Apologies and the slave trade

First published on Paul Burgin's blog.

It's good that this weekend has been spent remembering the 200th anniversary of the vote to abolish the slave trade (more of my thoughts on this can be read here), but the question has arisen as to whether it is right to apologise, considering it happened so long ago and those responsible are long since dead! I certainly question paying reperations as where does the money go?The honest answer is I don't know, but I do believe it is right to have a statement of sorrow and regret at the very least as to do otherwise at this time would be a bit crass and it is at least a sign that we have moved forward in attitude.