Slavery Remarks Spark Outrage

Black And Jewish Leaders Criticize Va. Lawmaker's Comments In Slavery Apology Debate

(AP)  A Virginia state legislator is sparking outrage over remarks made arguing against a proposed apology by the state to the descendants of slaves.

Republican delegate Frank D. Hargrove, in comments published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Va., said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added: "I personally think that our black citizens should get over it."

The newspaper also quoted the 79-year-old lawmaker as saying: "Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

Responding to his critics Tuesday, Hargrove, who is 79, told a delegate whose Jewish ancestors immigrated from Nazi-occupied Poland that the delegate's skin is "a little too thin."

Black House of Delegates members swiftly denounced the comments Hargrove made on the holiday commemorating the life and mission of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"When somebody tells me I should just get over slavery, I can only express my emotion by projecting that I am appalled, absolutely appalled," said Delegate Dwight C. Jones, head of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Delegate David L. Englin, a Democrat, seated next to Hargrove, spoke passionately about his grandparents leaving Poland "where they were driven from their homes by people who believed that as Jews, we killed Christ."

As he held up a wallet-sized photo of his 7-year-old son, Caleb, Englin struggled to keep his composure as he pondered the possibility that his child might have to cope with anti-Semitic comments.

When Englin sat, Hargrove reached over and softly patted Englin on the arm. Then, Hargrove rose to speak and, looking down at his seatmate, said, "I didn't even know you were Jewish, I had no idea of what your religion, (and) I don't care what your religion is. I don't care."

"I think your skin was a little too thin," he said as Republicans and Democrats gasped and groaned in disbelief.

Such comments by any elected official only add to the anti-Jewish animosity, said David Friedman, director of the Washington, D.C., regional office of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League.

"What he has done is inject his own personal bigotry into a very difficult and heated discussion and in no way, by injecting that, does he do anything to illuminate the debate," Friedman said. "He raised the need for an apology in a manner that I'm sure he never intended."

The controversy hits nerves already sore in Virginia, only a few months after another incident involving a racially-charged comment by an elected official.

At an August campaign rally before a mostly white crowd, then-Senator George Allen pointed into the crowd to a Virginia-born man of Indian descent working as a volunteer for his Democratic opponent and referred to him as a "macaca," a racial slur in some cultures. What had been a comfortable lead held by the GOP incumbent evaporated as the remarks became a campaign issue, and Allen lost to Democrat Jim Webb, by a margin of about 9,000 votes.

[rafterman1]

For every Byrd that Dems got, Repubs have 10 racists to match him. So I wouldn't be all smug every time you trot out Byrd.

HEADLINE OMITTED HIS VICIOUS ANTI SEMITIC REMARKS!

HEADLINE OMITTED HIS VICIOUS ANTI SEMITIC REMARKS!

[jimfinster]

Another Repub with "foot in mouth" disease.

[jdweymouth]

God forbid! Someone is speaking his mind! He's not being anti-Bush, anti-government, anti-Iraq, or anti-American so he's done something terribly wrong! He didn't say anything about hating blacks, Jews, or otherwise, he just said: get over it! I agree. He's made a point; we don't expect Jews to apologize for killing Christ. I agree that slavery was terrible, and I'm glad it ended the way it did, but why should anybody apologize to blacks? It's long over. If you say, "How could we/they forget?%u201D I say: so why don't we demand an apology from the Church of England for killing Protestants at the stake. Why don't we demand an apology from the Arab world for invading Europe, and causing much pain for non-Moslems in the areas they conquered? Of course not, why would we?

If minorities can't cope with the fact that they%u2019re in the minority, and, because of that, many things happened in the past: they should leave. This is America; anyone can be an American citizen as long as you believe in it more than any other country in the world. However, when we have blacks calling Africa "the homeland", and Chinese living in "Chinatowns", they don't deserve recognition as true Americans. Of course, because I'm thinking and speaking critically about something other than America, I'm a terrible person.

[rharrin1]

janem4

It looks like you posted your garbage before other people knew the story was out. Does janem equal ali jameel or jameel ali?

