Here's What That Apology Got You

There are those out there who have been somewhat off-put by my having derided, on frequent occasions, the exercise our esteemed politicians here in the commonwealth went through not long ago to express their deep-seated regret over the fact that people a century ago owned slaves. I did it in part because it wasn't deep-seated at all. It was feigned sorrow. Phony regret (phony "profound regret" even).

But I also piled high the ridicule for another reason. Many of you thought, sincerely I'll bet, that your effort would somehow make some kind of difference. A rapprochement.

Well, fellas, here's what it got you:

A power in one man's reconciliation
Michael Paul Williams, Richmond Times-Dispatch Columnist

In 70 seconds, Silver Persinger did what the Virginia General Assembly failed to do in six weeks voice a full-throated apology for slavery. (sic)

Persinger's apology was a break from the massive resistance to forthright slavery apologies. This year's General Assembly spent weeks of lawyerly parsing before expressing "profound regret" for Virginia's role in slavery. (link)

Key words being failed to do.

In other words, your (our) apology meant squat.

What? You actually thought it was going to bring about some kind of racial healing?

As it turns out, that profound regret of yours was too "parsed," not unanimous, and it came about far too slowly.

You'll have to try harder next time, pal.

And, make no mistake, there will be a next time. And a next time. And a ...