New Jersey the latest to apologize for slavery

I don't know if any of you read this, but yesterday New Jersey became the 5th state to officially apologize for slavery. You can read the resolution HERE, but be sure to come back after you do!

In case you aren't terribly interested in reading the entire 5 page document, I'll post what I feel are the "highlights."

"The Legislature of the State of New Jersey expresses its profound regret for the State’s role in slavery and apologizes for the wrongs inflicted by slavery and its after effects in the United States of America"

OK, that's warm and fuzzy, but offers nothing more than lip service. Personally, I think we've apologized for slavery more than enough and I also believe that no matter how much we apologize for slavery, it will never resolve the issue for some people.

"expresses its deepest sympathies and solemn regrets to those who were enslaved and the descendants of those slaves, who were deprived of life, human dignity, and the constitutional protections accorded all citizens of the United States"

Again, lip service. Now they are not only apologizing for slavery, but to the descendants of those slaves for how many generations? Does this somehow make people feel better?

"and we encourage all citizens to remember and teach their children about the history of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and modern day slavery, to ensure that these tragedies will neither be forgotten nor repeated."

Does New Jersey actually believe that slavery will somehow be forgotten? I guarantee there are far too many people out there unwilling to move past this for it to be forgotten.

Don't an overwhelming majority of U.S. Citizens already deem slavery as an abomination? Does New Jersey feel that somehow this resolution makes it official? Why are people who immigrated to America AFTER slavery was abolished lumped in to this apology? Why do they even need to apologize? Most importantly, how can New Jersey honestly apologize for slavery when those apologizing were in no way responsible for it?

Wait! I believe I can answer that question. This is one of the final paragraphs of the resolution:

"It is the intent of the Legislature that this resolution shall not be used in, or be the basis of, any type of litigation."

There you have it!