CNN

Not all BLACKS take advantage of the system. Quick question who created the handout system in America? It wasn't a black or asian or indian. In the end we all have to look in the mirror and hold ourselves responsible. We all hold some form of racist or prejudice views; we just have to communicate more with each other.

Everyday hate groups operate in the United States they get stronger.
When those groups go away then we can pretend everything is all better.

What about white endentured servitude.... why isn't this discussed in the history books and on the Senate floor?

This is one sistah that doesn't need a pointless apology from any political entity. It is really rather insulting. Slavery is a part of this countries legacy, and it is certainly nothing to be proud of, but what I am proud of are the men and women, both black and white, slave and free man who worked tiredlessly to change an immoral and inhuman system. These individuals took up a battle, much like the men and women in Iran, and changed a society for the better, and that I am very proud of.

Notice, I said better. We are not perfect, but there are still a lot of people who understand the continued need to make quality of life in this country better for everyone.

The congress works for, represents and speaks for the people, not themselves. As a member of the people, I have nothing to apologize for!

Slavery was horrible, and should be condemned. BUT, no one alive was ever a slave, and no one alive ever held anyone in slavery.

My ancestors were murdered by the Germans in WWII, but the German people do not owe me anything, except those that perpetrated the crimes, which they have either been punished for, or have apologized.

Nuff said. Move on, and get a life, stop using the past as an excuse. Stop using the past to get votes. This only perpetuates the issue, resentments and divisions amongst Americans of all ancestoral backgrounds.

How can we all be the same, if all we talk about is our differences? How can we move forward if we just focus on the past? It has to stop.

LibertyQueen June 18th, 2009 1:00 pm ET

Blacks in California as a race voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8 which denies the Civil Rights of Lesbians and Gays. Remember, is wasn't that long ago that a black could not marry a white and yet blacks seem to think Separate Is Equal…unless you are black. Separate IS NOT Equal…get it?
===========================

Queen....I'm a supporter of the LGBT community to a large extent. But they lose me when they equate their situation with that of African Americans (i.e. Civil Rights). I believe a person can chose whether they would like to engage in a homosexual relationship but a African American has no choice in their ethnicity.

So calm yourself and don't lose supporters trying to make this a civil rights issues

This is a waste of time. How about Congress get back to work!
If, I or my family have done any thing, we are perfectly
capable to apologize for our self ( when you have integrity)

If the Senate was to hand out money to every black american, and ensue apologies throughout the U.S., a few years from now or more if the same issue of race comes up, they will say "We Paid You Black Americans That Lump Sum, Remember," and then another tension will break out. So its either pay now, and pay again later...or just say we are all sorry that happened and recognize the tragedies from long ago, move on and call it even! At least thats just my 2 cents on the matter...

Money will not solve anything! It will only up-root tension. So if they want to make an apology, just make it public and be done with it. There is no reason to continue this...

But i have to say, the ones that really need the most respect, are the Native Americans that were here First! This is their land, as well as their ancestors. We should all honor that ^_^

'You're now free, therefore from now on I don't have to help you!' is what the republicans did in the Civil War. It's the equivalent of mugging and beating your neighbor, and burning down his house, and afterwards just say 'I've stopped doing it, therefore you being poor, bloody and homeless is now your own fault.' After hundreds of years of exploitation they didn't even have the courtesy to thank African Americans. All they did was pass the blame, but without repairing the damage and exploitation that the North itself was built on as well! No person in America is blameless, not even the North! The republicans had no plan on actually giving equality to blacks, only grand-stand with words and speeches, and pretend that just saying someone is free makes everything alright. Funny how little the GOP progressed since then.

LOL!! LOL!! LOL!!!!!!

I knew this would bring all the bigots and it has proved me right. Just reading these blog is all that's needed to see that racist is still alive and well, not that I thought anything different. It's so easy for you bloggers to make the nasty comments you made, it wasn't you or your ancestors. You bigots are pathetic!!!!!!

Enough of the reparations already – no one who was a slave is around anymore to receive them, so why the waste of time on another "appeasement" – it seems like that is all the current administration is good for.

We are the United States of America, and we ought to strat acting like it.

I'm afraid our current president and his cronies are weak, small people.

God help us!

TO EVERY NON-BLACK PERSON ON THIS BLOG.
I have one question for you...

How come everytime we bring up slavery you tell us to get over it, but we must NEVER forget about the holucost? How hyporcritical of you to say that. What just forget about the 350 years the your ancestors
enslaved us? Forget about being treated worst that the family pet? we were not allowed to read, write, look at a white person, they were raped, had their familes torn apart, etc, need i say more. We don't even know who our ancestors are thanks to your ancestors never keeping adequate records of us (we were considered 1/5th of a person)and giving us only first names, hell you guys are able to trace your family pet back from those days. We have nothing. All we know is we are from Africa. What part though? what tribe? what was our culture? who did we worship? You guys are able to do that. Then you wonder why this is a sore subject with us.. CNN PLEASE POST!

Wow, and only 150 years late! Palin harped about Letterman apologizing six days too late, and the media is still going at it. Will the media spend as much time and effort chastizing America for its failures of Civil Rights for 100 years after the Emancipation?

Apology accepted, can we get back to discussing healthcare now? Why any Senate time is being wasted on this is beyond me. There is no no alive in 2009 who was a slave in the 1800's. Enough with the reparations, 40 acres and a mule crap. Anyone who considers themselves emotionally attached to Africa is free to return no one is stopping you. If you're staying no more whining, this is a country of opportunity make the most of yours!

Lets move on. The only compensation I would support is that if an ancestor wants to go back to Africa, we can give them a one way ticket and remove their american citizenship. Many American lost their lives fighting a war that lead to the end of slavery. African americans should pay these ancestors back too.

Where I grew up it were a whole people who never did anything but held the palm of there hand while everybody else including six year old work. Said enough.

I am white and I am a very distant descendant of a white man who died in the Civil War, fighting to free the slaves.
Therefore,,,am I due a compensation check and an apology?

People don't forget that WHITE men and WHITE women fought and DIED to WIN freedom for each and every slave.

WHITE MEN AND WOMEN GAVE THEIR LIVES, SO ALL COULD BE FREE ! !

THE CIVIL WAR WAS NOT BLACKS FIGHTING WHITES.
IT WAS WHITES FIGHTING WHITES. TO FREE ALL SLAVES!!!

SO the next time you claim being descendant of a slave, and asking for an apology and a hand out, be careful who your talking to.
Some families have already shed THEIR FAMILY BLOOD, for your ancestors freedom.
And rightfully so.......

I personally don't have any problem appologizing to the Black community for something that is a very dark stain on our history as a nation. However, lets think about this a minute; this is an apology coming not from the White people of America but from our Congressional body that the majority of the AMERICAN people currently do not approve of (check the current congreesional approval rate). That being said, this appears to be just another hollow gesture to when votes.

Buttom line is that it makes no difference whether the actual words are spoken or not. Until all AMERICANS learn to treat each other as equals it is just that, words.

The evilness of slavery lives on just look at some of these comment. Black American still live with seperation, disparity, haterd and bitterness. It still one sided Blacks will always be judge by the color of their skin. People think it's okay to have humility for the Japanesse, the Native American, the immgrants, the early white settlers, but when it comes to blacks. At work a black person always has to do more. In the stores black people have to produce twice as many piece of id to write a check. Whites can committ a crime. People say oh he was a good girl or boy don't know where he went wrong. Let get him/her some help; blacks it to be excepted. To forget slavery is to forget the blood sweat and tears; that have brought black this far. It should never happen. Blacks should be compensated and respected.

BO will love this . MORE APPOLOGIES NO ACTION. The lawyers will get lost more money to give to BO and his cronies

susie

why would obama apologize to the irish for the way the english treated them in their own country? and the irish were OPPRESSED not forced into slavery for 400+ yrs

I agree slavery is and was WRONG should not have happened.

But the is the typical crap that goes on, thats what is wrong with the House and Senate... rome is burning and they fiddle. Just something else they can to to get on the books before they break for summer, so if and when they come up for reelection they can say "look what I did".

LibertyQueen,

Two wrongs don't make a right, because the majority of Blacks voted for prop 8 does not mean that they were right. They were wrong, one day, they, like most people that voted for prop 8 will be and feel no beter than the anti-segregationists of the 50's and 60's. But that is no reason not to do the right thing today, and yes appologize for slavery.

apology on paper, PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!

That's right, demand compensation. From whom? From the modern-day US Government budget, which is comprised of tax money collected from the hard-earned wages of Hispanics, Jews, African-Americans, Native-Americans, and recent immigrants from India, Pakistan, Europe, South America, etc... oh yes, and of course the 10% of Americans that are actually descendants of white 1700's American Protestant families.

So lets take all of those people's money, and filter them all to the families of African-American descendants of American slaves. But not the wealthier African-American families. There has to be a cutoff based on need. We'll give the money to the needier families that haven't put forth the effort to free themselves from their surroundings.

That sounds fair. Good idea.

I wish I had heard of this prior to the vote so I could ask my representatives to abstain. This, along with the other "non-binding" resolutions are a complete joke, not to mention a waste of time and money. It's not for I or anyone else to apologize for the inhuman actions in which we played no part.

