Another view on the apology

Local, Norfolk, Politics, Virginia 2 Minutes

I received the following via email from Pat Morton, a long-time resident of Norfolk. With her permission, I share her perspective with you.

I have lots of stuff going on in my head about this. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this, but at 54 years old I am old enough to remember the “white” and the “colored” bathrooms at Ames & Brownley’s downtown, along with the water fountains for that matter. I saw the bathrooms when I was with my grandmother, I couldn’t have been more than 6 years old, if that old. I wanted to go to the “colored” bathroom because if it was “colored” it was surely more fun than just plain. I’m sure I mortified her when I made a fuss about it.

I also remember not being allowed to sit at the back of the bus – I wanted to sit on the long bench seat at the very back and look out the back window, but my mother wouldn’t let me, the white people didn’t sit back there. Again I was 6 or younger I’m thinking.

I remember when I moved to Colonial Place in 1976 or so my great-uncle having some awful things to say about the mixed neighborhood.

I remember horrible racial things happening at Blair, but then they all got better at Maury. Not perfect, but really a lot better and I was naïve enough to believe that things were finally going to be okay. That was 1968-1970. Hah.

I have never, ever understood any of it. Obviously I have nowhere near a black person’s perspective on any of this, but I can tell you I have been as hurt as any white person can be by all of it and I will never understand how these white people cannot grasp at least a part of this.

Apologize for slavery? Hell, yes. If it wasn’t for slavery, none of the things that offended me – and offended every single black person, which goes without saying – would have ever happened. It doesn’t matter that no one alive today was or had slaves, what matters is the things I’ve experienced in my lifetime that were a result of it and, WAY more importantly, the things blacks have experienced and continue to experience. What in the hell is it about a freakin’ APOLOGY that could be wrong??

Thanks, Pat. You obviously get it.

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80 thoughts on “Another view on the apology”

  2. Oh. my. god. in. heaven.

    I want to make two points and then I hope Vivian locks this (but she probably won’t because she gives all of you the chance to carry on and on with your racism – and you give her no credit for that, you just beat her up).

    1. There is a very clear connection between the fact that Africans were indentured and treated/sold like property to the racism of today. Slavery created the mentality that people of color were/are less than human, meaning the almighty “white” human. Do not pretend otherwise; that does not make it true and it makes you ignorant of reality.

    2. Those of you are twisting yourselves all in 75 knots to say this apology should not happen need to step back and think a minute – you are exhibiting that same racism to which I just referred and if you had any sensitivity at all, you would already know that.

    If you don’t feel YOU need to make an apology, why on earth is it so important to prevent a commonwealth from doing what others feel needs to be done. It does nothing to hurt you in the least. So just leave it alone and let those who “get it” make happen what we feel needs to happen. You don’t have to “get it”, you just need to stop trying to control what others feel is necessary WHEN IT IS NO SKIN OFF YOUR NOSE.

    I know I’m tilting at windmills now. Thanks to the folks who did show up to support this.

    Vivian, please put this whole thread out of its misery…

  3. News Flash:

    Del. Hargrove tries to steal spotlight on Slavery by entering a resolution Celebrating the end of slavery. Who can’t agree with that?

    But ol’ Donald McEachin’s not happy! He stated that this resolution was not a replacement for his resolution. Virginia had nothing to do with ending slavery and must atone!

    Love thy neighbor!

    Love means never having to say your sorry!

    Is it ridiculous enough for everyone yet?

    Two political race pimps sparring for the spotlight!

    Do you get yet Pat?

  4. . There is a very clear connection between the fact that Africans were indentured and treated/sold like property to the racism of today. Slavery created the mentality that people of color were/are less than human, meaning the almighty “white” human. Do not pretend otherwise; that does not make it true and it makes you ignorant of reality.

    I’ll try not to be too harsh Pat, because you clearly don’t have a clear understanding of how Africans became slaves in America, vs any other nationality.

    I’ll just provide the link to an unbiased site for you to study on your own.http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/9chapter2.shtml

  7. Pat – I have three points to make.

    1. I have little doubt slavery and discrimination have severely harmed Blacks in this country. Nonetheless, I think the present condition of the Black community probably has more to do its its dependence on Big Government. Our education and the example of our parents has more to do with our behavior than anything else, not our racial group or events that happened well over 100 hundred years ago. More than anything else, what we learn during our education and our from parents is the attitude we should have towards life’s challenges. If we want our children to succeed, we should not teach them how to be good victims.