[pensacola8-2009]

Readers may want to look at Article 7 of the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783. This document officially recognized the USA as an independant country and declared all hostilities were to be forgiven and forgotten. Article 7 specifically worded the return of property and possessions including "Negroes" back to their original owners. This was the precedant for the infamous "Dread Scott Case" heard in the Federal Supreme Court in later years. The point is that our country was created with slaves, who were called Negroes at the time. The State of Virginia was listed in Article 1. Few understand that slavery was documented to exist and even be the subject of a treaty which recognized our country. Our country evolved and declared it was wrong. I think all the 970,000 people who died in the Civil War proved the high price which was paid to prove slavery was wrong along with other things. The survivors suffered, apologized and healed. The future generations were all born as free and liberated men and woman. Keeping freedom for all people alive served as proof that the apology was earnest and real. Those who demand more just don't have the capacity to forgive or live liberated or forgiven.

[rharrin1]

Hey mouth I agree with you I think you are also

[susanhelit]

I'm astonished - I'm a democrat, I really can't stand most Republicans, for so many of their policies, including their little racist bits.... but this I don't see the problem with - other than maybe the timing.

It's a fair analogy - everyone knows it's stupid to blame jews for Christ's death because people who were jewish way back then were part of it - and slavery is pretty much the same thing - no one alive did it nor had it done to them. People who held slaves - they should apologize. But no whole race is guilty of something their ancestors did, no whole race is held back by what their ancestors were alone. And, really, this is something that plenty of black leaders as well have said - different words, but the same meaning. Never mind history, get on with living, growing, and being who you choose to be.

I think he didn't say it perfectly, and people will turn something into a huge insult if you don't say it perfectly - but I think he's got a valid point. Focusing on the past can hold you in the past, focusing on hurts that were done by no currently living person, seeing a world of the past, rather than shaping a world of the future.

[bildooreilly]

Look, a guy can't even speak his mind without a bunch of people and the media wanting to lynch him anymore.

[josie456-2009]

There is nothing at all wrong with speaking your mind, that is why we have freedom of speech, however that comment of course has sparked outrage because the subject of slavery, no matter how long ago, is still a sensitive one indeed. As an african american, being called a minority is one thing but being treated as such is another. Slavery ended over a hundred years ago yet we are still looked upon as inferiors and treated by some like we should not even exist. We are supposed to all be created equally and for the most part we are yet some "white people" try to treat "black people" like they can only go so far. We are still not totally comfortable with white people and they are still not comfortable with us and that's the truth. That's why interracial dating is such a big deal. Yes it should be over but truth be told, we are never going to get over because people like Frank Hargrove won't let us....No he did not say he hated black people he didn't make and racist remarks but that subject is sensitive enough that he didn't have to say anything else.

[opienyawn]

I believe the fact of the matter is that although slavery was abolished, the effects of the act resonate in society to this very day in one form or another. Agreed, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and far be it from me to become offended by Hargrove's. My concern is the idea that he is responsible for creating, mandating, reviewing, banning, and/or reinstituting policy and regulations for the citizens of the United States. The simple act of, %u201Cgetting over" the institution and conditioning of slavery seems somewhat an uneducated assumption at best.
Africa Americans cannot get over such an imperative part of their existence any more than Caucasian Americans can "get over" the profit and stature provided to them by way of slave labor. Slavery was only abolished physically; there have been no efforts made to abolish it from the processes of normal, everyday American existence and I don%u2019t see it happening anytime soon.
African Americans aren%u2019t asking for someone to get on a stage and say; %u201CI%u2019m Sorry%u201D to the masses. What we need are all of the necessary opportunities afforded to anyone living here. I mean, what other ethnicity do you know with several generations born into the US having to hyphenate their nationality (African-American)? Does this sound like a society that is willing to embrace the descendant of a slave; where we can%u2019t even be called just an American?

[cooljcrg]

Can anyone remember the last time Republicans missed an opportunity to shoot themselves in the foot?

[glidescube]

Why is it that every time there is some racist remark made by a politician it's always a Neocon or a Republican. What is the matter with you people anyways?

[gdmoore2]

It is important to acknowledge that which is important to your neighbors. If the Black Caucus thinks an apology is important, then we ought to lend an ear and find out more.

It is really annoying when someone like Hargrove says, in effect, to a deeply felt issue, "You are not really experiencing what you say you are experiencing." Nonsense.

From this Anglo, I have Korean, Native American, and Black neighbors, and their points of view are not only important to me, they are fascinating. Moreover, I am pretty sure they listen to me better than I have yet learned to listen to them. You have to keep working at it.

[jdweymouth]

Opienyawn: I agree with you, completely. I'm white, but above all, I'm an American. There are some people who will never be Americans at heart (radical Moslems, radical Jews, and those people who look towards "the old world" as their spiritual, or physical, homeland.