It's time to be rid of this political foolishness. Harkin needs to go.

To all those who thinks anyone owes them. Get over it. You will never be satisfied even if you get it. Will these same giveme people now demand Africans to say sorry as well? No, they just love the power over some people.
Many groups of people were enslaved but are not attempting to pull a "power grabbing guilt trip" on others. If I owe anyone's descendants an apology for the slavery my ancestors and I did not commit, then these same descendants owe me a heartfelt thank you for freeing them. Blacks were not the only ones to be enslaved and were not allowed to own property, vote, etc. in American history.
For all those who were abused with "you owe me because my family were slaves," check out you local, state, and federal historical records. You can prove or disprove your ancestors were slaves and owners. However, many blacks were never slaves since they came to America with their freedom. Some people just assumed the slave descendent title to play little power head games.

@ LibertyQueen, who pointed out "Blacks in California as a race voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8 which denies the Civil Rights of Lesbians and Gays. "

Indeed. Homophobia is rampant in the African American community. Look back on American history and you'll see it's not so suprising though. Historically, groups who immigrated here and suffered at the hands of those who had already arrived, turned around and leveled the same crap at the next group. "No Irish Need Apply" ring a bell?

The senate really knows how to waste time and tax payers money. Thoughs times are over and done with move on, our country has more to worry about now with the economy. We owe them nothing. It was the african tribes that were enslaving other tribes in their own country and selling them to the Americas.

Here's the thing:

"Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery."

Yeah, and some members of the white and hispanic and asian and alien and gerbil and MSM communities blabber stupid nonsense too. I don't see anywhere in the apology bill or anywhere else that the Senate or House are even remotely considering doling out reparations. Everyone who responded to this overly general baiting statement stuck in there by CNN to ramp up the Ticker Commentary is a silly fool.

Joey from San Diego,

Where did you learn your history? The Civil War was not about slavory was about the deep-seated economic, social, and political differences between the North and the South.

apologies have already been made. no money should be handed out unless there is an african american defying the laws of human life and is still alive from the slavery days. this is absurd. dont we have more important issues to deal with?!

Wow, there are some real smart people in this section. Lynchburg was founded by German immigrants, do you not read or get that the name itself is of German descent? Lets not forget that democrats were the dominant party of the slave movement in the 1800's which cracks me up why so many blacks are democratic. The truth of the matter is that there were only approximately 300k slaves in the south and they were not mistreated as many are led to believe. If you had a workhorse would you beat it every day and starve it so it could do a worse job? Atrocities have occurred for all races, the chinese were among these with the railroad build up, what about the indians that were basically wiped out. But do you really think that this is going to further the black community by giving them yet another hand out to cash with their welfare check?

It's ok to apologize to the Jews, Japanese but when it comes time to apologize to the Blacks for the most heinous crime in history they start throwing a fit. And they say America is post-racial, please.

And you idiots who are all saying that your ancestors arrived here after slavery or did not own slaves, you all benefit from White Privilege, do I need to tell you that? But you won't acknowledge that, only when it seems that Blacks are the beneficiaries of any proposition you all of a sudden become very indignant. Why are you all so scared of an apology? Is it because it highlights what evil animals your ancestors (and most of you today) truly were and still are?

BTW I'm not for reparations. an apology is way way overdue. Start preparing your speech. I'm all ears.

because africa is better?

James, James, James! wow What can one say to such hate, such pure bile? nothing at all

Racism will never die in America, we all will die at some point, however, racism lives on. Hatred is a disease and it eat at one soul make it impossible for us all the be treated equally. Many have been abused by someone of different skin color.

There are still white who hate black and viz, this don't like that one. This country is better than other countries. And we are right they are wrong or they are right and we're wrong. Nothing is right in some eyesight.

How can we be at the same peace, health, happiness, famiy and children etc and yet instill not respect each other? If you love yourself it should be easy to love others. Most of us believe in God but act as thou we are justisfied by Him to behave and treat one another like a scumbag. Shame on us and this country of people.

Let's be clear African-Americans are not looking for a hand out. An acknowledgment and apology from the United States government is more than overdue. It's interesting how people say "move on", when it comes to 400 years of slavery, however, when it comes to the holocaust (which was absolutley terrible and a terrible stain on the world), no one ever says to move on. One can move on but still acknowledge the sins of the past. Think if a German person told a Jewish person to just move on. I look forward to the United States soon offering an official apology for slavery. I don't need reparations but doing the right thing is in order.

LibertyQueen, all religious people voted against Prop 8. It is racist of you to point out black people as if they owe you something just because they were discriminated against. while it was mormons etc that paid the bill for it.

This whole issue is a joke. As a person of European descent I want an apology from Africans. FACT-1: more Europeans were enslaved by Africans in Aftica than Africans were ensalved by Europeans in America. FACT-2: slavery was a global issue, every group of people on the face of the earth were, at one time or another, a slave.

The historical facts are quite simple: any group of people who could have been taken advantage of were taken advantage of. Slavery was not a new concept and not invented by Americans. It had been happening world wide for centuries before anyone set foot on the North American continent. Why is it that we seem to think that the enslavement of Africans by Europeans on the North American continent is something special, it's not!

Secondly slavery was not born out of racism. Racism was born out of slavery. Racism was nothing more than an excuse for slave owners to justify the continuation of slavery. The bottom line is this. In the USA we are all are equal in the eyes of the law and that equality is guaranteed by the constitution. No need for an apology or anything else.

Just another form of a hand out to keep people more down so that they can complain longer. What about the true people affected by this, Native Americans. How they still suffere today

If anyone should get an apology it would be the FIRST Americans. The ones we stole all this land from.

I think the apology isn't so much implying that modern White people are guilty for slavery, but rather, it is an apology from this COUNTRY, which has been around for hundreds of years.

Granted, modern-day White people aren't responsible for slavery. However, all godly-acting countries and people would be wise to acknowledge the evils of the past, set forth some type of small restitution measures to help make up for what should have happened long ago, and then commit to making sure justice and godliness are pursued for this generation in which we live.

Ok, so I demand an apology from Scotland since it ran my ancestors off to Ireland. Then, they had the horror of eventually coming to the US for a better life. If not for those evil Scots, I would not even be here today, but still living as a nomadic riding clan in the Northern Scotish Highlands. Oh wait, maybe the whole deal wasn't so bad. It sure didn't affect me.

Wake up people and grow some thick skin. I didn't do anything to Black Americans. Correct. I have only met a few African-Americans in my life, mostly from Kenya and Somalia.

Enjoy inflation this fall!

No apology required. We have adopted policies in support of diversity, amended laws and written new legislation to promote equal rights for all. The idead of reparations is ridiculous. Reparations are generally paid directly to living victim's of a terrible wrong. The victim's here are no longer with us. Put this issue to rest. There are much more critical and urgent issues to focus congressional time and taxpayer $ on.

My great great great great grandparents were whilte and middle class. My great great great grandparents were white and middle class. My great great grandparents wrere whilte and middle class. My great grandpearents were white and middle class. My grandparents were white and middle class. My parents are white and middle class. And I am white and middle class. ANY OF YOU DUMB ASS "I DIDN'T OWN SLAVES" TYPES SEE A LITTLE TREND HERE?

Let's just be real plain here....if you think you live in a vacuum, immune from you socio-cultural history, YOU ARE STUPID !! That's not how it works.

I dont think the people living today should have to apologize for something (which admittedly was wrong) that was done by people living 200 years ago. We need to move on by eliminating bigotry and providing opportunities for everyone.

It only makes sense that the least the government can do is apologize. We condemn those who've had affairs, but we hide the fact that our founding father had a slave child and had slaves. Perhaps, some of us really need a history lesson because there is not alot taught about real American history. To apologize for a wrong only shows decency. For those who don't see anything wrong with America's past, your lack of decency is evident.

To Jeff:
Don't say that slavery was the best thing that happend to black people, even though the descenabts of slave live in this great country, that doesn't give you licence to make of slavery a good thing.
And just for your knowledge, yes some Africans have sold others into slavery, it wasn't everyone, how do you think those mothers, fathers, brothers an sisters felt when their loved ones were kidnapped by slave traders never to be seen again?
Slavery anywhere is a crime, regardless of the perpetrators being white, black, arab, yellow..... By the way it's still exist in other forms, have you heard of sex slavery happening even here in the US, I don't think that's the best thing that happened to those who are enslaved as we speak.
be blessed.

YOU PEOPLE ARE BLIND!!

Of course no "reparations" will be paid – that would be a political suicide. Instead we offer:

1) Affirmative Action. The kind of "fairness" that stops firman applying for a promotion from getting it because no "minorities" passed the test.

2) Homeowner Bail-out. The FACT is – we're partly in this whole mess because Congress (under Clinton) decided lendors should be pressed to use more "lenient" lending practices helping low-income people get into houses & mortgages they otherwise could not afford.

3) Universal Healthcare.

4) Funding (through pork projects) ACORN and special interest groups.

But let's all yell loudly about reparations and insisting nothing gets paid.

Baaa Baaaaaa sheeple.