    2. I have a conservative philosophy. I want limited government. When people use the government inappropriately, I cry foul. I see this apology as nothing more than despicable pandering and embarrassment for every citizen of Virginia. The apology itself is racist. Our government is not suppose to discriminate based upon race, sex or creed, but discrimination is exactly what this apology is about. It is about teaching Blacks to be good victims.

    3. If you want to make meaningless, pandering apologies, why do need my help? If you want to expiate your guilt feelings, go ahead. Put on your big show. Show everybody how much more you care, but make your own apology. Stop trying to drag me into it. I think it’s sick.

  8. 1. So is it your parents we should blame, Tom, for your current inability to comprehend society? Did your mother and father fail to teach you to look beyond your own tiny little world? I’m thinking probably so.

    2. There isn’t an ounce of discrimination, practical or theoretical, in the proposed resolution. You want to see racism? Check the mirror. Only a racist could take the language of that resolution and turn it into “teaching Blacks to be good victims.”

    3. No one asked for your help. Which is why so many of us wonder what you have to jump up and down about.

  10. I realize a lot of reality and truth has been introduced to some of you today.

    After a lifetime of being brainwashed by politicians, race pimps, liberal media, and an inadequate educational system it must be extremly difficult.

    I would be angry and in denial also if I were in your shoes.

    But as the old saying goes no pain, no gain. So maybe somewhere down the path into the future we will look back and laugh at the ridiculousness of all this, shake hands and be friends and fellow Americans.

    If you think back to 9-11 -01 you will remember how we all came together as Americans first. Nothing else mattered, but our survival.

    That’s the point here.

  11. I read the resolution.

    1. We are all suppose to apologize and atone for slavery? We are all suppose to confess our guilt. That is illogical. Only the guilty can do that.
    2. The resolution goes on and on about how evil slavery was and how Blacks were victimized by it. It makes the point of saying that the Atlantic Slave Trade was “the worst holocaust of humankind.” The Atlantic Slave Trade was a great evil, but such exaggeration suggests someone is trying too hard to elevate their status as a victim.
    3. The resolution carries the horrors of slavery forward into our present day in the form of discrimination, pointedly suggesting that the victimization never ended.
    4. This resolution is about blame. It is about making someone else responsible. It is about being a victim. It is about some magical moment that never will happen — when we will be freed at last — by other men.

    Our liberty is a gift from God; we are called to accept that gift from Him and with His help make what we will of our lives. We are called to follow His will, not the will of others.

    Because much our nation knows of Christ, we are already about as free as any people have ever been. Before we take charge of our lives in Christ’s name, do any of us wait for a non-binding resolution from the General Assembly?

  12. Where does the resolution ask *you* to apologize and atone for slavery?

    This is the same knowing of Christ that was so ably used to justify slavery, right? Then again, if you can’t read and understand the resolution, I guess I should hardly expect you to be able to read and understand a Bible.

    You’re sad, Tom.

  15. MB — Have you read the resolution? Do you understand the meaning of atonement. Here are some of the pertinent sections.

    WHEREAS, an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help African American and white citizens confront the ghosts of their collective pasts together; and

    RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby atone for the involuntary servitude of Africans and call for reconciliation among all Virginians; and, be it

    We elected the General Assembly. If not for us, who are they confessing and atoning for?

    I am quite ordinary, but I have enough sins of my own for which I will be called upon to atone, and I dread that day. If you want to take my sins upon yourself, you are welcome to try, but I think Someone has already taken that task upon Himself and forgiven us as well. Therein lies my hope.

    In the meantime, I think that instead of asking for apologies, it is best to forgive. Perhaps that is what is missing here. One of the worse things we can do to our children is to pass on our hatreds and our need for vengeance. And I do not doubt that that is much a part of the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination.

    Unfortunately the apology resolution will not solve that problem, and it is not helpful to pretend that it will. All the General Assembly can do is to prohibit slavery and wrongful discrimination. That is already done. Atonement and forgiveness cannot be coerced. Atonement and forgiveness are things each of us as individuals must offer freely.

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