How callous of me to neglect mentioning that Congress is poised to apologize -- supposedly on behalf of me and every other white American -- for slavery. Doesn't it strike anyone as odd that Congress is expressing regret for blacks' presence on American soil? That is the inescapable essence of what Congress intends, since the vast majority of blacks would not be among us but for the peculiar institution of slavery itself. Maybe Congress should think about this before putting its foot in its mouth.
Ordinarily I would discuss at length the numerous other reasons for rejecting a resolution of this nature, such as the fact that Western civilization (not Africa) decided that slavery was wrong and ended it; that we should be proud rather than ashamed to inherit the Western tradition; that no living American was ever a slave; that no living American ever owned a slave; that it is a moral abomination to punish the living for the deeds of the dead; that the Union and the Constitution could not have existed but for the compromises on slavery; that there will never be racial reconciliation as long as the grievance mentality continues being legitimized; that there can be no reconcialition of any kind when a nation's government condemns the nation's own citizens and founders; and most of all, that no putrid collection of politicians has a right to apologize for me in the first place. But that would be a waste of time, since far more important matters hold Americans' attention.
I will say that the only apology I owe is to my ancestors: I'm sorry I failed you. I have failed to safeguard your legacy from the swarms of rats who are tearing it to pieces, but I will do my best to preserve an island of sanity while the edifice you built yields to the sludge of untold centuries.
Ordinarily I would discuss at length the numerous other reasons for rejecting a resolution of this nature, such as the fact that Western civilization (not Africa) decided that slavery was wrong and ended it; that we should be proud rather than ashamed to inherit the Western tradition; that no living American was ever a slave; that no living American ever owned a slave; that it is a moral abomination to punish the living for the deeds of the dead; that the Union and the Constitution could not have existed but for the compromises on slavery; that there will never be racial reconciliation as long as the grievance mentality continues being legitimized; that there can be no reconcialition of any kind when a nation's government condemns the nation's own citizens and founders; and most of all, that no putrid collection of politicians has a right to apologize for me in the first place. But that would be a waste of time, since far more important matters hold Americans' attention.
I will say that the only apology I owe is to my ancestors: I'm sorry I failed you. I have failed to safeguard your legacy from the swarms of rats who are tearing it to pieces, but I will do my best to preserve an island of sanity while the edifice you built yields to the sludge of untold centuries.
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