As an African American, i feel that yes an apology, but it isn't that crucial and there are more important problems in our face right now, rather than apologizing for something generations ago. I won't say it's inappropriate or unwarranted, but given the state of our country, our people, homelessness and so many other things staring us in the face. Is it really neccesary to waste time, and tax dollars on this, when that energy and money could be better put to use elsewhere.?

The government should offer to send everyone who is the descendent of slaves back to West Africa. They could have 1 free plane ticket to any country where a large share of slaves came from (Ghana, Sierra Leone, etc.). That would bring them back to where they would have been without slavery and make things right.

I think it'd debatable whether this should be mandatory, that all blacks should have to leave, or optional. Maybe some people would want to stay here, I don't know why since its so terrible and the legacy or slavery is so overbearing, but its possible I suppose.

Absurd, descendants of slaves should thank their lucky stars that their forefathers suffered for them and got them here. Otherwise, they would be in Africa, most possibly impoverished, dying of AIDS or being discriminated against by another tribe. Get over it! You can't get anymore free hand outs, we don't owe you a thing!

Everyone needs to get over it. There are no apoligies needed to be given to the blacks. I sorry, African americans, if you wnat an apoligy go ask your brothers and sister in Africa for it. They are the ones that sold your ancestors. Actually you are a lot better off for being here so instead of asking for an apology you should be thanking the white man for his purchase. Base on the return on investment the decendants of the slaves owe me money

We have alot of real important issues before Congress especially Health Care and we take up an apology? Yes, we are sorry about it but do we really need to take time to do this now?????

They should pass a resolution apologizing to all the American people for the Senate's continued incompetence, squandering the nations wealth, and their total failure in displaying any foresight or leadership for say the last 45 years. They could agree to work for a $1 a year and pay for their own junkets too and go home permanently if they can't get the job done. There's a good resolution.

Pressing issue. Gald the dummycrats are avoiding real issues.

WOW the HATE is amazing. I am Japanese! and even i know blacks were NOT free untill around 1965. and yes the grandparents are still alive 29% of the popu;lation is aged. I pray you realize how all white men benefit from slavery and jim crow laws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for a LONG LONG TIME>

Felicia. Go home. Get it? There's 40 acres of dry, parched desert in Western Africa waiting for you, if that's what you want. There aren't any mules though. They've been eaten.

This is about votes not setting things right.

Hang in there, GLBT community: just another hundred years and you, too, will receive an apology from the Senate.

Enough already.

Looking backwards at the past isn't going to fix a thing. Instead, it will focus on the wrong of the past generations withough looking for a solution for the future. What happened was wrong, but rehasing it won't change it. Instead we need to learn and move forward.
Congress, stop dragging America backwards.

I believe the apology has been given several times over.
It is time to get on with the rest of your life here and now people.

Hey, maybe I should try and win the lottery too! I should demand reparations from the Japanese Gov't for shooting down and killing two of my uncles in WWII. And I should demand money from the German Gov't for the four years of my father's life that was wasted by having to serve in the war for four years. Never mind that I was born 14 years after WWII ended.

With a little luck, I may be able to retire early!

To Lee, get it easy, get it easy, just shows how ignorant you are,we are American citizens, we are human beings, we work just as hard for what we have as you(assuming you work), Get it easy, you and others like you are a Joke, you would be laughable if you weren't so patheticly sad, and ignorant.

Recently visited the Underground Railroad Musuem in Memphis, TN – the Burkle Estate and was overcome by spirits, and/ or emotions if you will, that surfaced from just approaching this plantation house. Our ancestors are still crying out for freedom to this day and we cannot begin to heal or allow those spirits to rest until we have acknowleged the problem and start the healing process. I hope the resolution offers an apology and designs a way to move forward for African Americans.

Miffed in Missouri: I am not doubting what your grand parents told you just the facts of it. Lets look at the numbers: Your grabd parents are in the there 80's. Lets say they were born in 1929. Lets say slavery ended in 1865. If your grandparents, Great Grandparents were born at the very end of the war then they would have been 65 when your grand father was born. Your Grand Fathers Great grandparents were 5 at the end of the war and yor grand father can remember talking to them when he was 5. How much of slavery could they have remembered? More likely they remember what it was like living with all the racism after slavery and not actual slavery. Very rare in the late 20's-early 30 that people lived into ther 70's.

It amazes me that this conversation is solely about slavery. Since slavery was so long ago and some of you need proof that slavery was a bad or that many Americans were involved in slavery. How many of you were around or know someone around in the 1960s? How many of you or your relatives accepted and/or supported Jim Crow (eg used a whites only restroom or went to a whites only school)? I'm sure you know someone. I believe that the government should apoligize for Jim Crow. And to all of you who think African Americans just want hand-outs and money, remember we are a minority (~13%). So most of the welfare checks that go to Americans homes...go to white american homes.

Apology -yes,compensation-no.I read comments here saying african-americans are better off today because the continent is worse,but to a rational mind,the sheer number of young people,able bodied men uprooted from that continent is the cause of problems in africa today,had those guys remained in their homes,they would have made something good out of their continent.

All those oppressed people are now dead. What's the purpose of all this? The blacks now living in the US should consider themselves to be very fortunate as the alternate would be that they would be living somewhere in Africa. My ancestors likewise came from a different continent and I am very fortunate to be an American (and proud of it too).

It is about time. If Germany can do it relating to the Jews why not America

Not a lot of people is going to agree with this because there is still a lot of racism going on. Yes even in Washington.

OK you have your apology. I say yes to reperations. I say each person of color is to receive $1.00 think about it we will spend at least that amount wasted in discussions by our government. It will be over then. Now we can remove equal opportunity and get back to awarding people on their merit not their color!

Since this Administration is on an eternal Apology Tour – perhaps I could get a few apologies for:

1. My tax dollars being WASTED on Obama's date-nights with Michelle while America suffers during the recession.

2. My tax dollars being WASTED on rewarding bad behavior (bailout of poorly managed corporations, irresponsible homeowners, etc).

3. The financial SLAVERY we are being sold into by Obama and Democrats who are exponentially blowing up the debt and deficit so large it will take GENERATIONS of taxed labor to payoff.

This is Bull Crap! I am Sick and Tired of everyone Apologizing for Slavery ! If the African American's had not been sold into Slavery (BY THEIR OWN TRIBAL CHIEFS), the Black Americans in the USA would still be in Africa, most of them probably dying of AIDS! They should Be PROUD and GRATEFUL that their Relative was chosen to come to this Country!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would turn over in his grave if he could see the what the black community has become. They need to apologize to themselves for allowing such a great man's work become what it is today.

which have had the reverse effect of hurting rather than helping them move forward as a community. Well then how about doing something that will help them?

And Liberty Queen Prop 8 is the right thing to do. A man cannot marry a man! Thats just nuts. Come on what will the children think. You can do what you want in the clubs, or at resorts, or behind close doors but don't expect us to accept and say its all the same.

I am african american and I do understand that there needs to be an apology. Bot not any compensation. This is another valuable history lesson that we will learn from. Does this mean we are going to compensate every nationality throughout history. How about the Japanese that were held on our soil during WWII. How about the native americans that we kicked off their lands...then decided we would give them reservations. How about the chinese that built our railways and committed suicide to do it. Our government promised to pay the families back in China, but we never did. We all know that this part of history is something that we ALL are ashamed of, but we are long overdue to put it in its place...which is the past! Leave it be...why keep opening up old wounds? Lets come together as a nation and learn from ALL our mistakes.

Blacks have recieved more than their share from the good white people of America. Case in point Affirmative Action a.ka. Inadequate Education, Equality a.k.a. Broken Families, and lets not forget self hatred.

If 'old' Ben Franklin could molest his child black slave girls and prostitute them for his tip drill, then America can apologise to African Americans for slavery!

Let's make it up by giving any Black American wish to, a one-trip back to the land of their roots as compensation.

Apology?????For christ sake we have an african american president

I never believed in slavery. Always though it was wrong. At this point though, we are not responsible for what was done so many years ago. No one is alive today that was responsible for it and no one is alive today that suffered under it. We, the current citizens of this country do not owe apologies nor is anyone alive today owed reparations. The time of slavery is long over and what we are responsible for today is to make sure that EVERY citizen of this country is treated equally. Truly equal in every respect.

And the point of this is what, exactly?

Tell you what - go back, do your research, and identify your direct ancestors who suffered under slavery. Then learn who enslaved them and trace their direct descendents to the present day. Tax those people to pay slave descendents. Sound fair? I didn't think so, but you won't find any of my ancestors in the slave-owning ranks.

I don't believe there is any right thinking person in this world who thinks slavery was morally right. But, certain wrongs cannot be righted and history cannot be undone: the major players are no longer with us. The result of slavery will always be with us, for good or evil. It will remain a defect in our collective unconscious eternally if we do not bring it to the light and deal with it honestly, letting the chips fall where they may.

Between welfare for the poor (free lunch, food stamps, services for illegal immigrants) and welfare (tax breaks, tax loopholes, and offshore tax shelters) for the rich, the middle class is getting squeezed to death. Or is a return to the feudal state the idea?

Agreed that slavery and everything associated with that institution was wrong, cruel, evil, etc. However, if any human race of people in this country deserve an apology and related true social programs it is the NATIVE AMERICANS.