"Yes it should be over but truth be told, -we are never going to get over because people like Frank Hargrove won't let us-...."-Posted by josie456

I generally agree with your post, but the clause indicated (-...-) is the part that I fully disagree with. His point, in my opinion, is that in order to get on as a nation, and to get rid of the widespread ethnic differences; we need to forget. Whether or not people are ready to forget is another matter. White people should not have to apologize for what their ancestors did; I'd say the same things about blacks. Nobody should be forced to apologize for what their ancestors did, and that's what I believe made Hargrove say what he did. Not any racial preferences.

[channel88]

My ancestor's probably owned yours, too bad so sad, not my problem. I'm not apologizing, I didn't do anything.

[jdweymouth]

GLIDESCUBE: Read the article, you'd find no racist slurs. All he said is he thinks it's time to move on. If you'd read between the lines, you'd come to the conclusion that he's saying that we're all Americans. He doesn%u2019t care about race, religion, or creed; all he cares about is the fact that we're Americans. I would agree that he's angry that people are trying to force through a bill that apologizes for the government and people of Virginia; and he feels no reason to apologize himself, or have anyone else apologize for him.

Let's not forget about the racist democrats and liberals. Including the illustrious Mrs. Is, who lovingly referred to a Jew as a Jew...I don't think what she called is fit for a public forum. So, the right is not the only side to make "slurs", and this particular statement wasn't even a slur! Former senator Allen was speaking jokingly, in my opinion in regard to the gentleman of Indian descent. Of course there are racist people on both sides, but you can't generalize in this case.

I love the way the left's propaganda arm (CNN, NBC, CBS) does its job. You can say all you want about FOX, but it is fair unlike the already mentioned networks.

[brackattack]

well i totaly agree with this guy he hit it right on the head. I'm part Cherokee Indian..but do you think i want a stupid appology for the Trail of Tears. No because it wasnt Me it was my ancestors and it wasnt the white people living today it was there ancestors..so it doesnt concern me..its time to as he said "Get Over It" and move on.

[kcstan11]

The Jewish Anti-Defimation League strikes again. The JEWS have been whining for thousands of years, ever since they got their butt kicked out of Jeruselem.

What other nationality needs their own ANTI-DEFIMATUION LEAGUE ... NONE.

Think about that....

[ciku2200]

delegate frank hargrove may have been crude in his choice of words but I personally think he may have a point. the african american community need to go through a reconcilatory process to enable them put their past behind and move on............

[johnshaft4]

I almost forgot...
Former 'Dear Leader' Gerald Ford and his swine flu shots, coincident with his *** "WIN" (Whip Inflation Now) buttons served me well during my teenage years. [LOL] Who the hell is this clown (*** from the grave) to be knocking Carter now?
It's never going to stop, is it?

[jdweymouth]

First of all, from a previous statement, I don't want to be considered an anti-Semite; I am pro-Zionist and pro-Jew.

JohnShaft4:
I suppose you're the type that denies the Holocaust ever happened. Aside from the photos and eyewitness accounts from many common soldiers, the word of some of the most illustrious figures in American history should be enough. Why do you hate them: because you think they're the cause of strife in the world? Did you know that when Palestine was mandated by the U.N., instead of being fair, they gave the entire good half of the land to the Arabs. They didn%u2019t fairly split it. Mandated. From the beginning, the U.N. has played favorites toward the Arabs: proof of their uselessness. It should be proof enough that and it's the Arabs who dropped the ball when they invaded Israel immediately after the Jews declared independence in '48. The first war was one of defense, and after that, the Israelis gained control of land mandated to the Arabs, and tried to settle into harmony. The Arabs were going to invade again, but the Israelis gained intelligence of it, and launched a pre-emptive strike in the Six Day War. The Yom Kippur war, in the 70s, was yet another example of Arab aggression against Israel. The Israelis did not do as well, but managed to survive. We Christians like to call this succession of wins on Israel's part: divine intervention.

[jdweymouth]

The Virginian delegate's remark was not a racial slur against anyone, he seems indifferent toward Jews, he was just using it as an example. I know Jews, in America, are really annoying, but those are the liberal Jews. The conservative Jews in Israel are the ones that prove themselves by beating back every invasion from the war of independence, to Yom Kippur. The greatest cause of strife in the world is the Arabs%u2019 oil. How would the world feel, we having the greatest food surplus in the world, if we withheld food from the rest of the world? I hope the Iranians "get their hot little hands" on some nukes so we have an excuse to wipe that smug rag-headed punk of the face of the planet.

