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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Jun 2006 : 23:36:28
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I have not heard of anything like this happening before.
Sorry is often said to be the hardest word but Andrew Hawkins felt compelled to apologise to a crowd of thousands of Africans.
His regret was not for his own actions but offered on behalf of his ancestor, who traded in African slaves 444 years ago.
Sir John Hawkins was a 16th Century English shipbuilder, merchant, pirate and slave trader.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5105328.stm
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 00:31:15
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Thanks Newfy.
You are a defender of rights and especially indegenes. It looks like every family has a skeleton in the cupboard.
We ahve a saying that do not ever argue with an elder if you don not want to hear the nasty part of your life. This supports your posting of the African saying, when an elder dies, it is like burning a library. |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 04:16:36
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Tanks..Im just a human being like everyone else.. i guess.
by the way, your avatar who is he? |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 04:21:31
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| is your avatar Walter Sislu? |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 22:15:35
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Thanks Newfy, It was incredibly powerful to hear Andrew Hawkins apologizing to millions on behalf of his great grand parents. The news from BBC woke me up from my sleep.
Subsequently, I heard the BBC reporter asking someone why there was need for the apology and if it will make any difference. As you said, "sorry is often said to be the hardest word to offer" in sincerity. It is used so often especially in the U.S that it is often not sincere and people use it unconciously.
This one was really powerful and it was needed. What people need to understand is that what happened generations ago is still hunting people right at this minute. It is largely responsible for the disparity in wealth and economic prosperity around the world.
For example, the impact of slavery can be evidently seen among African Americans and Black people in general. The core foundation of the family was systematically destroyed and therefore the foundation could not be rebuilt for generations. As a result, poverty, lack of family values, Responsibility and morality disappeared from generation to generation. So the transition and handing over of knowledge, wealth and responsibility from parent to child was destroyed.
This is significantly why generations could not recover from what they lost and therefore the playing field could never be equal. This is quite evident in our day to day lives. This is why I strongly believe the U.S should apology for slavery and there should be reperation not to compensate individuals but to try to restore the foundation of the family that was destroyed. This is what many people on the other side cannot understand.
Reconciliation and forgiveness is a necessity for the world to move forward.
Peace |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2006 : 17:59:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Newfy
is your avatar Walter Sislu?
Yes it was. But some memebers wanted the previous avatar and i have switched again. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 21:31:27
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Baldeh, i couldn't disagree more. i'm almost short of saying you're trying to make an 'Excuse'
both Germany and Jews recovered from WWII & the Holocaust which were equally disastrous. as many people died from WWII as were enslaved. did it have the same inpact on Europe ofcourse yes.
the Slave trade did not start with Andrew Hawkins ancestors, nor Europeans in general. it just increased in magnitude. the problems of blacks in the US not the same as problems of africans. One has to do with you explanation including years of discrimination and segregation.
in africa it more do to with the after effects of corrupts leaders and dictators
i agree with Ablie Wadda of Senegal, talking of reparations is just silly and cheapens human life just like slavery, who do you compensate?? |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 22:59:31
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I feel very uncomfortable with Andrew Hawkins apology. HE isnt responsible for his forefathers actions...... Just like Germans now arent responsible for the persecution of Jews.
Slavery does still exist in 2006..perhaps our attention to this would be more worthwhile? |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 23:05:41
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| Hawkins cannot apolgise for slavery. May be the governments should. They are the representative of the people not Hawkins. Unless we see that, this is just another show. Personally i am not moved by it and i am not sure if he speaks for the majority. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 23:18:19
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Kondorong/Gambiabev
strangely you're both on the right track. we can learn a lot from the Holocaust.
african should equally appologise for the success of the Transtlantic Slave trade . regarding Hawkins this is not just a distraction but it makes us all hipocrites. there is slavery in Mauritania and i dare say its imported into The Gambia by Mauritanian shopkeepers. if you look you will see it.
those who talk about reparations and things that happened 200yrs ago should DO something about it today. |
Edited by - njucks on 27 Jun 2006 23:19:50 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 23:37:30
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
Kondorong/Gambiabev
strangely you're both on the right track. we can learn a lot from the Holocaust.
african should equally appologise for the success of the Transtlantic Slave trade . regarding Hawkins this is not just a distraction but it makes us all hipocrites. there is slavery in Mauritania and i dare say its imported into The Gambia by Mauritanian shopkeepers. if you look you will see it.
those who talk about reparations and things that happened 200yrs ago should DO something about it today.
I was discussing the problems in Mauritania just few hours ago with a friend. How strange you rmemeberd almost the same time. Africans also ahve a shere of the blame. Well its not strange for me to see eye to eye with Gambiabev. Sometimes views converge. It just shows we can be independent in thinking and yet share some ideals. Who knows if Kobo will not one day be on the same side with Bamba. Oops did i say that |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 23:42:52
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Really I think we are all on the same side. We are idealists wanting to improve the world.
History is an important lesson...but we shouldnt be blind as to what is going on under our noses today. |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 02:11:08
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| And yes, history does repeat itself too. There are survivors from the Holocaust who are in their eighties. They still have the tatoos on their arms that do not go away with the memories, memories can be triggered very easily if you have ever been in a life threatening situation. The world, the European world may look on the surface that it hasPerhaps the world has changed externally, but it can be very difficult to permanently erase internally such degradation to the human spirit. These conditions can be carried over into the next generatoin depending on the historic conditions which one is born into. We can not close our eyes to history. |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 02:15:25
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It is said that in Remembrance there is life!
Lets not forget that we came here on the shoulders and backs of many who came before us.. Mandela had a Tamba and Sislu and probably many other innocent unsung youth and families who were killed in the Sharpeville massacre. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 02:36:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Newfy
And yes, history does repeat itself too. There are survivors from the Holocaust who are in their eighties. They still have the tatoos on their arms that do not go away with the memories, memories can be triggered very easily if you have ever been in a life threatening situation. The world, the European world may look on the surface that it hasPerhaps the world has changed externally, but it can be very difficult to permanently erase internally such degradation to the human spirit. These conditions can be carried over into the next generatoin depending on the historic conditions which one is born into. We can not close our eyes to history.
Rememberance of the second world war and holocaust always alienates Germans and politicise a kind of divide and rule policy btween allied and non-allied or those for protection of the jews and those who were against them, which is not helping mending international relations and world peace. So long as certain rituals continue, to the extent of which UN sponsors Auztswich ceremonies and other political historical celebrations; there is no hope for world peace! |
Edited by - kobo on 28 Jun 2006 02:37:23 |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 04:44:42
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| My friend as long as any people hate another people, whether they are of any ethnicity, creed, faith or whatevah, then "world peace" does not exist. Hatred, greed, egotism and interest in ultimate power and control are the killers which translate in the extermination of people around the world, not just Jewish people, Gypsies, Gays, Africans, Asians, Caribbean, Latinos, Native Americans, you name it. We are the same species, why are we destroying each other for what purpose? |
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