At least African-Americans can move about and live where they want and seek opportunities to better their lives. How many African-Americans, Latinos, etc. are living in reservations???

Ridiculous!

I'm the first place, no one alive today had anything to do with slavery.

In the second place, while slavery was being practised in the US, it was being practised just as much all over the world. It was a perfectly acceptable thing. I see no reason at all for the remote descendants of people who were just doing things that were perfectly acceptable things in terms of their own societies to apologise for anything.

Likewise resolution to apologize must be made by the King of Spain & the royal colonial rulers on their past actions during its occupation Mexico, the Philippines, and other colonized territories; likewise from the Japs (Japanese Imperial Army + Emperor of Japan) to the citizenry and their ascendants. Likewise from Hitler's and his co-horts; Genghis Khan; Napoleon; and King Arthur. Now what. Compensation? Are you kidding me.

Democrats seem to always be sorry for things. I guess they are taking their orders from their leader who has traveled the globe apologizing for everything under the sun. I'm sure there are a lot more pressing matters to deal with than voting on an apology, that is just words and won't mean anything to anyone. However, if it truly changes your life, get on here and tell us.

Aren't there more important issues to worry about? Ridiculous.

Let's just have a National Apology Day when everyone can apologize for everything that they or their ancestors may or may not have directly or indirectly been involved in or had knowledge of.

Have you already identified who owned your IRISH family? $1000 check? You are dumb. Fin.

Apologies for what, I don't own slaves! I mean this has been done and over with for awhile! Why should our country even apologies it was part of our society before and we moved on. Yes it was cruel but come on this is pointless.

On another note if you think about it those slaves that were brought over actually were helping their future generations by sacrficed their well being and giving their future generations a better life by avoiding AIDS and other diseases as well as creating oppotunities for them (such as becoming presidient of the free world and creating all sorts of history and invovations) that their ancestors sacrificed for and would not have happened it they would have not been forced to leave their country. I'M NOT JUSTIFIING SLAVERY I"M JUST SAYING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ALL CULTURES IN THE USA ARE BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF IT.

This is good to do.

Way past time to oppologize to Native Americans.............for stolen lands, deaths.............and to thid very day...in california....just so one Non-Native person fould have a casino........he tried to steal the land away from the Miwak Nation(Federaly recognized)....just so he could get the land and put "his" casino.

Men,women and children and elders in their tribal house(locked up) so that he can not take this also.......................................

See this copntinues......................in the land of the "free".......................

After that apology, there should be one to indigenous peoples of the Americas, women, homosexuals, the parents of starving children in other nations, etc.. While we're at it, let's apologize to the middle class who got laid off, demoted, took a cut in pay & now are being asked to work for a month without pay because Wall St., bankers & corrupt politicians sold us all down the river. What hypocrites we are. Let's slam Iran for how they treat protesters, but ignore China's human rights violations because they OWN us. If this planet acted with integrity we could straighten out the mess we're in & we'd be too busy celebrating to demand apologies.

I did NOT enslave the Blacks. I did NOT steal the Indians land. I have NOTHING to apolgise for. If they have a problem with that, screw 'em.

An apology would be nice but there has been talk for many years of 40 acres and a mule. Well I can't afford the property taxes on the 40 acres and I'm hungry so just give me the mule.

People, what was done in the times of slaverly was wrong and we have evolved beyond that I thought until I saw how some people were acting after President Obama was elected. Our evolution has allowed me the wisdom to understand that the racism and hate towards minorities I am seeing is not from the White Race. It is from ignorant people. That is the difference between the days of old and the times of today.

I'm a white male in Missouri and think this is long overdue. Reparations are pointless unless monetary/economic loss can be directly proven (as done with Holocaust survivors), but an apology is appropriate. My family came to the US in the 1920s and never owned slaves, however I acknowledge the 'privileged' life white people have been allowed would not have been possible without the exploitation of African Americans–and for that reason I PERSONALLY apologize.

Americans did not invent slavery!

It was around for T-H-O-U-S-A-N-D-S of years before America was even discovered.

I'm curious, has or will the African Nations that captured and sold their own people into slavery appologized?

Have the African nations or any others that are still involved in the slave industry agreed stop the practice? And appologized?

I have never owned a slave ... nor has any of my family that I'm aware of!

So why should I appologize?

Most of you that commeneted on here ar IDIOTS. You have no clue about what slavery has done to the Afircan American community. Being slaves for nearly 400 years has had adverse effects including education. If they weren't slaves, then maybe you wouldn't have been "mugged" as one of you put it.

Some of you need to pick up a book and read it.

Have these senators not heard of the Civil War? Didn’t we settle the slavery thing a long time ago? What is the point of this?

Were African Americans included in the The Homestead Act? No!
Were they given 160-640 acres? No!
After the reconstruction of the south many were hung and pinned to trees
by hate groups.
Just 50 years ago they couldn't vote.There churches were bunt to the ground, Sometimes with children still inside. That's the short story!

The way I see it we can't payback what we owe but we can try.
I hope we never forget our dark past because we can learn from it.

@ Me in Big D

You people huh? I see what names get called around at your dinner table. Plus if you read my comment and comprehended what I said, I said I don't need a handout. How about looking up The Lost Tribe of Shabazz and then get back to me. Idiot!

LibertyQueen June 18th, 2009 1:00 pm ET
Remember, is wasn't that long ago that a black could not marry a white and yet blacks seem to think Separate Is Equal…unless you are black. ------------------------

I fail to make your connection??? That is a ridiculous argument to compare gay-marriage to the struggle for freedom?
If the will of the people vote to change the sacred custom of marriage to include two dudes, then fine.

You libs use of the courts to force these changes has hurt your cause. Believe that!

Do not apologize for me. I did NOT have anything to do with it, and have always treated my fellow man with the utmost respect. I will not have anyone apologizing for me when i did nothing wrong. When i make a mistake, I will apologize. My anscestors were indentured servents, wheres the apology? Oh they were not black but treated just as bad if not worse. MOVE ON people, stop living in the past. Oh and if anyone thinks this is going to make life better for all, it wont. Thats because words are never enough. Just watch.

This is pretty pittyful, congress is wasting time as usual and Blacks ever getting an apology from me is a waste of everyones time. White's are now the most descriminated people on Earth. Try being white and needing social services help they will put you behind 100 blacks everytime. Everything is for the blacks now,check out all the Martin Luther King Roads, bridges, etc.. Kissing there butts on EVERYTHING thats more than I would ever do but they keep getting gettting and getting. Im working for millions of them everyday paying the taxes so they can sit at home, thats apology enough. GET OUT AND WORK..

And there goes the DEMOCRAPS! Next step they'll ask for REPARATION. Are you ready to pay for it?

When slavery was abolished, this country BOUGHT LIBERIA so free slaves have country to call their own, they were free to leave. But many blacks CHOOSE to live in America.

Hey! USA was only a buyer, the traders of slaves was SPAIN and UK. They should be the one apologizing to blacks NOT the American people.

Why is Congress not spending it time fixing the immidiate issues facing all Americans. If the Sentate has the time to pass these types of bills they should have time to debate how to fix healthcare.

For people who might not realize that some of the biggest corporations (mainly in texile and tobbaco) in America TODAY grew and prospered because of slavery of that era. Because of salvery this country had white and black bathroom just over 50 years ago. Some people grandparents might be able to tell explain what the 1915's-1960's were like in case people have forgotten.

Uh oh! Most Republicans, most white Christians and most white southerners don't think there was or is anything wrong with slavery so this is sure to create a firestorm. In fact, most white Republicans, most white Christians and most white southerners think that ending slavery was a BAD idea and contrary to the laws of the Loving God, who they feel enslaved Africans for good of both white and blacks.

Next step for Democraps is REPARATION. Al Sharpton, NAACP, Jesse Jackson (Rainbow Coalition) Hussein Obama will be asking Congress and Senate to pass a bill paying money for blacks.

I knew this is coming! Why these black organizations in USA ask reparations from SPAIN and Untied kingdom, they were the one engaged in SLAVE TRADING not the American people.

dutch/bad newz...another odd/dumb posting. 400 years of slavery?? what!! Go to school and get a job. Many African-Americans (or any americans) decide to succeed...and work hard. Try it some time!

I think it's time to move on. Apologies were already given, multiple times in the past. Why keep dwelling on the past? If you are seeking money from the government for slavery, then you are about as low as it gets. You are taking advantage of a tricky situation, using your ancestors to get money.

You were not enslaved. Times were different 200 plus years ago. That's what happened. We cannot hold our fathers accountable for that life because they are long gone.

Move on

Quite living in the past: Live for today and the future. Is these persons wanting more hand-outs?? Look at Karinta and the hand-outs and no thank-you to the taxpayers. The northern flooded areas got no help. period. Is because there were white.?? I did not have slaves nor my parents or siblings, and this apologizing has gone to far. My parents nor my self or siblings rioted, and have theses persons apologized for this?? But it has cost us as taxpayers to rebuild these areas. Live for now and the future and have peace in this nation. Don't keep looking in the past and making trouble.

I would say that the near economic destruction of the South and the 1million + white deaths and countless injuries and trauma physical, psychological and financial to the families of both Union and Confederate casualties are apology and reparations enough.