[alphaa10-2009]

jdweymouth said, "Nobody should be forced to apologize for what their ancestors did, and that's what I believe made Hargrove say what he did. Not any racial preferences."
---
Your premise is none should bear the burden of his ancestry, but should be held responsible for only his own actions. You believe great-great-great grandchildren of slaveowners owe nobody an apology for what their forebears did. Fair enough, as far as that principle goes.

Written by others, this translates into "equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, ethnic background..." and it would be hard to argue against Hargrove on that basis. But Hargrove's comment misses the point of the VA resolution, entirely.

That resolution is the sense of the VA legislative body-- and most importantly, of the people it represents-- of recognizing an injustice for what it was. The VA resolution imposes no burden of punishment or guilt, but is a collective statement addressing a collective past, and a most important statement to descendants of slaves.

Hargrove's resistance to apology stirs another question-- whether Hargrove, in fact, is the best argument of all for the resolution. Could it be Hargrove is one of those who once posted the Confederate flag bumpersticker, "H--e--l--l no! I ain't fergitten'!" QED.

[Ed0719]

It seems these days that no matter what is said, no matter how true or valid, someone somewhere is going to find offense with it. Feigning offense has become the national obsession for some people and groups. It gets their faces and names in the news for their 15 minutes.

Though I generally loathe most Republican politicians, Hargrove did not insult nor demean ANYONE in his statements.

So, yes, GET OVER IT already!

[jdweymouth]

alphaa10: You over simplified my remarks, a typical liberal idea. I believe that we should accept, sometimes respect, and recognize our heritage, but not bear the burden for. I'm a northerner, not a southerner; I just want to make that clear due to your closing statement. The Virginian government that existed while allowing slavery no loner exists, because it fell and was reformed after slavery was abolished during the reconstruction. In that respect, it has no duty, even from your standpoint, to apologize, or "recognize" the issue that existed under that guise. I'm a student of history, and believe that we should learn and respect history. However, that doesn't mean I believe we should have to bear the responsibility of past mistakes.

[halozcel]

Christ had not been killed by Jews

[natociv]

Asking an apology from an institution representing ancestors of slavery is bigotry and racism in itself (should people of mixed white/black descent apologize to themselves?). The people who practiced slavery are as dead as the institution itself. I don't find Hargrove's comments offensive. No one should be afraid, or asked to apologise, for their personal certitudes (unless you live under a dictatorship). Dialogue is important to the healing process, no matter how painful or unattractive our beliefs or comments may be "perceived."

[kcstan11]

JWEYMOUTH:

IF you are referring to the SO-CALLED holocaust as a Jew event ... you are wrong ... dead wrong. 62 million people died in WWII ... a few of them were JEWS.

You say the 1948 war was a "war of defense" ... more garbage ... appearantly you completely forgot that the JEWS blew up the King David Hotel in 1947, killing almost 100 civilians and completely detroying the British diplomatic efforts.

You have been reading too much JEW PROPOGANDA...

[rillifane]

The worst thing about these "apologies" is the tackiness of the whole thing. Its just a silly exercise in politics.

And if Texas, where I reside, ever gets around to going thru this exercise then I want to be specifically excluded from any apology. My relatives were still in England at the time and I am a descendant of one of that nation's most well known abolitionists, a founder of the Anti-slavery Society.

I suspect that a lot of modern day citizens of Virginia are descended from Unionists and can point to relatives who fought to end slavery. Perhaps Black legislators should ask Virginia to vote them a "thank you."

Anyone who thinks they need an apology should ask themselves whether they would have been luckier had their ancestors remained in Africa so that they could now be enjoying the benefits of being a citizen of Darfur in the Sudan, Somalia, or any one of the other pestholes posing as nations on the African continent.

[bluestardad]

People make money by keeping Race in the forefront of the news. Would the Legislative Black Caucus have a job if everyone were called Americans that lived here? It is OK to remember a fault from time to time as to never let it happen again but to make a living from dredging up past wrongs is a disservice to all those who actually endured the hardship.

[jdweymouth]

kcstan11: "Jew propaganda"? Where do you get you're information that says it's propaganda: www.neonazi.com? It's a historical fact that the Israelis did not provoke the Arabs. They declared independence, and the Arabs jumped on them. The U.N. had delegated the Jews that land, and the Arabs tried to take it. Fact, not propaganda.

The 62 million dead in WW2 were from an assortment of nations, and were killed by the forces of war, but the Jews were targeted deliberately, and they lost 6 million people.

