things that our gov't has done in the past, which are now officially against our current policy. That would create, to me, the mentality that we acknowledge our mistakes and are willing to learn from them, instead of just "moving on". "moving on" is what is being suggested by many as our official policy on torture during the Bush years. So, how long before we, as a country, collectively finally agree that torture is wrong? Apparently we're not "ready" to do that yet, and we're "looking forward, not looking backward," even though that "backward looking" is just 2-3 years in the past. Next thing you know, it's 100 years later and nobody has ever gone back and said "oh, holy shit - that was fucked up. Yo.... sorry 'bout that""

It encourages the mentality of "they owe us." It is a dead issue. There are no living slaves, there hasn't been for approximately half a century at the least. Hell, even people who were adults during the civil rights movement are starting to die out.

And who, exactly, is the government apologizing to? To those who were enslaved? That would be ok. But no, we are apologizing to "African-Americans" Whom, may, or may not, have been the descendants of slaves. In fact, those being apologized to ancestors probably practiced slavery, since it was widely practiced in Western Africa long before Europeans arrived.

Oh, and the torture thing is a strawman if I ever saw one. Did anyone in this thread argue we should move on on that topic? Nope. See, that issue is recent, and slavery happened before most of our great-great grandparents were born. See how that works?

6/20/2009 7:43:58 PM

If we were to issue "reparations" would we be conducting a survey or require proof of genealogy to receive your "reparation" or would any ethnic black adult receive one even if they were a African migrant or a descendant of one post-slavery.

6/20/2009 8:24:08 PM

who the hell is talking about reparations?

oh yeah - only you and "some members of the African-American community", whatever the fuck that means. Again, this bill has nothing to do with reparations and excludes them specifically. Don't fucking worry - nobody is going to take your money and make you give it to poor black folks (oh, right, welfare blah blah blah)

6/20/2009 10:55:56 PM

Quote :

"They could be doing something worthwhile with that time... On the other hand, I highly doubt they would use that time to legitimately research the issues they legislate on or use said time to pass regulations heavily limiting their own power... ...so on second thought, I do support this. I'd rather have my power-hungry incompetents doing nothing than trying to push their own agendas."

Agreed.

Also, when can I get my slave reparations from Italy? My ancestors were slaves during the Roman Empire. Give me a Ferrari or some shit

6/22/2009 1:31:56 PM

The main thing people are missing is the fact that todays African Americans are still at a disadvantage directly due to the result of slavery and Jim Crowe. In general, whites benefited from slavery financially. Class and wealth is passed on from generation to generation so even if you never owned slaves or lived during the time, you still benefited by being born into a white family and vice versa for blacks.

Better off in America? Highly questionable. If Africa was not exploited by Europeans who knows how advanced it would be? Also, without slaves, the US would have never taken off and very well could be in the current state of Africa today. The circumstances of Africa and America could be switched. Who knows?

So think about those, before you question the apology, guilt or even payback...

6/23/2009 1:46:29 PM

seriously can we get this n00b out of the soap box

6/23/2009 1:47:49 PM

î took a history class that said WWII made the US a world super power not slavery, so i am right.

[Edited on June 23, 2009 at 2:16 PM. Reason : .]

6/23/2009 2:16:18 PM

Quote :

"Better off in America? Highly questionable. If Africa was not exploited by Europeans who knows how advanced it would be? Also, without slaves, the US would have never taken off and very well could be in the current state of Africa today. The circumstances of Africa and America could be switched. Who knows? "

i chuckled.

6/23/2009 3:01:55 PM