I got it, lets apologize to my people, (The Native Americans) for taking their land, to try to eliminate them, but steal their ways of live. When the British landed at Roanoke they taught them almost everything. Lets the Christians apologize for slaughtering of the Celts and the Pagans to convert them to Christianity, let the Nazi's apologize to the Jews for trying to exterminate them. So did I miss anyone?

I think that the United States have apoplgize for the stupitidy of lazy people to have slavery... I am not a bigot, not in the least, but they had done that a long time ago, The Emancipation Proclamation:

I am a 34 year old African American woman.

I could care less about an apology from the government regarding slavery.

And I don't need government handouts. My parents (married 45 years now) taught my sisters and I to work hard, be responsible, and be accountable for our actions. We've all done well. I am a physician, one sister is a principal, the other teaches special education.

I acknowledge that there is lingering racism and problems because of that but apologies and money are not the solution.

Should we really meddle in the affairs of others?

Out of ALL the races in the world, African-Americans are the only race whose been seperated from their true heritage.

Japense got reparations, Jews got reparations. Black folk got nothing.

This country prospered on the back of slaves. Cotton, one of our bigget exports back then helped to create our economic growth. Free labor helped to build this country. So yes, you are benefitting today for what slavery helped to build. Without slaves, this country would not be the powerhouse it is today.

I guess you guys never heard of the sins of the father thing. Better yet, if your parents die, you inherit their wealth.....and their debts.

Wow! a lot of hate here. it's not about reparations we should not get any. it would demoralized the issue. If we as a nation can honor the horror of the holocaust which didn't happen here but, is important in history then, surely we can teach this history that happened in our own country. By the way ths House started this during the BUSH administration (comment to OBAMA haters). To the racist comments this apology is about learning from our pass, As the greatest country in the world it must start here. My race isn't necessary I'm American.

You have got to be kidding!!! I also believe it was a terrible thing in our history, but the folks that are losing their homes and jobs today I sure all agree we need to focus our energy on things that can help us today!!!

God bless the dead families of victims of 9/11/01... got cash.

Cnn you people are suckers

Hey Joey from san diego-
Are you sure they were black, can you identify the person in a line up.
Could have been your brother playing tricks on you.
Idiot.

to FYI

"Black people are not the only people to be enslaved…" who knew.

so the jews (moses) who built the pyramids were well paid contractors? spartacus was a just a union leader protesting unsafe work (gladiator) conditions; nazi's had employment opportunities for millions!

This is politically motivated, sponsored by the dems to court the black vote. These little stunts, however appealing to the libs, do nothing to help race relations and actually set us back by creating resentment.

The majority of African Americans realize that being treated “equal” means treating you the “same” as anyone else.

A bad idea all around. (as as stated, like there aren't more pressing matters facing this country ... ?)

Reparations – no, sir. Are we countrymen or not? What's with the "I want my princess day mentality"?
I'm of Irish decent; do i get cash from the feds and state of new york for segregation, discrimination, and cruetly to my grandparents, too? Slipperly slope folks – where will it end?
Grow the heck up.

This is step one of our tax dollars being redistributed even more. They will have us paying retribution for things we didn't do. Welcome to a fascist, socialist America people.

We'll see how happy you are voting for this racist, ignorant, moron in about 10 years.

I would think that the hundreds of thousands of Northern lives that were lost to end slavery would be apology enough. If decendents of slave owners (a very small percentage of the population) want to apologize to decendents of slaves, fine. But leave the rest of us out of it.

We have apologized already. What else do you want? While slavery is wrong it goes back to the beginning of time and occurred on every nation on this planet. It was done by a stronger group of people enslaving a weaker group of people and mostly the spoils of war. These types of articles are disturbing. It is as if only blacks have been oppressed in this land. Let’s apologize and give money to all minority groups that have been systematically enslaved such as the Native Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, Italians, Irish etc. The only group that has been successful for an apology and reparations are the Japanese but they were American citizens that were sent to camps. Get over it, every group has been screwed here at one time or another and for some it still continues.

Hey I got it; let's apologize to the world that 97 percent of blacks voted for Obama simply because of color!!

Well said Holly!!! I never owned slaves, I never WAS a slave and neither are any of them alive today!!!

can i get an apology for suffering thru this idiocy?

felicia June 18th, 2009 12:53 pm ET

To all you leadbelly racist animals, you do owe an apology and compensation. Until i get my 40acres and my mule i'll never want to forgive you people.
---------------------
It's not racist just b/c you don't agree with the apology coming 150 years later. As for compensation, HA! $1000 one-way tickets to Sudan or Sierra Leone are cheaper if you're unhappy here.

My greatgrandfather has the freedom papers from his great-grandfather................ so thereare many who can trace their roots back to slavery. An apology is overdue..... but reperations would be appreciated more.

black people already get reperations. Its called a wel-fair check.

The African American community has received more than enough hand-outs already – which have had the reverse effect of hurting rather than helping them move forward as a community. Living in america gives one the opportunity to pursue the american dream – not entitle one to it.

Blacks in California as a race voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8 which denies the Civil Rights of Lesbians and Gays. Remember, is wasn't that long ago that a black could not marry a white and yet blacks seem to think Separate Is Equal...unless you are black. Separate IS NOT Equal...get it?

Well we also need to reach out to the Native Americans, Native Hawaiians as well. They are first in line for the apologize's.

I will never say Im sorry,I love slavery,Rush Limbaugh and TCM.

Words, yes.

Money, no.

If any people deserve an apology and reparations, it's The First People...Native Americans. Talk about slaughter and genocied by so-called 'pioneers'.

Lee, Fortunately I was not born into slavery, but my ancestors were and that makes me a decendant, I have worked all my life since I was 12 yrs and never asked anyone for anything not even unemployment, I am Blessed to have been born an American in the land of opportunity, You need to watch your words, some of us has NEVER had it easy, you also need to know the Bible talks about Your SINS being passed from generation to generation, so you will apologize until the Lord so see fit.

You have alot more to worry about atm,shelf it tell we get things going again.

Bill Clinton already apologized. Black people are not the only people to be enslaved....not sure if everyone knew that. Read a history book. We all need to move on. Most ethnicities have overcome their people being enslaved and are not looking for a modern day apology or free handouts from people that had nothing to do with slavery in the first place. I would be embarassed if I were to expect such a thing.

Where is my apology from the black people that have mugged me?

To all you leadbelly racist animals, you do owe an apology and compensation. Until i get my 40acres and my mule i'll never want to forgive you people.

and let us not forget that Black Africans in Africa enslaved their own people and sold their sisters and brothers as slaves to the highest bidder.

Why are we still discussing this issue? It does nothing to promote or expand any serious dialogue about current policies and issues we face today. And quite frankly, reparations will do nothing–absolutely nothing–to promote growth and posterity. If you want to clamp down on degradations in the minority community, tackle issues like limiting welfare and push programs aimed at responsibility and accountability. Those values–those concepts–are what help people to become independent and self sufficient.

Atta boy, let's start on the most pressing issues first, leave all that other crap for later!

When you can prove to me, without a shadow of a doubt that one of MY RELATIVES was a slave owner and exactly who the slaves kin are, then you can ask me for repartation. Otherwise leave my "working very hard for" money a heck alone.

An apology to. Americans for the treatment of it's citizens is appropiate. It need come as an addition to the Consitution to acknowledge how we are to forever live as Americans. We must understand that slaves were both black and white in America. Slaveholders were both also. We must do proper research of our American history and understand how best to heal a country and not treat this as an issue of melanin. It was a dreadful part of the economics and politics of landowners in the New World which still impacts all aspects of our country.

I know and appreciate black's humiliation and fight for total freedom as American citizens. But I cannot help but stay amazed at the lack of outrageous indignation put upon the American Indian. Usurpers came in, told the Indian they had no right whatsoever to the land they've lived on for centuries, slaughtered women and children, slaughtered buffalo for sport and STILL to this day gives them prairie land no one wants to live on and treats them like 2nd class citizens. I see no marches in their defense. I see no protests for their humiliation. I just don't get it. I just don't get it.

Aren't there more pressing current issues to be dealt with?

This is so silly. I shouldnt have to apologize for something that I had nothing to do with, and anyone who wants reparations, where do they think the money would come from? Get over it and move on. This kind of stuff just keeps all of this going forever with no end in sight. The emancipation proclamation was issued almost 150 years ago. I realize discrimination existed long after that and still does but let it go!
Someone on here wanted extra points given to them on civil exams, just another handout the rest of us are supposed to give. How about acheivement and advancement based on your qualifications?

When you can prove to me that one of MY RELATIVES

This is the reason we still have racism. African Americans ( minority amount of them) see a way to get handouts. I say take a look around and see how many people have started with meager beginnings and have worked their butts off to make a living for themselves and their families. All minorities have more of a chance of going to college and doing so on a scholarship and making something of themselves. It is the young white male that gets no scholarships or handouts. Because we are white does not mean we are well off yet they are turned down simply because they are white males. There is the reverse discrimination!!! Maybe all white males should be looking for compensation for being discriminated against.

And no reparations either.

I think the Senate (the Treaty makers) should also apologize to the American Indians of whose land this country stole under the so-called treaties of the 19th century.

