Subject: Letters Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 11:00:42 -0500 From: Armond C Simmons Organization: SIMMONSPORT To: Washinton Times SLAVERY - GET OVER IT! A group of lawmakers on Monday urged Congress to adopt a resolution formally apologizing for the U.S. government's role in supporting and perpetuating slavery over nearly two and a half centuries. In addition, legislation proposing restitution to descendants of slaves is being considered. Who owes whom? Why the continued decades old vindictiveness over slavery? Get over it! Over the ages, my ancestors and yours have chosen at one time or another to place their fellow man into slavery. And for ages, our ancestors have also been slaves to their fellow man. Fortunately over the centuries, man's incivility to man, at least in this form, lessened. The reasons man progressed toward civility are probably a conglomeration. Some might credit a gradual and subtle religious awakening. Others may believe it a continuing positive mutation of our collective mentality. In any case, thank God that slavery was finally abolished globally in the past century except in parts of West Africa where chattel slavery is still practiced. Apparently unbeknownst to many, victimization as slaves was never confined only to blacks or black Americans. They were only the most recent victims. And in deference to their inhuman exploitation, ironically in an historical context, they were the most fortunate of all slaves. In contrast to the terrible fate of our ancestors who became the first known slaves, history's most recent slaves, black Americans, enjoyed the fate of participating in the last historical remnants of slavery and were freed as they witnessed its ultimate abolition. With the abolition of slavery should have come a sense of gratitude, rejoicing and the immediate governmental institution of a Marshall Plan type program of economic mainstreaming of black Americans into the work force. Instead, black Americans have become major political pawns, catered to and maneuvered by politicians through vote-getting legislation of incentive-destroying "handout" monetary subsistence. The multitude of firmly entrenched election-inspired welfare programs have become a way of life never intended. This way of life is represented, protected and continues to flourish today through the efforts of a most powerful, demanding and threatening PAC of clever opportunists, a la Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton, who evolved from the welfare chaos. Finding it easier each day to demand and receive whatever of politicians at all levels and the kowtowing of the media to their each and every whim has encouraged further demands, the latest being their assault on all things "Confederate." And be assured that it won't end here. They are on a roll. The "Slavery Card" is the foundation of a successful socialist movement that most white politicians, white media and white citizens fear but dare not resist. Armond "Si" Simmons 104 Wadsworth Lane Pell City, AL 35128 205 338 7378 205 812 9085 fax 603 737 0833 psysim@voy.net http://earth.vol.com/~psysim/dustoff.htm http://members.tripod.com/psysim/msvn.html