Saturday, July 5, 1997

Apology for slavery could be 1st step in ending racism

By Lauren R. Stanley / Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Several weeks ago, the president of the United States proposed apologizing to all African-Americans for the horrendous sin of slavery. The time has come, Bill Clinton said, when we should think about doing this as a nation.

His proposal was met with much laughter and derision, and has caused tremendous debate around the country.

Some people, who should know better, have taunted Clinton for being the apologizing president. After all, Clinton already has apologized to the survivors of both the Tuskegee syphilis experiments and the radiation experiments that took place earlier this century. So if he were to apologize again - for a vastly greater sin - these folks reason, Clinton's whole presidency will be defined by two words: "We're sorry."

Other folks - mostly whites - have decried the very idea of an apology because THEIR people weren't even in this country when slavery took place. Therefore, they reason, an apology from them, or on their behalf, isn't necessary.

And still others - both black and white - denigrate the idea because it won't "accomplish" anything. No tangible effects, no dice, they say.

The debate has raged ever since Clinton speculated about apologizing. No firm decision has been made either way; perhaps the White House is waiting to see what public opinion has to offer.

But for me - and I would hope, for many - there is no need to debate. An apology for one of the worst sins every committed by humanity is necessary as the first step in ending racism.

Those who say the president has apologized enough are wrong. No one ever has apologized for the sin of slavery; comparing other apologies to this one is comparing apples to oranges.

Those who say, "My people weren't even HERE during slavery," miss the point. If their people - like mine - weren't here during slavery, then they also weren't here for the Revolution and Independence Day, or for many other events in which we, as a nation, participate. Not being here for celebrations doesn't stop us from celebrating, does it? Are we entitled to claim our heritage only for the good, and not for the bad?

Those who say an apology won't "accomplish" anything make the worst argument, because they are wrapped up in the here-and-now of tangible effects only. These are the people who need a "payoff," something they can grasp tightly in their own hands, as an incentive to do anything. These are the people who, if they persuade Clinton to abandon the idea of an apology, are themselves committing a sin. Because their focus isn't on what's right or wrong. It's on what's in it for them. And we are not created to live a life devoted to ourselves and what's best for us.

I know darn well that if the president of the United States were to stand up in the most public place he could find and say to all African-Americans, "We, as a nation, are sorry," there would be little tangible effect. Racism, which is as rampant now as it ever has been, would not disappear overnight. People of all colors and hues would not suddenly begin to get along with one another.

But is that a reason to avoid saying, "We're sorry"?

I think not.

We were created out of an act of love to live in love. And living in love - of God, ourselves and our neighbors - means we sometimes have to repent of our sins and, as a first step, be willing to say, "We're sorry."

We shouldn't say that if we're looking for a tangible result, because that's not true repentance. That's simply playing with another person's emotions to get what we want.

Repentance means changing our ways so much that we turn around - "do a 180," as they say. It means meaning what we say, and then acting out what we've just said in our new lives.

If we as a nation are going to apologize for the sin of slavery - and I think we should - that's what we will have to do. First repent of our ways, apologize, then ACT on the apology.

If we aren't willing to do so - if we aren't willing to live as God created us to live, in love - then the naysayers are right, and we shouldn't apologize.

But if we're willing to try - to make an honest effort that will support the words - then we should say, as a nation, "We're sorry."

And begin living a life of love. Just as God created us to do,

(The Rev. Lauren R. Stanley, a former assistant news editor for the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, is a deacon at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke, Va. Readers may write to Stanley care of Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, 790 National Press Building, Washington, D.C., 20045.)

(c) 1997, Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.