Why must we keep wasting time with this crap. The government is broke and in debt yet we are wasting time and money passing crap that is redundant and NON-BINDING resolution.

The worst part is the people like "dutch" in these comments that think this has something to do with Obama. I guess some are just too lazy to read the article before commenting. Obama has NOTHING to do with this. It won't even go to his desk since it is non-binding.

The morons who want reparations need to get over themselves and work for a living like the rest of us.

Separate Is Not Equal. Blacks in California voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8 which violates the Civil Right of Lesbians and Gays to Marry. So, no Justice for Lesbians and Gays, no apology for blacks. Separate Is Not Equal...Get it?

My ancestors never owned slaves; they arrived in this country (except for my Cherokee great-great-grandmother) during the 1890s. That said, I think this is a good idea.

It's called making amends. There's something very powerful and healing about publically acknowledging wrong doing. Our government made an apology to the Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II; it is appropriate to also do this.

No apologies, no money, just a free boat ride back to where they came and then they can take it up with the ones that sold them into slavery.

No one in my family had anything to do with a slave, yet my government is apologizing for something no one alive did? this is truly pathetic, any one who wants reparations is just lazy, anyone who is drafting up a resolution to apologize for something that happened over 100 years ago and no one alive had anything to do with is just wasting time and tax payer money, Ever since Obama has become president this country has taken a nose dive and those of you who can’t see it are blind

How silly of you, Rich, to believe that descendents of slave do not know their anscestors. Both of my grandparents are well into their 80s and remember their great-grandparents who were slaves. Just becasue they were slaves does not mean that they are not remembered in history or by their relatives and loved ones. I don't agree with reparations however I do believe that the government owes an apology for slavery and especially Jim Crow, of which my parents remember very clearly because they lived it until their late twenties. You see Jim Crow is where the real apology is needed. Most countries had slavery at some point in history. But the US is one of very few that LEGALIZED segragation. Learn your history. You may need it.

I don't agree with this at all. Either apologies or compensation, for the most part. The people who were impacted by slavery and legalized segregation are largely dead. Only the ones directly impacted should be candidates for apologies and/or compensation. Slavery is not something we should be proud of. But it occurred in a different time. Legalized segregation is also reprehensible, and the survivors who were impacted by it should be the only ones considered for apologies or compensation. To apologize or compensate people because of their ancestry is ridiculous.

The IDIOTology of white supremacy dictated then as it does now that white people and culture are superior to any other. People commenting about their folk or themselves not being responsible for slavery or owning slaves: White folk benefited (and still do) from white privilege. Own up to that. People against any apology given to Blacks for the horrors of slavery, Jim Crow, lynching, institutional racism, segregation, etc. simply cannot take the fact that white people could commit such horrors to other human beings. Slavery did exist in other parts of the world before Europeans came to Africa during the slave trade. However, please know that NOWHERE in the world were enslaved people treated so HORRIFIC as the Europeans treated the Africans. Do your own research. All slavery is wrong, no question. The slavery inflicted by the Europeans to the Africans was fathomless.

I thought electing a black president was apology enough. This gesture is going to do more harm than good. It will fester resentment among other ethnic communities who have been persecuted in this country. No I'm not talking about white persecution, I'm talking about black persecution on Latinos as an example. We're a mixture of races where one color has gone after another color at one time or another. If we're going to mend fences,then mend all the fences and not just one.

Are you kidding me? The economy is in the toilet, North Korea is threatening to shoot missiles to Hawaii, Iran is falling apart while working to manufacture nuclear bombs, we have unresolved wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, unemployment is rising despite the so-called stimulus package, and I could go on and on and on. And THIS is how the Congress wants to spend their time? No wonder our country is falling apart around us. I SAY-GET RID OF ALL IMCUMBENTS REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY IN 2010. We must demand better representation, as obviously this group is a bunch of losers. I really cannot believe their stupidity.

Well, my ancestors were northerners and never owned slaves, so I guess I'm exempt from having to pay anything...

Look at the stats of slave owners. Very small percentage. This was generations ago. (I'm not responsible for what happened hundreds of years ago.) In addition, are the African descendants who captured the people that became slaves apologizing? Slavery and human "trafficing" exists today. What about apologizing for reverse discrimination?

As far a cash, this is a joke. The amount of money would have to go back to those days and then the amount broken down for each person since then. In other words, my will when gets distributed, each heir gets a fraction of the amount. How would that be done going back over a hundred years, especially when records are difficult to obtain?

I think we should apologize and make reparations to the Irish, Italians, Native Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, and Japanese too, since we discriminated against them, imprisoned them without due process, and forced them into what constituted slave labor for their times. We should probably also start a genome project to find out what prehistoric peoples lived here so we can apologize and pay them, too, for something I am sure we did.

Get over it – no one alive today has been personally harmed by slavery. There have been countless programs and affirmative action plans out the wazoo that constitute more than fair reparations if any where even called for.

How about reparations to all Mexicans for stealing half their country? Especially them Mexicans still held captive in the USA, Yeah right that what we ought to do. They are the fastest growing block in the USA.
Either pay them or give them back Texas or New Mexico or Colorado, how about Illinois?
Who is going to pay reparations, the son of an Italian or Polish or Irish immigrant who came to the USA in 1900? How about we make those countries who Caught and SOLD them into slavery? Get the ones who started them into slavery FIRST!!

Fair is Fair June 18th, 2009 12:18 pm ET

Finally, an Obama administration apology I agree with.

And yes, I'm caucasian. A caucasian who is thoroughly disgusted that racism, in every sense, is still prevalent.
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This is only going to make the idiots who preach racism come out. Just look at some of the comments here.

My ancestors from Texas (or Mexico) had the line redrawn over them and land taken to become part of the U.S. I/we don't want an apology...Better than being a Mexican citizen.

Its about time. Sure is funny the US govt saw fit to apologize to the Japanese first, but not Americans who have been here longer than the japanese.

Get over it!!! Move on to more important issues. There's not one person still alive that was around in the slave days!!!! With all the problems the USA has now, we need to move on!!!

@ ESCO -

You're right. There is a catch. This is it: Once the black, white-hating," community get their apology, then they'll have a confession of wrong doing; setting a precedent for a civil suit. Once that occurs, every black in the country will suddenly be related to slaves because they had some cousin or "aunty," that picked cotton way down near the bayou......corruption of funds will run rampant, and Obama will win votes for ending slavery....

I wondered how long this would take–apologizing all over the world for what us "bad" Americans have done, and now in our own country, for something that was done hundreds of years ago. We presently had nothing to do with it, and I don't like this idea. But then with our current leadership in DC, I am surprised it didn't happen on January 21st!!!

(will you post this one, cnn?)

Me in Big D – please, continue to show your ignorance. There are, indeed, people alive today that still endured slavery. Here in the South, slavery just turned into something else. It was called Sharecropping… and many blacks in the south turned into sharecroppers, just to have the same lifestyle that they had under slavery; complete with whippings, rape, unfair wages (if any). Only this time, they were “allowed” to leave the plantation if they wanted to – but the conditions were often the same. And there are folks still alive that are only a hop, skip and a jump away from still remembering this b/c they and their family lived it. Get over yourself, or better yet, step outside of your bubble.

The largest and loudest not even no, but no possible way on this earth NO will I ever offer up an apology for slavery. Never. My grandparents came to this country in 1903, worked their way to Ohio from New York, started to farm and worked and sweated themselves with utterly nothing to do with slavery in the process. Then or since.
When the Russian government offers up an apology and reparations to me for the 1956 invasion of Hungary when some of the rest of my family were literally smuggled out from under Russian tanks and Russian rule in Budapest, I will still never offer up an apology for slavery.
Never.

Why do we have to keep apologizing over and over again for something that we've taken care of. Slavery has been abolished and apologized for. I refuse to agree that they should get a handout, or ANY special treatment because their ancestors were slaves. My ancestors were tortured because they were Asian Americans in the US when Pearl Harbor happened. Where's my compensation? Where is my special entry into college because my ancestors were mistreated? Why should I have a sense of entitlement to everything without working for it just because someone, who is no longer alive, mistreated and tortured my ancestors. This is ridiculous! Move on!

It is apparent that so many of you are clueless!

What's wrong with our American society? Every time we turn around some special interest group wants to take, take, take. On one hand we have the gays wanting to take away the deffinition/meaning of "marriage" from those of us people gays refer to as "breeders". Answer.....NO. You want equal rights acept "Civil Union". That doesn't take away from others. Slavery Was wrong. (Key word WAS). it was wrong in the U.S. and throughout the whole planet. There was a time it was a way of life. That time is gone. Be thankful. And for the Stokley Charmichael followers I do NOT owe you for 300 years of oppression. I never did anything to you. I haven't even known you for 300 years. If you want to be equal in this society act it. Stop your whining and roll up your sleeves as did every other race/ethnicitity in America. Don't draw others down but yourselves up. Earn respect and the rest will follow. Take example from the respected African Americans who made it. There are lots. It could be you if you change your ways.

sjhwd June 18th, 2009 12:22 pm ET

Apology? I'm sorry, but this country does not need to apologize for something that the current citizens had no part in or control over. It's history, it's done, it's over, we've learned from our mistake now for crying out loud MOVE ON and quit encouraging racism.
________________________

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. The Germans apologized for the holocaust. Further, I don't believe this will encourage racism. In fact, it may just be a step towards healing our racial differences.

