Hague on Slavery Apology

In the current edition of The Difference magazine, William Hague writes about the inspiration of William Wilberforce's life:

"Many people have argued that it's a nonsense to apologise for something that happened before they were born, but there is an extent to which the benefits of the slave trade are still being enjoyed by the descendents of those responsible. Similarly, the economic and psychological legacies of that holocaust for people from Africa still impact on Africans and people of African descent today, leading many to call for a formal apology from governments of countries that profited. While Tony Blair has expressed 'regret' he has fallen short of a full apology. According to Hague: 'Of course it is beyond regret, it is one of the greatest catastrophes in history.' On a global level there is, he says, 'a vast collective guilt ... and Britain was 'a great agent for change.' 'One of the reasons Wilberforce is such an inspiration is that his own life is an example of what he preached,' says Hague. 'He approached life with the same generosity of spirit that he advocated for others. He ended his life relatively poor, but he has left an enduring framework for society which is being celebrated centuries after his death."

To read more of "William by William: Hague is inspired by the life of Wilberforce" obtain the magazine here.

To let others know who inspires you, add your comment here.

The Challenge Of Freedom

"Racism is the legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade."
That was the challenge from James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, at this evening's Wilberforce Address, made all the more powerful by the presence on stage of the 18-member-strong gospel choir The Tribe Of Judah, who had just moments before been leading a celebration in praise of freedom, to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave-trade.

He concluded his address by saying the country needs a new generation of men and women who can provide moral and political leadership.

David Cameron also spoke, answering questions during a mini "chat show" that what we need is not apology for a past generation's wrongs, but to learn from our shared history. He added that while it is right we should feel great shame for Britain's role in the slave-trade, we should also feel great pride in our role in bringing it to an end. He also noted that it is not political correctness for the Conservative Party to want to see more black and ethnic minority candidates in Parliament - it is a simple recognition of the need for role models in all walks of life.

Blair's Slavery Apology

"I think for us the most important thing now is obviously to remember what happened in the past, to condemn it and say why it was entirely unacceptable."

Not for the first time, I find myself in disagreement with Tony Blair. For one thing, as we approach the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, we ought to be celebrating the efforts of, among others, Thomas Clarkson, William Wilberforce, and the Royal Navy to bring an end to this practice. For another, it seems to me the most important thing now is not constantly apologising for the mistakes of generations gone by, but admitting that we too have made mistakes and need to apologise for these. Readers may wish to suggest a list of current unacceptable policies and practices, but I'll start the ball rolling with the lack of honesty and planning both prior to and since the invasion of Iraq.