Pm apologises for slavery..Should he of?

[Peter]

But how far back are you going to go before you stop apologising for history?

Why should I apologise for something that stopped nearly 200 years before I was born?

What does it actually achieve?

[Gentleman]

But dont get me wrong but we didnt start it, it had been happening for centuries beforehand and i do believe those little dark fellas (attempt at sarcasm!) were prone to doing it long before we turned up when they werent just killing each other.

Also it wouldnt have possible witohut their asistance as they are ones who rounded other tribes up or sold their tribe or family members for those those goods we (the evil white man) brought.

Did you know that american native indians kept black slaves as well.

And if you wanted to be a real bugger about the hypocrisy about this is that you could argue that those whose ancestors were slaves and therefore live in the lands of the evil slavers have done a damn sight better than they would have if they hadnt, Of course they hav enever had a problem about sharing in the proceeds of the empire employment/welfare state etc

also we were one of first nations to ban it, thi is of course while we had white slaves (the working poor) to to toil in the mills etc for 14 hours aday.

I alsways like the was we can worry about the poor other country / minority while ruthlessly expoiting our own nation.

[Flat_Eric]

strictlybroadband wrote:

>>


In what way was it "bigger" SBB?

In any case you can't really compare the two.

Slavery has been common throughout history. It was - for centuries - considered perfectly normal and legitimate behaviour by most civilisations from the ancient Babylonians 4000 years ago right through until 1865 when it was finally abolished in North America.

The Holocaust on the other hand was mass-murder on an industrial scale, large-scale ethnic cleansing over a period of a half-dozen years or so that was NEVER regarded as legitimate or acceptable by any other country apart from the one implementing it, i.e. Nazi Germany.

In any case it wasn't just Britain that was a slaving nation. Yet you write as though Britain was the only one.

Or do I take it that you also agree that the Italian PM should apologise for the behaviour of the Romans? Because if you're going to be consistent in your argument, you should.

And while we're all wringing our hands and apologising for things that happened centuries before anyone alive today was even born, then the Arabs, the Spaniards, the French, the Dutch, the Americans, the Portuguese, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Turks, the Bulgars, the Iranians, the Norwegians and Danes (remember the Vikings?!), the Mongolians, the Chinese and - come to think of it - a fair few tinpot Black African countries should all be publicly wearing sackcloth and ashes over slavery as as well.

It's ridiculous to try and apply today's moral standards to historical events. That's not to say that slavery would be justifiable today, but it has to be seen in the context of history.

And in any case, the list of "guilty" countries is endless.

[jasonhallceltic]

peter no one is asking you to apologise, tony bliar was apologising for the governments participation in slavery, i think all races need 2 move on but never forget

[Phil mCc]

Funny coincidence, I just sold my car on ebay to a Nigerian businessman who is sending we a cheque for 3 times what its worth.

Phil McC

[tommy dickfingers]

yes we should apologise for our part in the slave trade,it wasn't just us spain, portugal,arab leaders who sold them to us etc,this country has been invaded throughout the ages as well,the normans,saxons,romans and enslaved us.don't forget phil mccavity that england bailed you out 300 years ago when scotlands richest people tried and failed to set up a colony in south america and scotland went bankrupt which led to the union.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Pathetic. In 2176 a US Senator for the 51st state, Britain, will apologise for the invasion of Iraq. Trying to keep the Black vote methinks since he has alienated most Asian voters.

[Gentleman]

Yep youre right he didnt come out and directly say sorry folks but as you said he voiced his regret.

As an individual you can get away with that (altohough most people would term it as an apology of sorts) but as the head of state its abit more tricky and bearing in mind Mr blair has in the past apologised for the country not doing enough during that spud famine a few years back in ireland, I assume it was only a few years ago, after why would he be apologising for something that happened almost 200 years ago.