Erasing history

[Eva Elisabeth]

(05-02-2013 08:03 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Can we all agree that slavery was a terrible blotch on our country -- as it has been and still is on other nations that deal in human traffic to this day? We are well-educated people who do not need to be reminded that our forefathers (North and South) held slaves 150+ years ago.

The whole idea that the Civil War changed American history is what we should be focusing on instead of trying to make people feel eternally guilty for something that they themselves had no part in. My guilt complex wore off a long time ago, so I now concentrate on trying to get along with other people and helping those who need and those who truly desire help. In my opinion, race relations and relations with other groups would be better off if we the people would remember what happened, learn from it, and move on - instead of using the word "slavery" as a tool to instill guilt. Isn't that the purpose of education? To learn how to do things better?

It comforts me when you say it is more important to care for our current and future relationships with other people than just to be found guilty and to be judged for the evils of former generations. Grown up at the Dutch and Belgium border I soon in life experienced that being born in this country is like bearing the original sin, even if my generation was already the second to follow WWII. I learned that it is the best not to say where you are from and not to travel throughout Europe by car
with a German number plate. (I still can't easily say "I'm German", I'd say "from Germany").
Things have totally changed since the mid-1990ies and especially since the borders throughout Europe fell and we share one currency. Irrespective of political and economical difficulties there is no hostility anymore between the common people.These developments make me quite optimistic about future efforts and achievements of living together peacefully, liberally and justly - at least in the Western World.