tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158996721327853877.post1890471482902208471..comments2011-03-22T19:47:46.638+02:00Comments on Karin & Ray: The Port of No Returnkarinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09942113924770721329noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158996721327853877.post-51344348071167237862009-06-29T00:49:08.002+03:002009-06-29T00:49:08.002+03:00Good and deep and neccessary and interesting quest...Good and deep and neccessary and interesting questions... and there are others as well.<br /><br />What awareness or soul-searching goes on in Benin and other areas of origin for Western and Arab slave-trading regarding the participation of local African elites or particular ethnic groups in the enslavement of their own people or other groups?<br /><br />And within our own country... African slaves, while the most egregious, were only one group among several who were and to a different extent still are abused and violated as a base source of labor within our economic system. What forgiveness do we owe to our English indentured 'servants,' Irish, Chinese, and currently our undocumented Latina/o groups who we have and currently do oppress for the economic benefit of the rest of our nation? What does it mean that, though ending one form of oppression in slavery, we have continued to find new ways of legally subjugating ethnic groups at the lowest end of our social and economic strata?BmoreLutheranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12293075652104895743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158996721327853877.post-4470402954283721022009-06-20T22:00:17.161+03:002009-06-20T22:00:17.161+03:00We discussed this a little in one of my classes. W...We discussed this a little in one of my classes. We were covering the post-Apartheid model for racial reconciliation in South America. Desmond Tutu wrote about it extensively in "No Future Without Forgiveness." The concept was to make amends by having Apartheid officers apologize in person to the ones that they victimized. By making them stand accountable for what they had done, this forced the issue to be addressed in a way that was painful for all, but certainly meaningful and more than symbolic. For it seemed like there was a serious effort for true forgiveness and reconciliation.<br /><br />The problem with using a similar model in America, as one student in our class pointed out, is that the victims and the persecutors are not here. We can't go back in time and force slave owners, slave traders, etc. to stand up to their crimes. So what do we do now to address the issue? <br /><br />The problem that I see with America's need for forgiveness is that we want to do it in one fell swoop. We want to give a certain amount of money to whomever we've harmed or write some fancy apology. Anything to make the issue just go away. And I don't think this addresses the issue. Forgiveness, especially for an evil that was so systemic and gradual over a long period of time, will probably take a long time to earn. Rather than just saying "I'm sorry" and allowing ourselves to be absolved, I think the countries the slave trade ravished need to see that we are truly contrite about making a social change for those we've harmed. How do we go about this change? Truthfully, I don't know. You guys would probably have better ideas than I. But I'm of the opinion that forgiveness for slavery is a long process where actions speak louder than words (cliche I know, but I really believe it) and true contrition is shown. <br /><br />Hope you guys are well in Africa! Look forward to seeing you sometime!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158996721327853877.post-71526925821165054062009-06-20T16:08:33.244+03:002009-06-20T16:08:33.244+03:00This post is especially apt as America reflects up...This post is especially apt as America reflects upon the senate's apology for slavery.<br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061803877.html<br />Thanks for this post.<br />Peace,<br />ChrisChristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07304298306127392428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158996721327853877.post-60384535721579994342009-06-20T04:34:00.693+03:002009-06-20T04:34:00.693+03:00Karin and Ray,
your response is an interesting and...Karin and Ray,<br />your response is an interesting and important one, and I think you addressed the reality of our country's development honestly but also with a sense of responsibility.<br />We can only be responsible for our time...feeling guilt can be inspiring to try to effect a balance. Even though our actions are small they tend to address the imbalance of evil and good.<br />Dan - ChicagoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15752418695661091426noreply@blogger.com