Family History

My Great-great-grandfather fought for the Confederacy.  I do not know for certain if he owned slaves.  I know for sure that his father did.

I have had people post statements that maybe I and people like me should apologize for my ancestors.

Now I could bring up the story about how my Great-great-grandfather was supposed to have manumitted slaves when he inherited them.  I could bring up the story about how he joined the Confederacy only when the Union soldiers burned down his grist mill.  I could bring up how members of my family fought and died for the Union, giving their lives to end slavery.   I could use all of these excuses as a way not to apologize.

But I will not.  I will not use these excuse because that is just what they are.  I will not apologize for a very simple reason – I never owned a slave and I do not condone the ownership of another human being so I have nothing to apologize for.

I do not hold you or anyone else responsible for the actions of someone else – nor should you.  By the way: why should you be apologized to anyway – you were not held in slavery anyway.  Maybe your ancestor was but you sure as hell were not.

Close the blame book and grow up.  Be responsible for your actions and I promise to be responsible for mine.