Quizzes & Puzzles30 mins ago
Slave Trade
Should we apologise? We abolished the trade over 200 years ago, and our navy were rigorous in intercepting slave ships after we had abolished the trade, so should we still apologise?
Personally I can't see the point - the world was a whole different place 200 years ago.
Personally I can't see the point - the world was a whole different place 200 years ago.
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I think it's important to acknowlege that much of British wealth was formed off of the back of violence and suffering that we imposed on other countries.
There was also our behaviour in India, and Africa not to mention pushing opium in China.
But we cannot be responsible for that any more than a 20 year old German can be responsible for Hitler.
Is the best way to acknowlege the debt Britain owes to slavery an appology? - sounds pretty worthless to me.
I do think it ought to be better taught in schools so that we don't continue to get people all misty eyed about the British Empire without seeing it warts and all
There was also our behaviour in India, and Africa not to mention pushing opium in China.
But we cannot be responsible for that any more than a 20 year old German can be responsible for Hitler.
Is the best way to acknowlege the debt Britain owes to slavery an appology? - sounds pretty worthless to me.
I do think it ought to be better taught in schools so that we don't continue to get people all misty eyed about the British Empire without seeing it warts and all
chances are you're richer - we all are - because our ancestors made use of the slave trade. If you feel good about that (you're white, right?), do go out and buy some nice clothes with the tainted money. But it was less than 200 years ago. Slavery itself wasn't abolished in British trerritories until 1833.
"chances are you're richer - we all are - because our ancestors made use of the slave trade"
With respect all our genes and histories are built on some form of oppression. And the idea it's a white man thing, you better read up on you history of the slave trade, there are plenty examples of white slavery or slavery conducted by non-whites and in the case of the African slave trade many of the slaves were sold or sent into slavery by African Chiefs.
I certainly don't feel any guilt about it and nor should I. An apology on a political level is a different matter but I see little point in it.
With respect all our genes and histories are built on some form of oppression. And the idea it's a white man thing, you better read up on you history of the slave trade, there are plenty examples of white slavery or slavery conducted by non-whites and in the case of the African slave trade many of the slaves were sold or sent into slavery by African Chiefs.
I certainly don't feel any guilt about it and nor should I. An apology on a political level is a different matter but I see little point in it.
Maybe the Romans should apologise for invading Britain 2000 years ago (although they built some nice roads).
And the Normans were ruthless when they came here in 1066 so we can expect an apology soon.
And what about all the innocent witches that were burned at the stake by the leaders of the day.
And what a mess we made of Dresden with our bombs in the second world war so they deserve an apology.
I am afraid the human race, rather stupidly, has argued, fought and killed all through history. At one time or another we have all been the aggressor and the victim.
How far do we go back?
And the Normans were ruthless when they came here in 1066 so we can expect an apology soon.
And what about all the innocent witches that were burned at the stake by the leaders of the day.
And what a mess we made of Dresden with our bombs in the second world war so they deserve an apology.
I am afraid the human race, rather stupidly, has argued, fought and killed all through history. At one time or another we have all been the aggressor and the victim.
How far do we go back?
I'm all for acknowledging the errors made by everyone about everything, but apologising is too much to expect from people who clearly had no personal part in it. Who are they apologising for? Themselves? They had no part in it and doubtless find it completely abhorrent. The people who did have a part in it? Then that apologty is probably worthless as the people concerned had no contemporary problems with it, so doubtless didn't feel they were doing anything wrong.
If we want to bang on about the slave trade why not do something practical about stamping it out in the world today where it is still prevalent.People are trafficked and forced to work here. Children are prostituted against their will in this country, that's a form of slavery, so lets stamp it out. These links should get you started.
http://www.antislavery.org/
http://www.anti-slaverysociety.addr.com/
Surely the best way of honouring those we enslaved is by making sure we stamp out as much slavery in as much of the world as we possible can, not empty wordy apologies. Let's do something practical.
If we want to bang on about the slave trade why not do something practical about stamping it out in the world today where it is still prevalent.People are trafficked and forced to work here. Children are prostituted against their will in this country, that's a form of slavery, so lets stamp it out. These links should get you started.
http://www.antislavery.org/
http://www.anti-slaverysociety.addr.com/
Surely the best way of honouring those we enslaved is by making sure we stamp out as much slavery in as much of the world as we possible can, not empty wordy apologies. Let's do something practical.
-- answer removed --
Thats a little controversial fender62!
Britain never conquered China yet their civilisation was so advanced compared to our little backwater. I'm not saying that Britain didn't help some of the nations it held sovereignty in; but I don't think one can say that Britain brought them out the dark ages. I don't understand what is wrong about living off the land and selling what one has left over to make a profit.
To get back to the point... I don't think Britain should apologise for slavery. As WoWo said, it wasn't purely white Britons that enslaved other nations; Arabic, Egyptian and African merchants all became obscenely wealthy through the trade of human life.
Britain never conquered China yet their civilisation was so advanced compared to our little backwater. I'm not saying that Britain didn't help some of the nations it held sovereignty in; but I don't think one can say that Britain brought them out the dark ages. I don't understand what is wrong about living off the land and selling what one has left over to make a profit.
To get back to the point... I don't think Britain should apologise for slavery. As WoWo said, it wasn't purely white Britons that enslaved other nations; Arabic, Egyptian and African merchants all became obscenely wealthy through the trade of human life.
No we should never apologise. We did nothing wrong. Imperialism and the Rise of the Empire was a rule of god and Survival of the Fittest.
As stated where does apology stop? Should the Danes say sorry to us for the 20,000 English killed by King Cnut? Should the French apologise for William of Normandy? The Romans? The Spainish? The Germans? Should the Scots apolgise for their wicked ways? Even the USA??
We should never bow down to chippy people. And a lot of the slaves ended up OK didn't they? That Ophra Winfrey, she's not short of a bob or two.
As stated where does apology stop? Should the Danes say sorry to us for the 20,000 English killed by King Cnut? Should the French apologise for William of Normandy? The Romans? The Spainish? The Germans? Should the Scots apolgise for their wicked ways? Even the USA??
We should never bow down to chippy people. And a lot of the slaves ended up OK didn't they? That Ophra Winfrey, she's not short of a bob or two.
My ancestors made your (if you're British and white) ancestors richer because during the period up to, but not including the industrial revolution, you used my ancestors as slaves.
However, I absolutely don't feel that you as 21 century citizens should feel a debt or feel that you have to personally apologise. However, governments should acknowledge that certain nations got where they are today simply because they subjugated (probably spelled incorrectly there).
I don't subscribe to current generations having a pop because of what previous generations have done. I only hope the Brits will drop the whole German thing later this century.
It's getting dull.
However, I absolutely don't feel that you as 21 century citizens should feel a debt or feel that you have to personally apologise. However, governments should acknowledge that certain nations got where they are today simply because they subjugated (probably spelled incorrectly there).
I don't subscribe to current generations having a pop because of what previous generations have done. I only hope the Brits will drop the whole German thing later this century.
It's getting dull.
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