[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Billcat

First of all, the plaintiffs (as well as their children and virtually all of their grandchildren), are long dead, so I'm not convinced that anyone has standing to bring a lawsuit, as no one who was personally enslaved can claim damages. Nor can we give these dead slaves or ex-slaves any sort of justice, save for an apology. Also, those who might have liability, the slaveowners, are also all dead. The statutory period in which to bring a civil action for torts that ceased to occur in 1865 expsired many, many years ago. Also, There is not reason why, given all these factors, the legislature could include provisions in the law for a summary dismissal of any lawsuits seeking reparations.

And surely the same logic (that the people concerned are long since dead and gone) applies where apologies are concerned also. If we had any living slave owners then perhaps the onus would be on them to apologise. I don't see why it is down to the government to do so on behalf of the country as a whole. It wasn't the whole country involved at the time, it was certain people - merchants, ship owners, traders. plantation owners etc. etc. - in fact a minority so why involve everyone?