Not a single person alive today was ever a slave in the United States. And the sad thing is this resolution will do nothing! Blacks will still use racism as an excuse for everyhing.

Katherine and Dempsey...WOW! You both sound like racists. Maybe we could ship you overseas and you could eat beetles and pick produce. Maybe we could put you into sexual slavery and other slavery occurring in the United States today.

I know a lot of highly educated, intelligent blacks that put you to shame.

Comments like these simply underline the importance of Sen. Loudermilk's resolution. Georgia needs to make it clear that we aren't all Dempseys and Katherines down here.

Totally do not approve of Dempsey and Katherine's comments... easy to say stuff like that when you don't have to leave your FULL or REAL name or a picture. However, I don't think resolutions like this do anything. While its a nice attempt to reach across racial and possibly even political lines and make nice, the people on the other side of those lines will not care and it won't change anything. Our state and our country is divided by racial and political differences, and too often the other side does not want reach common ground. Pass your resolution, but people will still too often call "racism" when it suits them because the powers that be continue to feed into that. Saying "we're sorry for slavery" will do nothing to change that.

There is a lot of history that is not pretty. This time is over, you cannot change it. Let's get on with today's business

Yes Barry, we all think that slavery was bad. You have stated the obvious. It doesn't exist anymore and hasn't for many many years. I have now stated the obvious.

I`m a little disappointed in Loudermouth.We`ve had enough butt kissing to minorites and every one else. They should have got on the ships that were provided for them after lincoln turned them loose. Next he will want to apoligze to all the illegal wetbacks that are here. Why don`t they ask forgivness from the American Indians who were the first Americans and we slaughtered them.why didn`t they do that to all the people that are trying to take over America.

Wow, the ignorance and racism in a couple of these comments is astonishing, though, unfortunately, not surprising. I know a simple comment on a news website isn't going to convince someone with deeply ingrained racist beliefs that they're wrong, but we have to call out people like this.

Those of you who state, accurately, that there are no former slaves alive today fail to recognize that the effects of slavery can certainly outlast the life of a single slave. Just as T. Dempsey and Katherine M. were probably bred to be racist by their parents, similar distrust and hatred for whites exists in the black community for the same reason (just to be perfectly clear, I am in no way suggesting that the black community as a whole is racist, I am merely acknowledging that there are cases of racism among blacks as well - it's not just a white problem). Racism is exacerbated by parents teaching their children to hate and distrust others. Think about the impact your ancestors have had on your life. Were you born into a wealthy family, a middle class family, or were you born into a life of poverty? Aside from tangible benefits, such as wealth, were you raised by parents who understood the value of education, because they themselves were educated? Were you born into a safe community, or one with drug dealers on every corner with violence an every day occurrence? Were your parents denied opportunities at education and work because they were black?

Cont

Racism still exists, and its roots can certainly be traced back to slavery. Once the slaves were freed, they were still second class citizens in our country. There are still people alive today who lived through segregation. If your parents were treated as second class citizens by whites, you would understand their distrust towards white people. That is probably something that their children would pick up on.

You can't just say, "oh, we got rid of slavery, and then we gave them the right to vote, and then we finally desegregated our society, so now we're cool." This stuff has long term implications. We are trying to heal.

Do I think Loudermilk's bill is going to make a big difference? Probably not, but every little bit helps. It is certainly not something to scoff at cynically.

Lastly, anyone who thinks people on welfare are somehow "living it up" need to try living on welfare for a while. It's not a glamorous lifestyle, I can assure you.

Sincerely,

Alex

That was well said, Alex. I don't think Loudermilk's bill will do anything. And I DO believe that powers that be on both sides (white AND black) continue to feed into "racism" for their own purposes, and unfortunately blacks (and whites) allow it to continue. That being said, "sins of the father" is a real effect. Ancestral actions do have generational consequences, whether you like it or not. And aside from that, I think, whether slavery existed or not, we would and will always have issues of race because people are different and its human nature to mistrust those who are not like you. As a civilized society, we have to use education and common sense to move beyond that. It's not easy, but that is what is required. And looking down on a people doesn't help.

I don't think we should apologize for anything. We need to move on. It's a shame that people can't get along with each other. Racism just won't go away..

We all have a tendency to judge any group by their ambassadors. Who do we see regularly? What do they do? While it's certainly wrong to paint with a wide brush, anybody can see how tempting it is

Rep Loudermilk, Seriously? Is this what your think you were elected for? We're in serious trouble finanacially in this state, we have people from all backgrounds without jobs, living on the streets, we have families that are going to bed hungry everynight in this time of 2013, and this is the best you can do?? My family owned NO SLAVES, I DON'T KNOW who you are going to apologize to, you should be apologizing for wasting our tax money in this economy, get with the job you were elected to do and quit avoiding the problems of now. History cannot be re-written, and slavery was horrible, but I resent that people NOW are suffering too and you want to talk about years ago. Get the problems of today all sorted out, you should be apologizing for so many companies leaving this state and job losses, hours cut, people lost their homes in 2009 due to the worst flood, go look at some of those area's that still have not built back. Basically, DO YOUR JOB that YOUR people elected you to do, and show us that this was it, NOT!

This resolution doesn't apologize for anything and it even states that an apology would be worthless. How many of you commenting on this post have actually read the resolution. It is a FREEDOM RESOLUTION. It simply puts the state of Georgia on record as abhorring the previously state sanctioned act of slavery. Thomas Jefferson wrote slavery out of existence in the Declaration of Independence and OUR STATE and SC demanded that it be removed from that historic document and remain in existence. For the life of me I cannot figure out why anyone would be opposed to making this statement? It says we oppose tyranny and oppression of any kind against any race!! Anyone who has commented without actually reading the resolution please do us a favor and stop voting! If you care to educate yourselves, here is the actual text... http://www.bartowpolitics.com/uploads/Loudermilk_Freedom_Resolution_of_2013.pdf

The question: Should Georgia officially acknowledge Slavery? The reason for this: to bring reconciliation among the people of this state. Now, how will that help this state achieve higher GPA's? How will that help reduce the jobless in this state? Many of us have said, we're sorry it happened, it was wrong, but NOW is not the time to spend more time/more hours on such a resolution, as AGAIN this is not the first time this has been bought up in the legislation, and before it was certainly intended to be an apology. (See HR 295-2009) but never made it to the floor. If I thought this would bring more jobs, solve the education in this state, help the poor, get all the foreclosed properties sold, then I would jump on the band wagon, but we have some very serious problems that need to be addressed, and the people of Ga. deserve more than this from an elected official. We are responding to the question that was purposed to the readers by The Patch. I do not try to change another mind, its my opinion only, but I do resent someone that openly admits they moved here from Florida, then before that lived in Europe/Cuba tell Georgians how ignorant, and stupid they are. Talking about rude, maybe you would like to apologize for calling other's names. If someone/ANYONE doesn't agree w/me and loves that this Rep has introduced a age old resolution while ignoring revelent and very real problems that exist today, that's fine, that's your perrogotive, but respect other's opinions.

Well Sounjust, I-75 runs south back to Florida, too. We wonlt miss you one iota.