No, I don't fly the Confederate flag

My apologies to those who have kept tabs on this feeble attempt at a blog and haven't had anything new to read in quite a while. Unfortunately, I find myself boring unto myself and haven't had anything witty to share along the premise of this blog lately. So, today I found myself responding to something and took pause as it might be something of interest to share here. Please take a moment to read the initial story and then my reaction/response. I have included the original story I read bolded below then follow that with the response. Take a moment and feel free to share your thoughts on whether you think I am cracked in the head or not. And without further delay, the story:

Ga. legislators split on slavery apology

ATLANTA, March 9 (UPI) -- The speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives says the state should not apologize for U.S. slavery.

Republican Glenn Richardson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that no one in office now in the state was around when slavery was legal in the United States.

"Maybe I just blanketly apologize to everyone for everything I've ever done," he added.

The Georgia National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held a news conference this week to demand an official apology for the enslavement of African-Americans. Democratic state Rep. Al Williams, head of the Legislative Black Caucus, plans to introduce a resolution, although Richardson said it will not pass this year unless the legislature changes its rules.

Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, a Republican, was less hostile to the idea of an apology than Richardson.

"If saying 'I'm sorry' for something that neither I nor my relatives did to people who are not slaves makes somebody feel better, then I am comfortable doing it," Johnson said.

Gov. Sonny Purdue has so far made no comment.

And my response:

I want to be very clear on things before I respond to this.

1 - I am about as white as they come - blond hair, blue eyed variety of the fair skinned folk.

2 - I do not condone slavery.

3 - I do realize that slavery was more prominent in Africa than in America at the time this nation was born - also this slavery was blacks owning blacks.

4 - I subscribe to the philosophy of not crying over spilt milk.

5 - I also subscribe to the philosophy that forced apology is less genuine than one that a person offers under their own accord.

6 - I think it is pointless for folks to apologize on behalf of others unless said others are incapable of understanding the ramifications of their actions - ex. - young children and mentally handicapped.

Now, with all that said, I'd love for the NAACP to STFU and stick it up their @$$. No one alive today owned any slaves directly. Slavery in those days was common in every country. The slaves in this country were provided to us by individuals with the same heritage as those they were providing (African). There were as many cases of slaves being treated very well as there were cases of abuse. Those who abused slaves more than likely went to their graves with very hardened hearts and must settle their acts with God Almighty Himself. To what end will a formal proclamation of apology issued by a state government lead? Will said apology change the fact that it occurred? Will it represent the feelings of those who held said slaves? Or will it just serve as one more wedge driven into the bond that different races can build outside of said circumstances? At some point, we as a nation must move on and take responsibility for ourselves in today's day and age. The laws of today demand equality for all but the very people who resided here as the original inhabitants. You want to cry to me about needing an apology for being provided extraneous consideration for employment or entry into an institution of higher learning when the people whose land our forefathers stole aren't even considered citizens of this country? This demand is nothing but a ploy to rekindle a flame of hatred that needs to be extinguished not fueled further. Any action that the government of Georgia would have taken would have done nothing to move this country forward and it irritates me that they were put into said situation by the very organization that claims to desire advancement in our culture for their community. OK - I'll get off my soap box now.