[knyghtwolf]

Republican delegate Frank D. Hargrove is only voicing his opinion of those who want to perpetuate these ongoing issues which lead to ideas of reparations for those "victimized" by the past. People will never go forward if we keep living in the past. How about a formal apology to the Native Americans? To all the women that have been born to date that have been mistreated, or burned at the Salem Witch trials? Spanish Inquisitions? All the Chinese that died during Chairman Mao's reign of terror, of all the others that died for no reason other than Imperialism or Capitalism? When will it stop? How will it stop? The supposed Black Leaders of the African/American & Jewish communities need to get over themselves and get on with messages and lessons of equality that are educational, not reminders of past screw-ups. Racism in in any form is simply learned behaviors; ask any skin head, militant, or militia, or corporate executive. It was said that any lesson not learned from history is doom to be repeated; and this is a great example of one going full dynastic cycle again.

[mgpm-2009]

I think, at least I HOPE, every American REGRETS that slavery and the holocaust happened. Thats what we should say...in lieu of apology, because apology says that we take some responsibility for it. I deeply regret both those atrocities take place. When I read negative comments about Jews or African Americans here it bothers me (I'm neither Jewish nor African American). I think telling people to "get over it" is silly. Instead, I'd tell them, I'll always remember what happened to your people. I'll tell my children what happened to your people and what an injustice it was. If we all learn from it, hopefully it won't ever happen again. Don't you think that is what people really want instead of an apology?

[skyk-2009]

Bluestatedad.
Having been born and raised in the South and the State of Virginia I must say you are COMPLETELY and ABSOLUTELY wrong. I normally agree with you on issue's but this one you are off base on. The States to your South, until just a few years ago, wouldn't allow Blacks to eat in the same place, drink from the same fountain, ride a bus or go to a school, for no other reason than they were Black. That was a hold over from their loss of the Civil War and continues as we speak. People thought, just bacause we changed the laws, that Southern Fascist would just go away. That's totally rediculous and to ignore the TRUTH that these people STILL hold the same hatreds and beliefs as those who held HUMANS as slaves is to ignore the bumper stickers that say over the Confederate Flag, Heritage not Hate. Now I do not know how you hate people more than hold them in bondage. NO! You are wrong and if ANY People need to "Just be American's" it's the sick LOSERS who still cling to the Old South and the Confederate Flag.

[knyghtwolf]

Hitler met with one of the Rockefellers, Henry Ford, Prescot Bush (ole' Dubya's great-grandaddy) in Hitler's Chalet to discuss his "Jew problem". This was before the beginning of the "Final Solution" Hitler took their ideas to one of his factory designers to use Ford's idea of factory design and thus the Final Solution was instituted and put into motion. The professor of Nazi History at the University of the Permian Basin is the ongoing expert on these issues. Take an online course and LEARN the truth.

jdweymouth

i agree with your earlier comments. I am a black person who hates the phrase african american. i never have been and never will be african. of course my skin lets me know that's where slaves were taken from. but that was generations ago.

i do think its time most blacks moved on and focused on other things besides slavery. we have black millionaires and businessmen, we even have someone who is a potential presidential candidate (besides that idiot al sharpton)

that doesn't negate slavery or say that it was an atrocity, it just means that it was a long time ago and we've got more pressing issues to focus on, like black on black crime.

i meant wasn't an atrocity. sorry

I do think he could have framed his statement a bit better. but that is a question of tact and doesn't negate the validity of his statements

[macusweil]

one would be hard pressed to find such rancid filth spewing from anything but the GOP political gutter; Frank is just they sort of garbage the party attracts

[lieberman18]

This Hargrove is obviously an idiot and a bigot.
He should be kicked out now from any post in the GOP.

But say, Demme Clowns, when are you planning to do the same to KKK Byrd? Slight case of hypocrisy here, isn't it, especially when Steppin' Fetchit Osama, oops, Obama openly admires the white-sheeted bigot.

We'll clean our closet - it is high time that the Neo-Fascists and Plantation Slaves of the Democratic Party did the same to theirs. But they won't because all they know how to do is make noise and advocate surrender.

[brobrettz]

If this were a black man saying negative things about white people or Jews we would not be even discussing this incident. Am I not right? Why do we have such a hypocritical double standard in this country?
Race hustlers are always on the look out for public speaking goofs like this %u2013 all in order to stir up racial strife and then use it for their own crass political gain.

[lkemmler]

jdweymouth, I respect your views and opinion, and wish more people felt the same way!