Everyone wants something for nothing. Maybe if these people put as much effort into getting a job and contributing to society as they do trying to get a free handout they'd stop worrying aobut it.

Also, one shouldn't forget that it was the Republican Party that freed the slaves. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Republican.

No way should any payments be made. No African-American alive today can prove they have been directly harmed by slavery, a reprehensible practice of this country that ended in 1864. All African-Americans in this country today are free, and therefore apparently remain here by their own choice.

Slavery was the best thing that ever happen to the Africans. Your ancestors paid a heavy price years ago and I agree it was horrible, but look where you are at now. The greatest country in the world, true racism still exist but every African American born has the opprotunity to live the American Dream. Would you rather be back in Africa? How many white Americans died to help free the slaves and change the history of evil? Maybe its time to start holding your own accountable for their actions instead of blaming everything on something that happened many many years ago. A fat person in this day and age is discriminated as much as anyone for the color of their skin. No more excuses.

Forget it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slavery was abolished in 1865, 134 years ago. Get over it. Reparations paid to whom. All slaves or direct offspring are dead. Compared to what the average citizen of a black African nation has, the decendants of formaer slaves, now at least 3 generations removed, have had ample opportunities and vast sums of money already spend. GET OVER IT. Germany abolished serfdom in the mid 19th century, other eastern european countries were after that. Japan and China even later.

Meh. Nothing wrong with it as long as it doesn't take up too much time from more practical matters.

Didnt tribal chiefs sell out there own people? I think the apology should come from the tribes in Africa who sold out there people. They were selling, we were buying.

Reaching out and treating each other as equals would in my opinion solve more than a simple apology ever could.

When the slaves were sold in the New World much of the money went to European powers. Will we be asking the British to apologize and the monarchy to send back some of that old money?

It is time to move on and demonstrate some grace and forgiveness towards those who did wrong.

Well Folks, with all the problems we are facing today, this is what your hard working Democrats are wasting their time and our money on.

(I doubt CNN will post this) but the reality is that the slave "trade" was a business enterprise. The traded slaves were used for the sole purpose of farming crops for profit and wealth. So if you acknowledge that what you did was wrong, naturally, just like any other criminal – you must forfit your possesions and pay restitution to the victims and their families as part of your punishment.

Brian Kaye June 18th, 2009 12:21 pm ET

I think I need money too, because:
I'm of Polish descent and Polish people were mistreated.

Written like a true Poloc.

Find me a living man who was once a slave and I will tell him I am sorry for what other people did to him over 100 years ago.

Pander, pander, pander...afterall, that is what keeps you in office.

mainly the south should , but also america should apologize to Japanies,Chinese,and everyone else that was subject to slavery. and the mormons should apologize to the white people that moved west during the 1800's and they dressed up like american Indians and killed them while passing through the Utah valley, also apologize to the Irish for treating them like second class people in the early 1900's,
also anyone from India and the list goes on and on.
so why don't we just let it go and live for the now and learn from the past .and not let things like Hitler and other sick people be allowed to hurt anyone

CHANGE IS COMMING
OBAMA BIDEN CLINTON
WOW ONLY IN AMERICA
LIFE IS GETTING BETTER

We can historically go around the world being a beacon of hope to all who have suffered until its time to look into the mirror. I and most of us want nothing from you,.. but to attack a simple apology for healing is an example of deep seated bigotry.
You don't push back against any other Americans we honor or heal with for man made atrocities

I am for compensation. Any actual living slave owners should immediately give some of their money to any actual living slaves they have.

There is too much going on right now than to spend time on this. Why is no one talking about fixing all of the corruption in Washington. Slavery is part of history that we learned from and made us stronger. But, let us look to the future and show what we can accomplish and not dwell on the past. I guess it could be considered a blessing in disguise since living in America is far better than the plight of the African nation even to this day. Be greatful for what we have been blessed with and look to the future. (I am an African American )

Chris from Buffalo – America is the land of opportunity. Anyone can work hard and get ahead. Everything is available for anyone who wants to work for it...............Or did you mean we should just GIVE everybody everything?

What is the Senate doing? We are arguing the oppression of slaves of over a century ago, when today the gay community continues to be oppressed? When the freedom to smoke a joint is still oppressed? Or the freedom to smoke a cigarette is still oppressed? When over half of your hard earned money is paid out in taxes?
What I do not understand why our government will not stand by the ideals of the Constitution?
And after the debate we will all meet at the campaign fund raiser. And get our pockets filled by our fat cat rich buddies.

Apology, yes. Compensation, no.

And while you are at it, what about the NATIVE AMERICANS, we are the LOST people in all of this............. so tragic

Peace

uhh, I think our apology to African Americans was the civil war. More white people died for the rights of black people in that war, than any other war in history. If anyone should have to apologize, it should be the south, and like that would ever happen.

As a lifelong democrat, this is enough to make me gag. Obama knows that without the black vote he couldnt get elected trash collector so he and congress will waste hours debating this useless issue at the same time they are continuing Republican policies of gay hatred and descrimination. Obama is a disgrace.

Will Obama apologize for the way the Irish was treated, and if so, will we beable to get some money for it? Waiting for my check along with the $1,000 that was promised to everyone who voted for Obama in November.

I am thinking the Senate might have a few more pressing issues to deal with right now. An apology for something that happened over 150 years ago seems a bit trivial.

Get over it! As far as giving money, get real! Why should anyone today be paid for something that happened hundreds of years ago!??? Ridiculous!!! I can almost bet this whole payment thing was initiated by the blacks!

I assume that the reparations will be paid out from the taxes of all the people whose families were here prior to the 1860's, and not take money from the descendents of immigrants who showed up about 60 years later.

Listen people need to get over this. I have not owned any slaves and the people today are not slaves regardless of the past. This african-american stuff needs to stop. If you are born in this country you are and american if not you are something else. You can not be both. I am not Engilish/Irish/German/American. I was born in this country I am an American. Get over it and move on. Get off welfare and get a job like the rest of us.

How much you wanna bet the GOP will be against it??

I apologize for NOTHING!!! I don't own slaves, never did, never will. That was done during a different era and, right or wrong, IT'S OVER!!

This country has apologized to many different groups for a variety of things… why are some people so up in arms over an apology to Black Americans for slavery?

I wonder if there is a catch to this...i mean its not like they just woke up one days and decided it was an awesome idea to apologize to the black community for slavery? Yes, it happened years ago and even though there is still hatred among races, we are far enough in the future to be mature; understand it is the past and lifting up the people we already have today is better than just giving someone a prize. Compensation should come in the form of promise that our black americans will not sleep in trailers from hurricane katrina, and they can have a home they can call home. And have jobs for their childrens well being. The past was a lesson to those who do not think every persons life is precious...no matter the color of your skin.

How about apologizing to women, who were denied the right to vote and other civil liberties

Great idea, first the blacks and then the women, or at the same time. What do you say?

@Dutch – you people make me sick. Always with your hands out! There is no living person that had slaves or condoned slavery for that matter. We, as white people, do not owe any black an apology for slavery! I'm sick to death of this. Your own people sold your people into slavery! Get over it!

This is a waste of our time and our money. It serves no real purpose to appologize for things that were done long before any of us were born.

My great grandfather was an immigrant from Italy....killed b/c of his nationality! Where is my reparations! I agree about the apology, but enough is enough! Why is everyone always looking for a handout! I can see the actual people who were slaves getting a small handout, but not to the relatives....you don't deserve it! You didn't suffer like they did!

Are they planning to do the same for Native Americans??

Why should we compensate African Americans and not the Asian Americans who were put into concentration camps and had their possessions taken from them during WWII? Not to mention the fact that Asians were barred from immigrating to the US at a certain point? I've never heard any apology from the government for that. Where is my apology and compensation? I don't think the current American people should have to foot any financial bill for what happened in the past. It's in the past. Were there any slaves or Asians that were put in concentration camps alive today, I'd be all for compensating for them. It's too late now. Giving people money for what happened to their ancestors is not going to solve anything. It's just going to put our nation more in debt!

Joe, you and your family benefited from Slavery. The eastcost would be 100 years behind the rest of the world if not for Black Labor. No one is asking for a cash hand out, how about 10 extra points on a civil service test form, or admissions for some into a school or two. Anyway, if we say to do it, it will be done, we have the House and Senate, you guys can repeal the apology when you get back in congress, but for now the ship is ours.

This is just more catering to the black vote by Democrats.

Why should we apologize for something we didn't have anything to do with.

Our generation helped push threw Civil Rights legislation that we can all be proud of.

With an apology will come the arguement of an admission of wrongdoing that needs to be compensated with cash. I don't think so.

Apologize for slavery? Why??? No living American was part of that cruel period. What an apology accomplish? Absolutely nothing, except, waht will follow is reparations. Imagine the average lower-middle-class American's taxes supporting the likes of Oprah, Jackson, Sharpton!!

We have become so rabid politically-correct. Why not apologize to the Japanese to drop the big one on Hiroshima? Or let's apologize to the Indians for taking their territory? While we are at it, let's apologize to the Italians. Let's apologize to the world for not liking us. How about apologizing to the world for MSNBC for being in the tank for the Chosen One? hey, here is a good one...let's apologize to Sadaam Hussein for invading his country?.

