Slavery: Bush won't say sorry

News24 (South Africa) ^ | July 2, 2003 | Deon Lamprecht

[fightinJAG]

Slavery: Bush won't say sorry 02/07/2003 23:16 - (SA)

Deon Lamprecht

Washington - President George W Bush will not apologise for America's historical role in the slave trade during his Africa visit, White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer said on Wednesday.

On the first leg of his trip next week Bush will visit Goree Island off the coast of Senegal.

Thousands of West Africans were taken off the island and sold as slaves to the New World, including the United States. His itinerary will include a visit to the island's slave fort.

During a daily White House press briefing Fleischer said Bush's speech in Senegal would not include an apology, although the president did regard the island visit an important opportunity to discuss moral questions such as slavery, freedom and democracy.

Some black civil rights leaders have criticised Bush for taking part in an affirmative action case against Michigan University and said he should apologise for slavery on Goree Island, regarded by some in the US as having a profound symbolic significance.

He will also meet various regional African leaders on the island. The democratisation of Africa and trade agreements will feature high on the agenda, said Fleischer.

In Uganda Bush will promote his $15bn Aids plan for Africa, which he said was modelled on the Ugandan approach - a combination of sexual abstinence and education about the use of condoms.

Bush will be accompanied by his wife Laura, who as a former teacher will address school pupils and promote Aids awareness.

The couple will also visit a "famous game reserve", possibly in South Africa or Botswana.

[annyokie]

Quite right.

[Jhoffa_]

Just so you'll know, this would have been a BIG BLACK MARK on Bush for me.

Me also. I am frankly sick and tired of being told to hang MY HEAD for the actions of others.

I am glad he just left this dog lie..

[F16Fighter]

$15 billion to tell people not to have sex but if they do, to use a condom?

Nice work if you can get it.

LOL -- And are these condoms gold-tipped??

[annyokie]

fixed

[RLK]

I have no interest in myself or my president appologising for decisions or a way of life in which I had no say.

[The Brush]

Even 15 billion can't manufacture common sense.
Abstinence requires more than education and a condom requires common sense.
Some problems have no solutions and AIDS seems to be the only threat that (might) change minds.

[GOPcapitalist]

Just a small point...but Great Britain outlawed slavery quite a few years before the US.

IIRC, the span was only about 20 years.

[billbears]

America did not invent slavery.

Correct

America did invent the end to slavery.

Sorry, not even close. Slavery was peacefully being phased out decades before the 1860s.

[JennysCool]

Americans do better than apologize.

WASHINGTON - From now through 2003, up to 35 million people in Africa will need food aid. The U.S. Agency for International Development is working with its partners--the World Food Program, other donors, and the private voluntary community--to deliver up to 2.75 million metric tons of food to help meet this need. In addition, USAID is working with the governments to address longer-term structural problems through agriculture, health, education, and natural resource management programs.

Southern Africa
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe will be in need of humanitarian food aid between now and next year's harvest. Among the principal factors are drought, floods, poor policy and economic mismanagement. A contributing factor is the debilitating rate of HIV/AIDS infection in southern Africa. The United States has delivered or pledged more than 500,000 metric tons of food aid since the beginning of 2002. At a total value of more than $266 million, the U.S. government is the largest donor to the World Food Program's operations in southern Africa.

Horn of Africa
In Ethiopia and Eritrea, millions of people are vulnerable to food shortages brought on by a severe drought. USAID had been monitoring the situation through its Famine Early Warning System, and started sending emergency food assistance in July. Since then, the United States has given $106 million in food assistance to Ethiopia and Eritrea, or over 278,000 metric tons, of food.

Sudan
With the recent cessation of hostilities, and both parties agreeing to unhindered humanitarian access, the World Food Program expects that its caseload will increase significantly. Most recently, USAID contributed 46,030 metric tons of food assistance, an estimated value of $40.1 million.

Angola
Angola requires emergency food assistance during the critical pre-harvest months of December and January. The U.S. government contributed 130,150 metric tons of emergency food commodities, valued at $98 million, to Angola in 2002. USAID has been monitoring the situation in Angola since early 2002 when areas previously inaccessible to humanitarian aid revealed pockets of severe food insecurity.

USAID's Commitment to Africa
To reinforce its development commitment, USAID is launching four new special initiatives this year in Africa: in agriculture, trade, education, and good governance. Increasing agricultural productivity in particular is key to Africa's efforts to reduce widespread poverty. Agriculture is the foundation for most African economies, supporting over 70% of the population and contributing an average of 30% of gross domestic product.

Action, not words.

Again, Dubya makes the right choice.

[chachacha]

Some black civil rights leaders have criticised Bush for taking part in an affirmative action case against Michigan University and said he should apologise for slavery

I think you bottom feeding black terrorist idiots should free your people and allow them to express themselves with out being called an Uncle Tom. You have done more damage and corrupted more of the young impressionable minds in the black community than lucifer could have ever dreamed of corrupting.

Get a life, Get a real job, move over and let your folks grow and be free. You are the real slave Masters.

[F16Fighter]

During a daily White House press briefing Fleischer said Bush's speech in Senegal would not include an apology, although the president did regard the island visit an important opportunity to discuss moral questions such as slavery, freedom and democracy.

MEMO TO DUBYA:

Slavery: BAD

Freedom: GOOD

Democracy: GOOD

[billbears]

Just so you'll know, this would have been a BIG BLACK MARK on Bush for me.

Say what?!?! You mean there is actually a way for ol' Dub to look bad in your eyes? LOL Howlin, there's hope for you yet!!

And you know I'm just pickin' on you in fun

[Wonder Warthog]

"America did invent the end to slavery."

Actually, Great Britain outlawed chattel slavery throughout the British Empire well before the US Civil War (though "economic" slavery continued). The US "did" invent the end of slavery on its own territory.

[gitmo]

President George W Bush will not apologise for America's historical role in the slave trade during his Africa visit, White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer said on Wednesday.

Didn't we take care of this with the last administration?

[mass55th]

Billy Jeff already apologized.

[reformed_dem]

What would he have to apologize for? He had nothing to do with slavery.