[rtwinger2]

Bravo, Mr. Hargrove! Finally someone had the guts to stand up and say what should have been said 10 or more years ago.

I don't owe anyone an apology for slavery. My ancestors (meaning my mom and dad) immigrated to the U.S. in 1950. They were decent, hard-working people, and they had nothing to do with slavery. I will fight tooth and nail if someone tries to make ME pay for any of it. Like Mr. Hargrove said, "Get over it!" It didn't happen to YOU!

I didn't start out prejudiced against blacks, but I'm becoming that way listening to them whine about what happened to their great- great- great- great- great- (and who knows how many more?) grandparents. They use slavery as an excuse for their anti-white behavior, and what amazes me is that people continue bending over backwards to let them get away with it. The last thing blacks needed was a holiday like Martin Luther King Jr. Day to celebrate their anti-white sentiments. They can celebrate "Black Pride," but can I celebrate "White Pride"?

If blacks quit showing prejudice against whites, maybe they'll find that whites quit showing prejudice against them. You can't have equality and "black pride" at the same time. You're either the same as whites, or you're different and should be treated differently. Which is it?

[bobo2854-2009]

If Everybody kept Ill feelings for something that happened to NOT THEM, but several generations before. Well we would all be pissed off for one thing or another.

Blacks were not the only slaves, Jews were n0ot the only genocide victims.

[rtwinger2]

Bravo, Mr. Hargrove! Finally someone had the guts to stand up and say what should have been said 10 or more years ago.

I don't owe anyone an apology for slavery. My ancestors (meaning my mom and dad) immigrated to the U.S. in 1950. They were decent, hard-working people, and they had nothing to do with slavery. I will fight tooth and nail if someone tries to make ME pay for any of it. Like Mr. Hargrove said, "Get over it!" It didn't happen to YOU!

I didn't start out prejudiced against blacks, but I'm becoming that way listening to them whine about what happened to their great- great- great- great- great- (and who knows how many more?) grandparents. They use slavery as an excuse for their anti-white behavior, and what amazes me is that people continue bending over backwards to let them get away with it. The last thing blacks needed was a holiday like Martin Luther King Jr. Day to celebrate their anti-white sentiments. They can celebrate "Black Pride," but can I celebrate "White Pride"?

If blacks quit showing prejudice against whites, maybe they'll find that whites quit showing prejudice against them. You can't have equality and "black pride" at the same time. You're either the same as whites, or you're different and should be treated differently. Which is it?

[magic_man2]

You know what? When he said; "get over it," he was right. It's about time we ALL get over it! If we did, maybe the politician's could get back to what they were voted into office for--running the country! Obama, Rice, are they good black politicians. No, they're just good politicians. Their race shouldn't matter, so why are they labled as the first black presidential candidate or the first black lady to... who cares? They're supposed to look out for the well being of all in the US, and that's all that should matter. No doubt, someone will find a way to twist my words and call me racist. So I'll do it. Yep I am both a white and black racist, oh and a Christian of Italian, Polish, Irish, English, and possibly some native American descent. All I am trying to say is that it's about time we stopped labling terms with race. i.e white caucus, black caucus-- does it really matter what color they are? Come on, why do we need to tag them with a color? After all, what's worse than being a politician! :)

[jmburney]

I agree that there was a more tactful way of putting his thoughts to words, but I don't think that his true message is being heard. With all that is wrong in our world, and our country for that matter, why should we continue to dwell on the past? Is an apology going to make any difference all these centuries later? And why should people that had absolutely nothing to do with slavery be the ones apologizing? I don't care what color you are, unless you specifically did something to harm me, you don't owe me an apology. Maybe if some of the passion that is being spent on this useless ideology were actually spent on something say like inner city programs for children (of all colors) and other useful things to help our young people understand that there is more to life than violence and hate, then perhaps there wouldn't be any need to try to play the racism card? Just a thought.

[elgraz]

HEY IGNORANT PEOPLE,
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE. MY UNCLE WAS KILLED DURING AN ITALIAN OFFENSIVE INTO ALBANIA BY THE GREEKS IN THE 30'S. SHOULD I DEMAND REPARATIONS FROM GREECE? POLITICIANS AND RULERS OF COUNTRIES ARE AND HAVE BEEN RUTHLESS MONSTERS WHO CAUSE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD.....GREED AND POWER DRIVES THEM. THEY AS WELL AS THE HUMAN BEING, WILL NEVER CHANGE UNTIL THE WORLD ENDS; HOPEFULLY REAL SOON AT THE RATE WE ARE GOING.