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Topic: House formally apologizes for slavery and Jim Crow
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Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 29, 2008 11:18 PM
House formally apologizes for slavery and Jim CrowBy JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Tue Jul 29, 7:05 PM ET WASHINGTON - The House on Tuesday issued an unprecedented apology to black Americans for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow segregation laws. ADVERTISEMENT "Today represents a milestone in our nation's efforts to remedy the ills of our past," said Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. The resolution, passed by voice vote, was the work of Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen, the only white lawmaker to represent a majority black district. Cohen faces a formidable black challenger in a primary face-off next week. Congress has issued apologies before — to Japanese-Americans for their internment during World War II and to native Hawaiians for the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893. In 2005, the Senate apologized for failing to pass anti-lynching laws. Five states have issued apologies for slavery, but past proposals in Congress have stalled, partly over concerns that an apology would lead to demands for reparations — payment for damages. The Cohen resolution does not mention reparations. It does commit the House to rectifying "the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow." It says that Africans forced into slavery "were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage" and that black Americans today continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow laws that fostered discrimination and segregation. The House "apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow." "Slavery and Jim Crow are stains upon what is the greatest nation on the face of the earth," Cohen said. Part of forming a more perfect union, he said, "is such a resolution as we have before us today where we face up to our mistakes and apologize as anyone should apologize for things that were done in the past that were wrong." Cohen became the first white to represent the 60 percent black district in Memphis in more than three decades when he captured a 2006 primary where a dozen black candidates split the vote. He has sought to reach out to his black constituents, and early in his term showed interest in joining the Congressional Black Caucus until learning that was against caucus rules. Another of his first acts as a freshman congressman in early 2007 was to introduce the slavery apology resolution. His office said that the House resolution was brought to the floor only after learning that the Senate would be unable to join in a joint resolution. More than a dozen of the 42 Congressional Black Caucus members in the House were original co-sponsors of the measure. The caucus has not endorsed either Cohen or his chief rival, attorney Nikki Tinker, in the Memphis primary, although Cohen is backed by several senior members, including Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. Tinker is the former campaign manager of Harold Ford, Jr., who held Cohen's seat until he stepped down in an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 2006. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_go_co/slavery_apology I couldn't help noticing that Venus is trine Eris less than 1 degree orb. of course...Pluto in Sagittarius is an appropriate placement for ethnic related apology. direct midpoints: Uranus conjunct Neptune/Eris - '17 applying Pluto oppose Saturn/Eris - '44 applying Interested in Eris in regards to diversity,ideology,ethnic relations issues,civil/equal rights Raymond
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koiflower Knowflake Posts: 1605 From: Australia Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 30, 2008 12:29 AM
what are great step - acknowledging past wrongs!!in fact - Yippee!!
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Azul Knowflake Posts: 1 From: Registered: May 2009
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posted July 30, 2008 04:26 AM
It's about time. Better late than never, I guess.As superficial as it may be, no one can move forward until they acknowledge the past. IP: Logged |
Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 30, 2008 10:50 AM
as a person that is part black on my father's side, I am pleased with the formal apology. my current transits that I feel have to do with ethnic relations
Transiting Sun-Mercury in Leo conjunct my South Lunar Node in Leo in 11th, trine my Jupiter in Sagittarius in 3rd which conjuncts my Imum Coeli in Sagittarius Transiting Saturn in Virgo in my 12th square my Jupiter in Sagittarius in 3rd which conjuncts my Imum Coeli in Sagittarius. Transiting Uranus in Pisces in my 7th trine my 9th house ruler Venus in Scorpio in 3rd Transiting Neptune in Aquarius in my 6th square my 9th house ruler Venus in Scorpio in 3rd Sagittarius,9th house relating to other cultures,ethnicities
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Deliverance Knowflake Posts: 124 From: The real world Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 30, 2008 02:01 PM
Yes, the apology is nice, but how does it change things?????You go to a land, steal the people from the land, separate them from their families, they're put on ships where thousands die due to the hellish conditions. They're then taken thousands of miles away from their homes when they arrive in this new land they’re chained & whipped. Forced to do hard labour or else their punished or killed. Women & children raped at the whim of the slave master, children separated from their parents. There language & culture is beaten out of them, these people are treated worse than animals, they have NO RIGHTS......but all is forgiven & people should be pleased because "the house" has said "sorry" .....too little too late. There's a need to make some kind of reparations not only to the African Americans but also to the African nations that were victims of slavery. Talk is cheap.
