The obsequious self-haters are at it again over Britain’s slave trade history. This, from Dr Rowan Williams on today’s slave trade walk:
The intention of today is not only to renew that act of repentance, not just an apology but repentance, acknowledgement that we were part of this terrible history, but also to wake people up to where we are now, the fact there still are problems.
It’s an opportunity to involve people whose ancestors were involved in this, who are still feeling the effects of it, and so bring to light some of what it meant, some of what it cost.
No! For crying out loud; No! No! And thrice, no!
Britain’s role in the slave trade ceased two centuries ago. Our apology was that we led the way with abolition. So far as I am aware, unless there are people who managed to live for a couple of centuries or more, no one involved in this trade is still alive – either as a trader, owner or slave. They are all dead, gone and buried long since. Therefore, I do not feel any repentance whatsoever and there is no reason why I should – I wasn’t bloody-well born. I cannot take responsibility for the actions of others and do not plan to do so.
Frankly, if you want to do something about slavery, then stop grovelling in self-indulgent, facile acts of “repentance” and fucking well tackle the traffickers in Africa who are still taking people as slaves for the middle east. Ah, but, that’s all okay, isn’t it? It isn’t white people doing it, so we can just let that one slip under the radar. Only white people are capable of such evil, so only white people must be made to feel ashamed of their roots. Well, I fucking well don’t. You see, I am well aware that Africa played a huge part in the slave triangle. Who captured people and sold them to the slavers in the first place? It wasn’t the white Europeans, it was black Africans. And Africa is still doing it. So you’ll excuse me if I throw up at the steaming dog turd of hypocrisy being served up by the Archbishop and the pompous chain-bound marchers. The rank dishonesty and self-loathing inherent in the current obsession with Britain’s past involvement in slavery is deeply sickening.
In the procession was a group who walked 250 miles from Hull – the parliamentary seat of the abolitionist MP William Wilberforce – in yokes and chains.
You self-indulgent arseholes. I don’t know who you are claiming to speak for, but be absolutely sure that it isn’t me. I distance myself from such cringing, cringe-making, egotistic servility as I can. You sicken and disgust me with your hypocrisy and snivelling self-loathing. Well, I loathe you too and everything you represent.
The Archbishop of the West Indies, Drexel Gomez, who symbolically released the Hull walkers, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he believes an apology is in order.
No, it is not. The only people who can apologise are dead, as are the people wronged. It’s done; history; gone. Yes, look back; yes, remind ourselves what inhumanity man is capable of – then do something about the slavers in Africa. Ah, but hand-wringing over Britain’s past doesn’t actually involve doing anything, does it? So much simpler to indulge in a little self-flagellation and faux guilt than deal with real live complicated issues like slavers in modern Africa. After all, that would mean challenging one’s prejudices about black people doing bad things to other black people now, wouldn’t it?
However, Christopher Madres-Smedley, a descendant of plantation owner John Pinney, says he does not propose to apologise.
He said: “I feel very strongly that an apology is a great human act, and a very good act, but you apologise for what you have done.”
“Slavery stopped 200 years ago, that’s quite a lot before I was born, I am therefore in no position to apologise.”
Ah, a voice of reason. Quite right.