The apology is what is necessary. We can and need to make our own money.

This is the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard....and I'm a BLACK guy!

An apology nation wide would do, black should not want a handout for the wrong some or most whites did in slavery. I personally feel a handout is do demean ones character in this case. It would show that black are to be bought as it did when blacks were sold into slavery.

I am speaking as a black working poor lady and we are not for sell in any means. Giving any type of monies or token is inappropriate. Maybe if there was records showing that a black family owned a piece of land it is was stolen that is another thing.

Apology is acceptable.

CNN please post.

Why are we apologizing for the wonderful policies of my fellow republicans? Oh, great! All this guy is going to do is apologize for republicans being racist. I don't care if it's TRUE that we are racist, but we aren't sorry about it! Darn it! You don't speak for us republicans.

Send out another email with the President's picture...let's make it just a set of eyeballs! hee he...that should be funny!

They are the same rednecks that want to destroy the unions and make everyone slaves again.We will never be slaves to republicans.

Apology? I'm sorry, but this country does not need to apologize for something that the current citizens had no part in or control over. It's history, it's done, it's over, we've learned from our mistake now for crying out loud MOVE ON and quit encouraging racism.

We all agree that slavery was wrong, we don't need Congress to waste time, energy and money on this issue telling the world it is so. Good grief! And reparations? When pigs fly.

Congress is a complete joke and what scares me is that there are so many blind followers.

Mr. Bush: Here a few things I know (1) a war based on false pretenses certainly didn't help build any wealth for the nation as a whole either. (2) the economy fell apart under your watch, not BHO's. (3) representing the "conservative" party in America, your admin. ran up record-setting deficits. (4) You and Mr. Cheney decided the Geneva conventions didn't apply to America anymore. And lastly....put it in print! We'd love to read all about the "lots of ways" to fix healthcare in this country.

Kills me that we're still apologizing for crap that happened centuries ago.

This is why racisms will always be a live and well – you've got someone somewhere with nothing but time on their hands who has been brainwashed into believing they got a raw deal or they need money and see dollar signs – STOP DREDGING UP JUNK FROM THE PAST, stuff like this only helps to keep minorities "down" nd unfortunately, they do it to themselves.

Let's not ever forget, but for goodness sakes let's move forward!

I think I need money too, because:
I'm of Polish descent and Polish people were mistreated.
I'm 58 years old and don't get any respect.
I have to work for a living.
I'm a white male.
I like golden retrievers.
I read CNN.
The planets are in line.
But what about the Irish or the Latino's or Italians? Don't they get something too? A message needs to be sent to Washington. Do the RIGHT job for the American people, or we'll replace you in November. Have a nice day.
(mutters to self "compensation, indeed")

The reason for compensation is the wealth that the slave holders made at little or no expense to themselves. Slavery was about two things: racism and capitalism. So sorry an apology will not do. Lastly, Barack Obama is NOT a descendant of slaves...therefore please don't include him in your analysis. His people are white...please don't forget that.

Why are we apologizing for everything? Not all of the country consisted of slave owners. It's time to just let it go!

Don't apologize give us our due respect and stop lying about us once and for all. We are never given credit when it is deserved. Like Obama the bright one Palin the dummy these two people should never be mentioned in the same sentence.

Could we all just stop living the past? I am not responsible for slavery, I do not apologize for something in which I had no part. Further, if the spectre of reparation begins to loom large, I will be first in line to protest. Just stop fanning the flames of racism! (Oh wait a minute. It's so lucrative for some people!)

I'm for reparations: Let's stop denying African Americans (and other minorities) the opportunities required to pursue the American Dream. All children should have access to quality housing, education, and health care. For too long we have denied equity to disadvantaged groups and then turned around and blamed them for the conditions we created. This has nothing to do with the "white guilt" (a favorite conservative phrase) – this has to do with fairness and decency.

How about apologizing to women, who were denied the right to vote and other civil liberties - and STILL continue to be defamed by people like David Letterman!

Brian G., the only people looking for compensation, a handout, are the typical lazy people of ALL cultures, societies, and ethinicities. Diligent people just want EQUAL opportunity. Slavery, the first holacaust, maybe one day it will be recognize for what it is. No concentration camps, plantations. No train rides to oblivion, boat rides that were fatal for many. The conditions on the ride over from Africa on this ships were horrible. I encourage EVERYONE to go visit the Black American museum in Baltimore where they depict slavery as it was. Combine that with the REAL history of slavery and you will understand why I refer to it as the first holacaust.

After the apology to African Americans, Georgia can apologize to gays as well! Mean-spirited Christianity and the GOP need to apologize for bigotry.

you know an apology would be nice but reparations dont have to come in the form of giving money back to individual people. how about they take that money and go to every inner city and fix it up, repair the roads, repair and rebuild homes, open and maintain community centers and program, give on the job training, free or subsidized clinics and child care, school vouchers give underpriviliged African- Americans what they always wanted, respect and a fair chance!

About time!

Do actions like this really help the lingering feeling of injustice or do they just serve as another reminder? No one who had anything to do with slavery is still alive. It's history. Maybe it'd be best if we left it as history.

I want an apology and handout cause my ancestors were mistreated as immigrants. Where can I get my check?

While they are at it I sure hope they thank all the WHITE AMERICANS that lost their lives fighting slavery. And since the slaves came from Africa shouldn't the African government give an apology? After all they did trade their people and put them them into slavery.

As far as compensation, well, guess that's more money out of my paycheck. (taxes)

Suger Land TX was paved by Black Folks.

Finally, an Obama administration apology I agree with.

And yes, I'm caucasian. A caucasian who is thoroughly disgusted that racism, in every sense, is still prevalent.

Acknowledgement and apology is a good idea. Cash payouts...NO. Maybe this gesture from our government can help us turn the page and move forward once more.

The more energy focused on the past, only helps those stuck there, recreate that experience in their own lives again and again in different ways. Someone else will 'always' be responsible for their life experiences.

Acknowledgement and apology is all that's needed.

Didn't Clinton apologize for this already?? The past is the past and it's time to move on. Those who had the slaves are the ones who should apologize to them, not you or me!

I nor my family or ancestors benefitted from slavery just like millions of other white people in America and we shouldnt take part in any apologizing or compensation. I wont apologize for the actions of others.

Welfare seems to be making up for the wrongs of the past!!

Gr8! and I hope reperations will be next. This way I can get my money from Southern Cousin and Matt in Detroit! We paid reperations to the Japs, Jews, and Red Skins, why not for us?

How about renaming some of these southern cities in the south. Prime example: Lynchburg, Virginia

Jim Crow laws were unhumane, but not as unhumane as the law in place prior to it. I don't even want to get too deep in this, but an apology can't make up for slavery. There may be many African American christians in the U.S., but people from Africa, their primary religion is Islam. So not only were we enslaved, we were brainwashed, whipped, hung, killed. Need I go on?

Oh come on!! The past is the past, the present does not need to apologize for the past. Who are you apologizing to and who are you apologizing for? You weren't my slave and I wasn't your master.

I would think that anyone who had been a slave under a system of state sanctioned slavery should be recompensed.
However slavery was eliminated in the US in 1864 and all those kept in slavery have passed on so it's sort of a moot point.

I guess this is necessary. It could a tactic to keep people in Washington to keep working. Does it mean that there will be payments to go along with it? I can understand the need for an appology. Given that there are questions as to who would receive what, for how long and how much; these are some serious question about goes along with that "I'm sorry" declaration.

That's right, folks. We have nothing better to do in the Senate.

I am a black woman. But I say we don't need an apology from any one. Let by -gone be by-gone. Create an environment where every one has equal opportunity at success or faioure and the blacks will be okay. Otherwise no apology is ever going to feed their kids or pay for their education.

Say your sorry and move on.

Cash for suffering? How about they pay us for being bought by the Europeans, taken to the new world, and in the end educated and included in a higher standard of living than being a POW of their own peoples of Africa. Look at the Great Pyramids of Egypt, could they have been built without slavery? The world should not have to appologize, just recognize that it was wrong and not repeat it.

We should not apologize or give them reparations for something that was committed so long ago. They already get it easy don't throw more fuel on the fire.

We know the republican party will vote NO on this one.

Gee, that should make everything okay. After all, 50 years after they were freed, my people were getting slaughtered, but Obama is afraid to recognize that atrocity.

Sorry, I'm not sorry for anything I didn't do or my ancestors didn't do. I would think now that we have an African American president, all the top athletes, the top actors, the richest woman in the world, etc. that maybe some folks just need to move on. The vast majority of Americans have no connection to slavery whatsoever, other than their own people having been enslaved by someone a long time ago. When are those Romans going to apologize?

I would think that anyone who had been a slave under a system of state sanctioned slavery should be recompensed.
However slavery was eliminated in the US in 1864 and all those kept in slavery have passed on so it's sort of a moot point

Apology, yes. Compensation, no.

Apologize for 400+ years of slavery and no reparations. Something has to give. I don't need a handout, but why has this taken so long to do? I guess having an African American President makes a difference huh?