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Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 30, 2008 02:21 PM
I don't believe that reparations is a good idea. I am totally against it because it will cause a lot of ethnic resentment towards blacks. A lot of people will argue that reparations have been given in the form of welfare and affirmative action.The presidential race is already causing ethnic tension....especially among the democrats with the democratic primary of Hillary vs. Barack ------------------ Stop The Misdiagnosing Of Neurodivergents http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-misdiagnosing-of-neurodivergents IP: Logged |
Dooza unregistered
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posted July 30, 2008 04:50 PM
talk is the beginning!!!!IP: Logged |
Got Gemini? Knowflake Posts: 179 From: Mercury Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 01:09 AM
It is nice but it is not enough. The damage slavery has caused is still being felt today.------------------ Virgo Asc & Mars Gemini Sun Libra Moon (conjunct Pluto 0º in 2nd house) Gemini Mercury Cancer Venus IP: Logged |
koiflower Knowflake Posts: 1605 From: Australia Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 06:22 AM
quote: It is nice but it is not enough. The damage slavery has caused is still being felt today.
Absolutely the damaged will be felt today - it was a really damn messy violation of human rights - even I know that, and I know nothing of American hystory. At least through an initial apology, the first stepping stone towards healing can be felt. It is better that words were spoken yesterday, than never at all. Just wait and see - the best is yet to follow! America is still young!
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alanabelle86 Knowflake Posts: 18 From: Somewhere over the rainbow Registered: May 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 07:06 AM
Thank God. Of course, it's not enough, however, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.
AT LEAST we got this much, it's still a shame though that we had to wait about 143 years to hear it. Better than nothing, I guess. I don't know how I feel about reparations. As I've stated before, I'm a direct descendant from slaves. My mother's family all originate from one area in AL. and that's because my great-great-great-great grandfather was a runaway slave and he found an area in which he didn't get caught and he stayed there. Mainly because of the fear of coming out of hiding, a fear that lasted generations. It's a sensitive topic, no doubt...but at least we got the apology. ------------------ Sagittarius AC, Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Leo IP: Logged |
bvanzy unregistered
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posted July 31, 2008 10:54 AM
Since when did Congress have anything to do with slavery? We live in an age where it is becoming customary to apologise for things that other people did, with the only connection between the sinners and the apologisers being that they are put into the same symbolic group such as "white people" or "Americans".Slavetrading was a multinational and multiracial business. Are Jews and Arabs and current residents of Africa also to apologise for their engagement in the foul practice? IP: Logged |
Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 11:11 AM
Alanabelle,Do you have any 9th house/Sagittarius stuff activated in your chart right now. What about Eris too. ------------------ Stop The Misdiagnosing Of Neurodivergents http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-misdiagnosing-of-neurodivergents IP: Logged |
Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 11:13 AM
Congress has issued apologies before — to Japanese-Americans for their internment during World War II and to native Hawaiians for the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893. In 2005, the Senate apologized for failing to pass anti-lynching laws. so why not to Blacks. also...I believe that an apology should be issued to Native Americans too.
Most blacks are actually part Native American and White too.
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Got Gemini? Knowflake Posts: 179 From: Mercury Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 12:28 PM
Yeah, you guys are right, it IS the first step in the right direction. I am mostly black. My grandmother on my Mother's side is half Cherokee. My father's side came here in 1827 during the slave trade. ------------------ Virgo Asc & Mars Gemini Sun Libra Moon (conjunct Pluto 0º in 2nd house) Gemini Mercury Cancer Venus And yes, i'm a guy! IP: Logged |
venus in gemini Knowflake Posts: 418 From: Florida Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 01:31 PM
Raymond, I just had a thought about Barack Obama, and I wanted to share it with you, and ask your opinion? Do you think that with him winning the Presidency, that act will help balance the karmic debt owed collectively to the black race by this nation? That thought just keeps coming back to me, and it hit me again while I was reading your thread. That in order for a man to become President of the United States, that a majority of the people must choose him over another man. And lots of things go toward making that decision. His political background, of course. But I think people also look at the whole man...his background, his values, his character, his ideals. They decide whether they respect and admire him. Whether he is worthy of their respect. Whether he is worthy of representing us to the rest of the world. Because the President is our figurehead to the rest of the world.So I was just thinking that these are all things that weren't given to an entire race of people. That were taken away from an entire race of people. Respect, value, worth. And now it's finally being given back. Okay, well I'm just thinking out loud. I can understand if others don't agree. But I almost feel like it will go toward balancing the collective karmic debt. Thanks for letting me hijack your thread. IP: Logged |
alanabelle86 Knowflake Posts: 18 From: Somewhere over the rainbow Registered: May 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 01:44 PM
quote: Alanabelle,Do you have any 9th house/Sagittarius stuff activated in your chart right now. What about Eris too.
