Who should APOLOGISE FOR SLAVERY? William Gladstone | John Gladstone | British Colonialism | #short

Should modern-day individuals APOLOGISE FOR SLAVERY if it was facilitated by and/or benefitted from by their ancestors or political predecessors? The descendants of 19th century British Prime Minister William Gladstone are formally apologising for the involvement of William’s father, John Gladstone, in the slave trade in the British West Indies. John Gladstone made a fortune using slave labour and when slavery was abolished, he received government compensation equivalent to about £10m in today’s money. A statement from the family acknowledged that a lot of their privilege comes from his abhorrent activities and said that ‘We believe that his actions amounted to a crime against humanity and wish to apologise to the people of Guyana. We know that we can't change the past, but we believe that we can make a better future’. To that end, they are making a £100,000 donation to the University of Guyana's International Institute for Migration and Diaspora Studies and travelling to the country to apologise in person. #short

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William Gladstone: family of former British PM to apologise for links to slavery

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[cyndicook]

You know, instead of apologizing for the past why doesn't someone try to do something about the slavery going on now?

[julieallen]

Back in 2008, the then Prime Minister of Australia apologised to the indigenous population of Australia in regards to the forcible removal of children from their parents and communities- know as the stolen gemerations. In his apology, he apologised on behalf of the government and lawmakers who enacted the policy. It was a gesture of recognition of past hurts and a hope that we can make the future better by learning from the past.

[ld]

Actually, one can only apologize for one's own behavior.

[freedomspromise]

I do not feel the need to apologize to anyone for the actions of my ancestors, people I never knew.
I do not expect to apologize for my elderly mother’s actions now.
I am not her keeper.
(She drinks and drives)
I am not responsible for someone else’s behavior.

[heatheravant]

We can never put ourselves in our ancestors’ shoes. Times were different. No matter how many generations you go back. I do not feel the need to apologize for anyone but myself.

[kathyjones]

I see no reason to apologize for an act that I did not commit. I realize it is not PC to have this view.

[erperez]

Although the thought and actions are kind in recognizing the atrocities, they realistically cannot be held accountable.
The working statement is “enjoying the privileges of his actions “, and doing something good with blood money.

[Skurwysyna]

Nobody can apologize because we didn’t do it. We can condemn it, we can work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.. it’s like I’m Jewish/polish and one of my great friends lives in Germany, I had someone ask if I hold animosity towards the German people for the holocaust and of course I don’t that wouldn’t make sense, it wouldnt change what happened or progress us forward as a society.

[SaltedMeats]

Not necessary or helpful. History didn't begin 500 years ago. Also, it's clearly a way for people to ignore slavery that is currently happening that benefits them (e.g. cobalt mining).

[keiththorpe]

I can get behind public apologies being tendered. This is history that needs to be known and taught to our children with neither omission nor distortion. If it is taught properly, it will cause neither further anger nor lead to greater division. It will serve to bring all people closer together, mourning for a past we cannot change, but looking through that lens at a brighter future that is ours...all of us, together...to shape in any way we choose. Only cowards look at the past and say: "We must forget this, or rewrite it...it's just too painful to come to terms with." That is what perpetuates the anger, the hostility, and the ongoing division.

[ramenegrajeda]

Everyone alive today has had a relative in the past who was enslaved. Dig deep enough and you will find them.

[karenscheid]

Slavery is as old as humanity. No people have been untouched by it. I say everyone apologizes and then we can move on.

[wendym]

I sew no reason at all but apologize if you wish...what about other cultures etc we would be apologizing to everyone everwhere....the U.S. KEEPING THR IRISH in cages in S. BOSTON....??? Like I said we ALL will be apologizing forever

[heathersmith]

I honestly don’t think it’s my place to decide if an apology is necessary or not because to my knowledge, my ancestors weren’t greiviously affected by slavery. Those who were are sure to have a strong opinion.

[rickjensen]

Only a cynical politician apologises for the actions of other people.

[UnicornsPoopRainbows]

I think a better way is to acknowledge how the money was made and donate the equivalent of the profits to organizations. They didn’t take part in the actions themselves but if they have benefited through generational wealth from the money made on the slave trade, it is a great step for reparations that should have been done over a century ago

[carabear]

Considering their wealth and status is directly linked to the slave trade makes me feel like an apology is the least they can do. I think their donation is too low, considering how much money they have benefited from over the generations.

[Hippiechick]

It's important to acknowledge the horrible actions of our predecessors. It is necessary for society to heal. In the US, we need to do this in order to move forward as a united society and prevent such actions going forward.

[idgriffin]

Absolutely no need to apologize for sins of another person and sins of the past. We can learn from the past but never change it.

[ThatIsJustCrazyTalk]

Absolutely NO ONE that is alive today, who’ve NEVER engaged in slavery, should ever feel pressured to apologize for what someone did in the past, and they for damned sure should NEVER voluntarily apologize for what someone else did nearly 200 years ago. That’s just both stupid and ludicrous.