New Jersey Lawmakers May Apologize for Slavery

[ejazzyjeff]

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey could become the first Northern state to apologize for slavery under a measure due for a legislative committee hearing this week.

"This is not too much to ask of the state of New Jersey," said Assemblyman William Payne, sponsor of the proposal. "All that is being requested of New Jersey is to say three simple words: 'We are sorry.'"

Legislators in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia have issued formal apologies for slavery.

"If former Confederate states can take action like this, why can't a Northeast state like New Jersey?" asked Payne, a Democrat.

According to the proposal, New Jersey had one of the largest slave populations in the Northern colonies and was the last state in the Northeast to formally abolish slavery, not doing so until 1846. The state didn't ratify the constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery until January 1866, weeks after it became law, having rejected ratification in 1865.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319806,00.html

[DaveGink]

What a joke. Apologizing for something that no one alive today had anything to do with or was a part of. And anyone demanding such an apology needs psychiatric help or at least needs to get a friggin life.

[sbl]

Dave,

The idea is that the State that existed then still exists now.

BTW, "My Dear Wife" is from NJ and I'm owed an apology!

[MBond057]

I feel that making late political apologies are hollow and do not open a constructive dialog. It only forces a person to choose sides and question “why do I have to pay for the sins of others”.

America has a bad track record on race and culture sensitivity issues. Two good examples for this argument beyond slavery are the Native American citizens driven from their homelands or Japanese American citizens who were placed in interment camps during WWII.

Maryland made a public apology for slavery last year. Did it make any difference other then a political dog and pony show for politicians to demonstrate they need the African American community vote if they want to win.

Just my 2 cents on the issue……….

[Dunn Browne]

I don't get it. Someone that never owned a slave apologizing to someone that never was a slave???

[DaveGink]

Dave,

The idea is that the State that existed then still exists now.

BTW, "My Dear Wife" is from NJ and I'm owed an apology!

The Country existed then as well - as did the world. However the people involved do not, and that is the only thing that matters. The State/Country/World is only what the people/society make of it at the time.

Seriously, anyone holding a grudge and asking for an apology for something that happened 250 years ago, and has it effect their lives and thinking today (instead of living their own life and moving on), when they weren't even involved, and those that were are long dead and buried - needs help. I'm not saying that to be harsh. I'm serious, it has to be some sort of mental issue (That, or some sort of political ploy).

[sbl]

Frank,

I'm saying that it isn't someONE, but a government that represented the people of that state back then and still represents the people of the state.

[sbl]

"Seriously, anyone holding a grudge and asking for an apology for something that happened 250 years ago, and has it effect their lives and thinking today (instead of living their own life and moving on), when they weren't even involved, and those that were are long dead and buried - needs help."

Dave, you have a point there. That statement includes a LOT of minorities and small nations plus some religions!

Original Sin.

[bill watson]

The phrase you may all find useful is "fatuous, insincere posturing."

[DaveGink]

Frank,

I'm saying that it isn't someONE, but a government that represented the people of that state back then and still represents the people of the state.

A government is a tool. It's not a living, thinking entity capable of doing right or wrong, good or evil. It can not be held responsible for anything. Only people can be accountable for what a government or society does. The people elected to government today, and the people who elected them, can not be held responsible for what those elected to office did some 250 years ago -- or for what was done in a society then. They owe no one an apology for slavery, and it's simply crazy to ask them to.