Mars and Saturn in Virgo are transiting my 9th house Mars and Saturn are both square my Sag AC Saturn is exactly square my Saturn Mars and Saturn are both opposite my Jupiter in the 3rd Natal Mars (4th house ruler= family, ancestry) is currently opposed by transiting Sun and Mercury in the 8th (on my Moon) Venus is conjunct my 9th house cusp Transiting Mars is square my natal 1st house Uranus (ruler of 3rd = relatives) from the 9th I have natal Eris in the 4th house at 15' Aries, and transiting Eris is at 21' Aries... conjunct my NN at 20'Aries Neptune is on my 3rd/9th axis...opposing the 9th house That's all I got, taking a close glance. I'll double check later!
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Deliverance Knowflake Posts: 124 From: The real world Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 01:58 PM
The apology is the 1st step, lets just hope its followed by somthing tangible & isnt just an empty gesture.Where’s the apology to the West Africans & West Indians???? “I don't believe that reparations is a good idea. I am totally against it because it will cause a lot of ethnic resentment towards blacks. A lot of people will argue that reparations have been given in the form of welfare and affirmative action.” Isn’t there a lot of resentment towards blacks already? There’s usually some kind of conflict or resistance before things change – activism. I see your point about affirmative action, but how does affirmative action help West Africans? Welfare is something that helps all citizens not just blacks. IMO some reparations should be made whether that be financially or if requested, assisted repatriations back to Africa.
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Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 06:19 PM
"Raymond, I just had a thought about Barack Obama, and I wanted to share it with you, and ask your opinion? Do you think that with him winning the Presidency, that act will help balance the karmic debt owed collectively to the black race by this nation? That thought just keeps coming back to me, and it hit me again while I was reading your thread. That in order for a man to become President of the United States, that a majority of the people must choose him over another man. And lots of things go toward making that decision. His political background, of course. But I think people also look at the whole man...his background, his values, his character, his ideals. They decide whether they respect and admire him. Whether he is worthy of their respect. Whether he is worthy of representing us to the rest of the world. Because the President is our figurehead to the rest of the world."I honestly don't know. All I care about is a Democrat in the White House. I don't care about the ethnicity nor gender. "Okay, well I'm just thinking out loud. I can understand if others don't agree. But I almost feel like it will go toward balancing the collective karmic debt." Well....thanks for sharing your thoughts "Thanks for letting me hijack your thread." You didn't hijack the thread. There is nothing wrong with putting in few thoughts that can pertain to the thread. I did mention Barack. Peace
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Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 31, 2008 06:21 PM
"Mars and Saturn in Virgo are transiting my 9th houseMars and Saturn are both square my Sag AC Saturn is exactly square my Saturn Mars and Saturn are both opposite my Jupiter in the 3rd Natal Mars (4th house ruler= family, ancestry) is currently opposed by transiting Sun and Mercury in the 8th (on my Moon) Venus is conjunct my 9th house cusp Transiting Mars is square my natal 1st house Uranus (ruler of 3rd = relatives) from the 9th I have natal Eris in the 4th house at 15' Aries, and transiting Eris is at 21' Aries... conjunct my NN at 20'Aries Neptune is on my 3rd/9th axis...opposing the 9th house" Very interesting.....a lot of significant transits that point to dealing with ethnic relations matters.
