In this case, those who were directly affected had been asking for an apology. They'd had one from the Australian government, and now have one from the UK.

They now have "closure" which, while it means it cannot undo the wrongs, those wrongs have been acknowledged.

I can't see anything wrong with it.

I think there certainly should be some sort of compensation, though not necessarily financial. It's just the apology I'm not in favour of.

I can't see him or any of his successors apologising for the poo we're in at the moment but I feel that we should apologise to the world for his indiscretions.......

Tangerines indeed

Al

You may well be right about the apology. However, it's standard practice and has been for-virtually-ever. It's called diplomacy.

Yes but there are their descendants. Though Britain had few of those, and we stopped the slave trade more than a hundred years before the Americans.

Didn't Michael Moore point out in one of his books that it's really only been a couple of generations since the slave trade stopped, in some instances?
(i.e. his great grand father remembered the slave industry)

Say he was born on 1960, his father would probably have been born in roughly 1920, His grandfather in about 1880, his great grandfather in say 1840. These are generous estimates, as the further back in history you go the earlier people tended to have children and the shorter their own lives. Slavery was abolished in the States in 1860, So it's just about possible. But I don't see how it's relevant to what Moore himself is or is not responsible for. I think he should apologise for making some lamentable hectoring polemics and claiming they were entertainment but slavery? Christ no.

And anyway, where do you stop? Do we have the right to ask the Italians for an apology for the Romans coming over here and kicking over everyone's mud huts? if not, how far back can you go? Who sets the cut off point for inherited indignation?

It's ludicrous. The sins of the father do not reflect upon the son. I will apologise for any transgressions I have committed. I will not apologise for something someone who coincidentally happened to be born in the same country as me hundreds of years ago did, nor will I endorse any apology given 'on my behalf' for what they did. I didn't do it, I don't have to apologise for it. Full stop.

Jon

There's nothing wrong with apologising for something you're ashamed or sorry about. With regards to the actions of our forefathers, it simply recognises the fact that it was wrong and shouldn't happen again. Without such recognition, the sins of the father will be visited upon the son a thousand times.

Where does it end? It ends when people no longer relate to the events, or when they've already been laid to rest.

I'm very sorry about my Viking ancestors with their raping and pillaging. I promise I probably won't follow in their footsteps.

I have often felt it a bit useless. Let's say the British apologise to the Chinese for some previous wrongdoin. IMO unless it was the same Govt or very recent, the apology means very little. More like lip service than anythig else.

I think however that such a simple thing can be more beneficial so even if you think it's a waste of time, if it fosters good relations with that country/population then it is a good thing and worthwhile to do.

Somebody appreciates it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8534320.stm

Well, more fool him. Still if it makes a difference, then I guess it must have been worth it.

Of course if you want to take the thread title literally then I have to do this on a regular basis to SWMBO.

Just because I didn’t do it (and often don’t even know what “it” is that I haven’t done) is no reason in her logic why I shouldn’t apologise

I would like to apologise now for my non involvement for the genocide of the Neanderthals I was on holiday at the time. I would also like to apologise for blaming Noah for the great flood. I now now that it was a person called god who was responsible for that.

When I first saw the thread title, that's exactly what I thought it was about!

SWMBO????