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Article: A mistaken apology for slavery.(OPINION)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- January 11, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Mackubin Thomas Owens
Newport, R.I. -- This week, New Jersey became the first Northern state to apologize for slavery. The resolution expresses "profound regret ... for the wrongs inflicted by slavery and its aftereffects in the United States...."
Slavery is indeed a terrible stain on America and there seems to be no harm in issuing such an apology. But New Jersey's act trivializes an important issue and contributes to a misunderstanding of the principles upon which the United States was founded.
The fact is that no contrition today can match the eloquence - and atonement - represented by the many "honored dead" who "gave the last full ...