All Apologies

Why do governments make them & are they really needed?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

In the news today (15.11.2009):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8361025.stm

A beach vlog

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• apology
• apologies
• government
• politicians
• history
• slavery
• civil
• rights
• vote
• genocide
• equality
• vlog
• andymooseman
• yt:stretch=16:9

[21stCenturyCat]

cont.

because let's face it even now, how often has someone told you bad news, you say you're sorry and they reply "it's not your fault" - so lets face it, if it was an ancestor of mine I would most certainly apologise even though I had nothing to do with whatever they did that was wrong.

3. Good timing that I saw this today, I'm sure I saw something in the papers today about the government saying sorry for sending WW2 children away and saying their parents were dead!??!?!

[andymooseman]

I was amazed when i saw the news too. Although thats exactly the kind of thing i was talking about. Ii do feel thats a little different, as a lot of the people who were exploited are still alive. Also, seeing the reaction of the people who were apologised to shows how much it meant to them.

That alone made that apology worthwhile.

it's when the crimes were perpetrated centuries ago that i have more of a problem with.

Still, better an apology than none :)

[phekwig]

I agree with you completely and take it a step farther...

Only those who have personally done the wrong should have any RIGHT to apologize for a wrongdoing... Otherwise, like you said, it's only paying lip service...

[andymooseman]

That was partly my point. How can somebody who was not involved in the issue, apologise for it?

if the person who commits the offence makes that apology, it has far more weight :)

[TamHickey67]

In the fairly recent past there were notices on Bed and Breakfasts which read "No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish". That only goes back to the 1970's. I personally think it's great that all of that hatred and ignorance seems to have been swept aside nowadays, although there does seem to be a growing intolerance of immigrants now too. Are the Asylum seekers the new Irish? If you read the history of it, there are very close paralells between the two. The BNP had nothing on the Church of Scotland.

[andymooseman]

Maybe it's a case of the racism etc being more hidden & not so open these days.

As you suggest, it's still there.

Funnily enough i did a blog post recently saying that ultimately we are all immigrants :)

[21stCenturyCat]

Interesting topic... and this came to mind on your day off?!?! ;)

But a few thoughts:

1. Nobody thinks they are bad.. so yes, in the days of slavery (or choose any other era/topic) I'm sure they were some real nice families that even now you would love to meet... but probably didn't think twice about having slaves because it's 'just the way it was'

2. Should we apologise for the sins of our fathers... I actually think yes. It's just courtesy.

[PappyStu]

Damn little if you ask me...

wait you did....

[andymooseman]

Thanks. I just feel that's more important than dwelling on the past, important as history is :)

[andymooseman]

Thanks, as always Barry :)

[andymooseman]

That sounds intriguing.

What have the Romans ever done for us? :)