Thanks for sharing. ------------------ Stop The Misdiagnosing Of Neurodivergents http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-misdiagnosing-of-neurodivergents IP: Logged |
Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 2750 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted August 02, 2008 12:04 PM
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes offering reparations to the descendants of slaves, putting him at odds with some black groups and leaders. ADVERTISEMENTThe man with a serious chance to become the nation's first black president argues that government should instead combat the legacy of slavery by improving schools, health care and the economy for all. "I have said in the past — and I'll repeat again — that the best reparations we can provide are good schools in the inner city and jobs for people who are unemployed," the Illinois Democrat said recently. Some two dozen members of Congress are co-sponsors of legislation to create a commission that would study reparations — that is, payments and programs to make up for the damage done by slavery. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People supports the legislation, too. Cities around the country, including Obama's home of Chicago, have endorsed the idea, and so has a major union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Obama has worked to be seen as someone who will bring people together, not divide them into various interest groups with checklists of demands. Supporting reparations could undermine that image and make him appear to be pandering to black voters. "Let's not be naive. Sen. Obama is running for president of the United States, and so he is in a constant battle to save his political life," said Kibibi Tyehimba, co-chair of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. "In light of the demographics of this country, I don't think it's realistic to expect him to do anything other than what he's done." But this is not a position Obama adopted just for the presidential campaign. He voiced the same concerns about reparations during his successful run for the Senate in 2004. There's enough flexibility in the term "reparations" that Obama can oppose them and still have plenty of common ground with supporters. The NAACP says reparations could take the form of government programs to help struggling people of all races. Efforts to improve schools in the inner city could also aid students in the mountains of West Virginia, said Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP's Washington bureau. "The solution could be broad and sweeping," Shelton said. The National Urban League — a group Obama is to address Saturday — avoids the word "reparations" as too vague and highly charged. But the group advocates government action to close the gaps between white America and black America. Urban League President Marc Morial said he expects his members to press Obama on how he intends to close those gaps and what action he would take in the first 100 days of his presidency. "What steps should we take as a nation to alleviate the effects of racial exclusion and racial discrimination?" Morial asked. The House voted this week to apologize for slavery. The resolution, which was approved on a voice vote, does not mention reparations, but past opponents have argued that an apology would increase pressure for concrete action. Obama says an apology would be appropriate but not particularly helpful in improving the lives of black Americans. Reparations could also be a distraction, he said. In a 2004 questionnaire, he told the NAACP, "I fear that reparations would be an excuse for some to say, 'We've paid our debt,' and to avoid the much harder work." Taking questions Sunday at a conference of minority journalists, Obama said he would be willing to talk to American Indian leaders about an apology for the nation's treatment of their people. Pressed for his position on apologizing to blacks or offering reparations, Obama said he was more interested in taking action to help people struggling to get by. Because many of them are minorities, he said, that would help the same people who would stand to benefit from reparations. "If we have a program, for example, of universal health care, that will disproportionately affect people of color, because they're disproportionately uninsured," Obama said. "If we've got an agenda that says every child in America should get — should be able to go to college, regardless of income, that will disproportionately affect people of color, because it's oftentimes our children who can't afford to go to college." One reparations advocate, Vernellia Randall, a law professor at the University of Dayton, bluntly responded: "I think he's dead wrong." She said aid to the poor in general won't close the gaps — poor blacks would still trail poor whites, and middle-class blacks would still lag behind middle-class whites. Instead, assistance must be aimed directly at the people facing the after-effects of slavery and Jim Crow laws, she said. "People say he can't run and get elected if he says those kinds of things," Randall said. "I'm like, well does that mean we're really not ready for a black president?" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080802/ap_on_el_pr/obama_slavery_reparations I am with Barack Obama on this one. I don't believe in reparations. I do believe that the apology was ok though. After all,other groups of people were apologized for being wronged like the Japanese Americans who were placed in camps. I agree with Obama that the Native Americans should also get an apology too. I actually thought that they got one before. I have a cousin(actually 2nd cousin,first removed...she's related to me through the Portuguese on my mom's dad's father's side)that is half Miwok Native American on her father's side who is a chairman of Rancheria Vista Native American tribe,and she gets a lot of money. She has the capability of starting casinos that generate a lot of profit. I wasn't sure how much money Native Americans got for wrongdoings.
any ways...I believe that more money needs to be put into schools...especially in the predominant poor black areas. I believe that all the poor should be helped out in some way,but they have to help themselves too.
any ways...Obama isn't just for black people. He's for all people. There shouldn't be any worry that he's too biased on the black side to be president of the United States. Obama is not running to president of Black America. He is running to be president of United States of America. Raymond
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