AN APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY?

24-03-2007

This weekend marks the 200th anniversary of the Act of Parliament which abolished slavery, and we've received this thought-provoking submission on our messageboard from “Wolvo Born And Bred”. We thought it raised such important issues, we'd put it on the front page too.

Unsurprisingly, the 200th anniversary of the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade is creating quite a stir in the media. Now, I'm far from an expert in national history, but even I recognise this country's shameful past and the part it had to play in enslaving our fellow human beings, whether black, white or otherwise.

It's a disgraceful episode that makes all right-thinking people cringe with embarrassment, whatever their colour or ethnicity. Certainly, such episodes make me wonder where the 'great' in 'Great Britain' came from.

However, I think it's worth raising and debating a few pertinent questions, in an attempt to take a more balanced view of matters. For example, I note that many people are demanding that Britain - more specifically Tony Blair - makes a formal apology on our behalves.

Speaking for myself only, I would ask: ‘how can we effectively apologise for a crime for which we, the current white generation, are not responsible in any way, shape or form?' This is not meant as a derogatory or insensitive statement, merely an observation made by reasoned assessment of the blatantly obvious.

Yes, we are quite able to express a deep and meaningful regret for our ancestors' actions. Yes, we are quite able to express our hopes that such barbaric treatment will be wiped from the face of our planet forever -but apologise for the actions of others? How, precisely, can we do THAT?

The only people who can make a proper, genuine and heartfelt apology are those who were actively involved in the disgusting slave trade…and, as they're very much dead (and have been for centuries, if anyone hadn't noticed), well, that could be a pretty difficult task!

Furthermore, the persecuted souls who were on the receiving end of such shameful treatment are long since passed -so they certainly won't be around to hear an apology, will they? In a nutshell, it is THEY, and they alone, who are the ones to whom an apology is owed - but it simply can't be given, and nothing can change that fact.

If any sort of official apology CAN be made, it can only be on the pretext that we, the British people, do not condone, nor support the actions of our ancestors - but that's not quite the same thing. More than that, I cannot apologise for. Certainly, the present generation cannot - and should not- shoulder the blame for government policies of a bygone age….and a VERY bygone age at that, being two centuries since.

It cannot be denied that this nation's wealth and prosperity is historically founded upon the exploitation of other, distant lands - slavery being an abhorent part of that equation. However, it has to be said that Britain is no better -or worse - than many other nations.

This isn't an absolvence of blame, merely the simple facts of the matter. ‘Human exploitation' is a word that could apply, in great probability, to virtually every nation that exists today, to some degree or other. So, universally unique in our shameful past we are not. Far from it, actually.

Even black-governed nations have a history of propogating enslavement, though this is not as widely discussed, of course. Nevertheless, it is just as pertinent a subject matter.

Furthermore, I also understand that certain black people were willingly involved in aiding our former slave trade, thereby profitting from the sale of THEIR OWN PEOPLE to Britain and the United States. That being so, will the present-day descendants of these pariahs also be expected to apologise on their ancestors' behalf? It could reasonably be argued, after all, that this was the ultimate act of treachery to one's own race, and just as deserving of an apology.

Come to think of it, just where do you draw the line under all of this? It seems to me that the world and his dog has something to apologise for at some time or other in global history. Obscenities committed to our fellow man are not limited to slavery, either….but I won't go there!

Returning to the matter of Britain's ill-gained wealth, is it not extremely ironic that the present incumbents of Great Britain - irrespective of colour or creed - are, in effect, enjoying the fruits of a demeaning, bloody history founded on slavery?

Which of those amongst us, I wonder, are prepared to take the higher moral ground and forego their comfortable lifestyles when faced with such a tidal wave of human suffering and exploitation? You see, the truth is, such atrocities helped pave the way for us to be the affluent nation we are today….and that's a very sobering thought. The answer to my question is, of course: ‘not many -if any'.

That's quite unsurprising given Man's tendency to enjoy living in his comfortable present, rather than the uncomfortable past -but only when it suits him, of course (it's amazing how people's scruples disappear if the price is right, as we all know….).

And another question: precisely how do we define 'slavery', as such? Could not our old soldiers, themselves prisoners at the whim of the Japanese army, make a similar case of ‘slavery' during the Second World War? Could not our Anglo-Saxon forebears also be described as little more than slaves to those invading tyrants, the Normans? Could we also not discuss the several centuries of Roman rule that brutally dominated England and her people?

I suppose I could go even further and raise the question of shanghai'd white prisoners who were systematically shipped out to colonise the new continent of Australia as slave labour.

So - and contrary to popular belief- it could be said that the British ‘establishment' of the time were equally as happy to enslave whites as blacks: it just depends upon how you look at it. Those white convicts, too, would have a story of dreadful hardship and suffering to tell - so perhaps it's an issue that should be given just as much publicity?

Pain, suffering and torment are non-racist in that they know no barriers, irrespective of your particular colour: a point worth remembering, I feel. And on the subject of ‘Down Under' one can only assume that Mr. Blair will also be required to ‘apologise' to the present-day Australians. However, I imagine they're too preoccupied with surfing activities and beating England at every sport under the Anzac sun to even notice -or care, come to that. As I said earlier, just where do you draw the line?

You may take it for granted that I do not expect apologies any time soon from the French, Japanese or Italian governments. Even if they did, it would mean absolutely nothing to me. Time has moved on and there are no British slaves alive today that can vouch for their own, personal suffering -old Japanese POW's excepted, that is.

Yes, we should all learn and heed - especially our children- the lessons of history in order that certain chapters are never repeated. Slavery was, regrettably, just one example of Man's inhumanity to Man - but it is NOT exclusively the White Man's evil, contrary to how the picture is painted.

Black involvement and profitting in the slave trade is just one area that needs airing, amongst others. No, we can't just sweep it all under the carpet, but we must teach our children a balanced, fair perspective. Whether that will be achievable, given the seemingly race-obsessed, PC world we live in, is another matter entirely.

In closing, I hold one hope where the topic of slavery is concerned: it is that those white men who were instrumental in petitioning for slavery's abolition will be given their due and rightful credit. What they achieved - especially in the face of what must have been great adversity at the time- should never be underestimated.

These people were both liberators and humanists and should be extolled as such. Their actions were proof that people, both good and bad, are to be found in every race, creed and colour. There's no exceptions to this rule, and my life has taught me as much.

That, to me, is far more important in the greater scheme of things than an empty, almost pointless ‘apology' that would -if we're honest- have to be made by an innocent generation that's been saddled with the someone else's guilt. Enough said.