Which Way, L.A.?
Are Apologies Necessary
Slavery is over, but its legacy remains. Should there be a formal apology? Clinton avoided a public "I'm sorry" in his recent speech on race relations, but members of Congress are pushing for one. What impact would a public apology for slavery have? When are public regrets appropriate -- and what justifies those that remain unsaid?
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readCongressman Tony Hall: Democratic Congressman from Ohio, sponsoring legislation for a formal apology for slavery. Genethia Hayes: Executive Director, Southern Christian Leadership Conference. David Horowitz: President, Center for the Study of Popular Culture. Author of Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey. Professor Eric Foner: Professor of History, Colombia University. Author of Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution. Dr. Donald W. Shriver: Past president and professor of ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Wrote 12 books, most recent is: An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness in Politics. Ordained Presbyterian minister. Ph.D from Harvard Divinity School. Dr. Michael Learner: Editor of Tikkun Magazine, author of numerous books, including, with Dr. Cornel West, Jews and Blacks: Let the Healing Begin. Holds Ph.Ds in philosophy and in clinical psychology. William Hohri: Japanese American who was interned at Manzanar during World War II, was instrumental in effort to get an apology. Columnist for Rafu Shimp, LA's daily Japanese newspaper and author of Repairing America: An Account of the Movement for Japanese-American Re-dress. Patt Morrison: Columnist for the Los Angeles Times, host of KCET's "Life and Times." Brad Carson: President, Venice Community Housing Corporation. (For his work there, he's been named the official Hometown Hero for the Dodgers this Saturday) James Woodford: Political writer covering aboriginal affairs for Australia's Sydney Morning Herald.
