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.

[MonroeDNA]

America did not invent slavery.

America did invent the end to slavery.

[Recovering_Democrat]

...and some people say this guy doesn't have any balls.

[Skywalk]

Are Jesse and Al going to apologize for the massive amounts of assistance African chieftains provided in the slave trade and the profits they made from it?

America has nothing to apologize for, the sin of slavery was absolved by the blood spilled by the young sons of the Confederacy and the Union. It is past.

[TrebleRebel]

Couldn't have said it better.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

America didn't have a role in the slave trade. Of course, you'll never convince the Europeans of that.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Nice sentiment, and though I do agree to some extent, slavery as an institution was being faded out and eliminated in Europe before colonization of the New World.

The slave traders in Africa revitalized the practice with Portugese and Spanish colonies moving to the New World--and thus the cycle started again.

My opinion? Christianity ended slavery.

[07055]

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.

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

Nice work if you can get it.

[Howlin]

Bump!

[Jhoffa_]

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.

Good.

Bravo Dubya.

[rdb3]

Good.

[Howlin]

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

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I adore this man -- he makes me proud everyday!

[shaggy eel]

,,, once an apology is extracted, the next step is reparations. Keep those lips buttoned George. No apology is warranted at all.

[Focault's Pendulum]

America did invent the end to slavery.

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

Having said that....what the hell does the below statement mean???

sold as slaves to the New World, including the United States.

[Howlin]

And for the record, I never thought he'd even consider it.

[MalcolmS]

>>>America did invent the end to slavery. <<<

I think if you look into it, you will find that the British ended the slave trade in their domain about 30-50 years before the Civil War.

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I adore this man -- he makes me proud everyday!

[PokeyJoe]

Africa should thank America for ending the practice.

[Jhoffa_]

America did invent the end to slavery.

We actually integrated and elevated the slaves.

I have heard, we are the only nation in history to do this on our own initiave.

?