February 27, 2007 6:18 AM

Your tax dollars at work...or maybe not

Virginia expresses ‘profound regret’ for slavery

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express “profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said….”This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution,” said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s approval.

Talk about legislation apropos of nothing. No, I’m not going to argue that slavery was a good thing or, conversely, that we have a responsibility to repudiate the sins of the past. What happened, happened. Our history as a slave nation is what it is, and nothing and no amount of legislative mental masturbation will change that. If that sounds harsh, I’m sorry, but I can think of nothing more pointless than apologizing for the sins than occurred seven or eight generations ago. No one in the current Virginia legislature was even remotely involved in the slave trade, so what is it, exactly, that they’re apologizing for? Do they think that they’re assuaging some sort of collective generational guilt? Do they really for a moment think that this apology will change anything for anyone at all?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned at this point in my life, it’s that you cannot change the past. What’s done is done. This is exactly why the ideas of paying reparations for slavery is such a monumentally misguided- no, stupid- idea. There’s nothing that you can do in the present or the future that will change the past one iota. Apologies and reparations serve no positive purpose. They change nothing, and they add nothing positive to the public discussion on the issue of race relations.

If the Virginia Legislature, or any other legislature considering an apology, really wanted to make a difference, there are so many good options available. Scholarship programs, public works, small enterprise financing, parenting classes- all these ideas and more are things that could make a positive difference in predominantly minority and underserved communities. When people have opportunities, they feel better about themselves, their future, and their role in their community. Rather than an empty apologia, why doesn’t the Virginia Legislature put it’s money where it’s collective mouth is? Why not come up with programs designed to address needs in inner cities? Why not fund scholarship programs? Why not fund drug treatment programs? Why not come up with programs designed to get- and keep- kids of the streets?

While the Virginia Legislature is collectively patting itself on the back, they should keep in mind that they’ve accomplished exactly NOTHING…except to make themselves feel better. What a phenomal waste of time, energy, and- worst of all- taxpayer money.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 27, 2007 6:18 AM.

What a different a letter makes, eh? was the previous entry in this blog.

We should all aspire to make a difference like this is the next entry in this blog.

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