Slave trade??

[Joe_the_Lion]

Don't get me wrong, I believe the slave trade was a barbaric part of our commonwealth history, but what a load of pants all this apology is.

Should the Scandinavians apologise for the way the Vikings raped the anglo-saxon women?

Should the Spainish apologise for the Armada?

Should the French apologise for declaring war on us about 300 times over the last thousand years?

Should USA apologise for the British lives they took during the War of Independance?

Should the Zulus say sorry?

What about the opposers to the Raj?

I understand that the Germans and the Japs have said sorry for their atrocities in WW2. Fair enough, there are some people who still remember it, but apologising for the slave trade?

Be positive, if it wasn't for that period in history then most people will be starving in Africa and not enjoying the merits of a now multi-cultural Great Britain.

Apologise? He will better to apologise to the thousands of living middle classes whose his policies have costs thousands, and the victims of crime living in cities too afraid to leave their front door because some louts are above our soft legal system.

[johnlambert]

I cant belive the archbishop of York wants TB to apologise for the UK's part in the slave trade. If it wasn't for the likes of Willberforce (a British MP) the hideous act of human slavery would have gone unchecked for many more years.
Besides, Blair refuses to aplogise for
1) The failure of New Labour to reduce class sizes in UK schools
2) Hospital waiting lists growing despite promising to reduce them (remember his manifesto EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION)
3) Increased Taxation
4) lowering of decent moral standards
5) Illegal war in Iraq
It p1sses me off when people refer to him as the best Prime Minister ever!!!! what about Churchill? Thatcher?
Sorry to have a rant on your post minter, but I cant stand that man, or anyone who doesnt understand how Great Britain stands for decency, honour, and doing the right thing.

[joko]

what exactly does this apology involve?

signing a bit of paper? going in person and just saying "sorry"?

what exactly is it?

and if it is either of the above, where is the harm?
it's just a symbolic gesture surely, not a genuine 'taking the blame' apology for a wrongdoing, simply because no-one today was responsible?

[naomi24]

Those calling for an apology seem to have forgotten the part played by African traders who captured and sold their own people to the west - and made a fortune doing it. How can anyone living today be responsible for things that happened a couple of hundred years ago? The whole thing is a nonsense.

[Booldawg]

What percentage of the British public was either involved or profited from the slave trade? We prefered to enslave our own, it was called 'going into service' back then. Blair would be better off apologising on behalf of the middle classes to the working class.

[Theland]

J - T - L The Japanese have never apologised for their treatment of British P.O.W.'s.

Approx 1998, Blairs government gave �10,000 to each surviving ex-prisoner. To date, the Japanese have paid nothing.

My father was a prisoner on the Burma railway, and went to his grave without an apology.

[Lonnie]

As you say, it was a barbaric part of British history, but, as a matter of interest, has asked any of the other colonial powers to apologise?,

Has anyone asked the Arabs, who were slave trading long before the British, and in some area's still are, to apologise?.

Has anyone asked the Africans themselves, who were, and again, in some area's, still slave trading. to apologise?,

If they have, its not been reported, anyway, the whole thing is mad, it has to be taught, part of our history, but maybe we should put a day aside, for celebrating the fact that it was the British that were the first to abolish slavery.

[sp1814]

Booldawg

I don't think an apology will make any difference to anyone's lives.

Also, I don't think (but I'm willing to be corrected) that it will have any legal implications (eg. I don't think that the government could be sued by descendents of slaves).

Therefore, I don't know what the fuss is all about. Better to concentrate on what's happening now.

As was highlighted on a fantastic BBC4 documentary a few nights ago, most of my generation got 'expressions of regret' from their school mates after we all saw 'Roots' back in the 70s.

It's over.

[Lonnie]

Thats a nice sentiment sp, unfortunately, its not over, nor will it ever be, there will always be someone, Black or White, who will try to make capital out of it, for their own agenda.

As I said in my above answer, it should never be forgotten, abd it should be taught in schools as part of history lessons, including the abolishment act.

[admarlow]

more PC rubbish

[Booldawg]

It just very good propaganda fodder which can be called on when desired.

[Mammar]

Just had to join in and say I don't think I've ever seen so much agreement on a posting in News before.
By all means acknowledge that it happened but apologise?

[whiffey]

An apology would be absurd, but I think Tony Blair will be sensible enough to resist all calls.

This is just the beginning. It will probably lead on to commemorative statues all over London and large financial handouts to thousands of descendants.

[sp1814]

Whiffey

Despite the fact that I think that reparations don't make anysense...I would absolutely gladly be at the front of the queue with my hands out if anyone wanted to hand out thousands of pounds, despite the fact that I have no evidence whatsoever that any of my forefathers were enslaved.

In fact, a few thousand will totally sort out the budget the decking on our new roof terrace.

Therefore, I've changed my mind on the whole issue and demand raparations...and quickly - we want to get the terrace sorted out for summer drinks parties.

Hoorah for PC guilt.

Bring it on.

[bazwillrun]

its all PC garbage

They should be thanking us for getting them out of Africa.

What do you think the majority of the descendents of the slaves would be doing if their forbears had never been taken out of Africa ?

If they are that unhappy they can always go back to Africa

[sp1814]

Another briliantly thought out rant by bazwillrun.

[ludwig]

I wouldn't expect any germans who aren't going to be born until 100 years from now to have to apologise for the holocaust.

[jump79]

bazwillrun, its just sheer luck that you happened to be born in the UK and that is why you ae able to sit back and type your little pompous post above. You seem to take a lot of things for granted, life is just a bed of roses I bet, but I doubt you would have such a rosy view of slavery if you were born African!


As for apologising for the slave trade, it would be a nice gesture if everybody started apologising for all the wrongdoings of the past. There would be a lot fewer wars, hostility and miscommunication, that's for sure. 'Sorry' is just one word isn't it, does it cost anybody anything? I didn't think so either.

[Zen]

Where does it end ?

Julie Wilkes of Gloucester has issued legal proceedings against Italy for what she describes as "the many crimes committed by the Roman Empire".

Ms Wilkes, who claims she can trace her ancestry to Boudica, has issued a 778 trillion pound claim to the Italian government on behalf of herself and all those who suffered under the Roman Empire.

Ms Wilkes said "One of my relatives was flogged and her daughters raped, something I've never got over. My GCSE results last year were appalling because of it. Rome owes me, owes me big"

Professor Adams of Peterborough University, who's studied the Roman Empire for over 20 years commented "In addition to the murder, rape and general pillaging the Romans enslaved people throughout the world, threw innocent men, woman and children to the lions and spread Christianity. And what did they ever do for us? After they left England entered the dark ages, something we've yet to recover from."