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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1997-06 > 0866932407


From: "Roberta H." <>
Subject: Re: Apology
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 17:33:27 -0500


List Members:

I am appalled, offended and angry by the remarks of the NPR commentator
who apparently made a joke (see below), at the expense of people of
color, from the proposal that the USA government issue a formal apology
for its having once condoned and supported slavery. By likening the
English oppression of Scotland to the USA's former slavery practices
(let alone throwing in the haggis remark), the commentator is actually
negating the seriousness and importance of the slavery apology proposal
and belittling descendents of slaves; moreover, he was maintaining the
USA's ongoing tradition of treating African Americans as second class
citizens.

Such commentary itself condones racism: throughout Scotland's English
oppression, the Scots themselves still enjoyed personal freedom -- to
come and go as they chose, marry who they chose, eat what they chose,
and stay together as a family. Slaves in the United States, of course,
were brought to the USA (and before it became a country) against their
will, kept in bondage, made to suffer the human indignity of being
bought and sold in market squares, were bred like cattle, and had no
choice in matters of food, family solidarity, living quarters, etc.
They were denied everything the USA was founded upon and has held dearly
ever since: FREEDOM -- as a country and for its people.

I realize that the Scotch-Irish-List has a firm policy against political
discussion; but I could not, in good conscience, contribute to
perpetuating racism by letting this post go by unanswered.

Sincerely,

Roberta Everling Hammerlind


-------------------------------------

wrote:
>
> Subject: Apology
> Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 18:08:33 +0000
> From:
> To:
>
> Folks,
>
> For your entertainment, I heard a relevant item on National Public
> Radio this morning. In a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the current
> proposal by some Congressmen that the US government formerly
> apologize to descendants of slaves for slavery, the commentator
> addressed several other apologies that should be issued. Among them
> were:
>
> The English should apologize to the Scots for Culloden, but the Scots
> should apologize to everyone for haggis!
>
> We now return you to your regularly-scheduled genealogical
> programming...
>

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