US SENATE VOTES FOR FORMAL APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY

June 19, 2009 - 6:46AM
The US Senate approved a fiercely worded resolution on Thursday formally apologizing for the "fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery" of African-Americans. The unanimous voice vote came five months after Barack Obama became the first black US president, and ahead of the June 19 "Juneteenth" celebration of the emancipation of African-Americans at the end of the US Civil War in 1865. The non-binding resolution now heads to the House of Representatives, where a similar resolution passed by voice vote in July 2008, only to wither in the upper chamber.

House approval, which could come as early as next week, would make it the first time the entire US Congress has formally apologized on behalf of the American people for one of the grimmest wrongs in US history.
The bill, which does not require Obama's signature, states that the US Congress "acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws" that enshrined racial segregation at the state and local level in the United States well into the 1960s.

The Congress "apologises to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws." And it "expresses its recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices, and discrimination from our society."

Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas led the debate as both major US parties banished their deep differences on subjects like the economy to come together on the measure.
"Let us make no mistake: This resolution will not fix lingering injustices. while we are proud of this resolution and believe it is long overdue, the real work lies ahead," said Harkin.

In a step that has angered some African-American lawmakers, the measure takes pains not to fuel the push for the US government to pay reparations to the descendants of African slaves. "Nothing in this resolution (a) authorises or supports any claim against the United States; or (b) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States," it says.

That has drawn "serious concerns" within the Congressional Black Caucus, though the group has yet to decide on a formal position towards the legislation, a source close to the group said on Thursday.
It was unclear whether opposition from those lawmakers could force a change to the language or otherwise hinder the measure.
And Harkin said a "fitting ceremony" to mark final passage would occur in early July. Supporters hoped Obama would attend the event. The United States has never offered a formal apology for the chattel slavery of Africans, though former president Bill Clinton expressed regret for the practice during a March 1998 trip to Africa. His successor, George W Bush, called slavery "one of the greatest crimes of history" during a July 2003 visit to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave-trade port.

Some US states have officially adopted resolutions expressing regret or remorse for slavery.
The debate came as the United States marked the 80th anniversary of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, who formally declared blacks in secessionist states free during the civil war in 1863.

And 2009 is also the hundredth year since the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) civil rights group.

The US Congress has apologised for other wrongs over the years: In 1988, it apologised for the World War II-era internment of people of Japanese descent, and 20 years later for the treatment of Native American peoples as the United States grew.
AFP

JONATHAN E. MCCOY'S SPEECH: A NEW PETITION

more about "JONATHAN E. MCCOY'S SPEECH: A NEW PET...", posted with vodpod

In our world today there are several young minds who constantly captivate us with their knowledge and world views, and Jonathan McCoy is one of such individuals. The video featured above shows Jonathan giving an inspiring speech about the use, or rather, the need to stop the use of the 'N' word.

Jonathan started a petition in February 2009 at petitionspot.com. You may pledge your support by clicking here.

Le Provoc: Multicultural Affairs Article #6

"Envision a place you've always known ever since you were born. Then imagine having to move to a land where everything from the food to the clothes to the people is completely foreign in your eyes. This was exactly how I felt growing up in the Middle East and then having to move to the United States when I was about four years old. I had no idea what to expect and it was difficult to adjust to say the least.

I went from believing in Allah and praying at dawn in one moment to going to Monday Bible study in the next. Living with my mother in the United States, I learned everything there was to know about the American way of life. Here, it was not mandatory to cover your face in public places, nor was it difficult for females to get into higher education and become doctors, lawyers, or businesswomen.

Also, I had to become familiar with the mannerisms and social cues of American society. Usually, children get yelled at for eating their food with their hands, but growing up this was encouraged and was seen as a sign of respect for the food, as well as whoever prepared it. Once I had moved to the United States, I had to convert to using utensils all the time while eating which now I don't think twice about. Before, it was rare for dinner plates to be set at the table because in Saudi Arabia, I sat on the floor where it was common to eat a meal. Now, I can't even think of a time where I sat on the floor and ate.

I had to adapt to how people spoke, dressed, and how they acted around their peers. My cousins were actually the first people who taught me how to speak English. Today, you wouldn't even be able to tell I spoke a foreign language. I was immersing myself into the American culture by making friends in school and paying close attention to what was popular in their minds. Before I knew it, I started collecting Barbie dolls and Pokémon cards and watched reruns of Full House and Saved by the Bell. I had learned to acculturate myself into a world I once thought was unfamiliar and strange. I had never thought I would be able to fit in such a society, but I was succeeding. Nevertheless, my mother made sure I never forgot where I came from and encouraged me as well as my sisters to explore our family roots.

In some ways I am happy that I had the opportunity to move to a country that has provided me with an incredible education and has exposed me to a variety of people and places. I don't think I would have it any other way, and I am thankful each day that I live in the United States. I do wonder from time to time what my life would be like if I had stayed in the Middle East with my father. Would I be able to get a college education? Would I have met the same kind of people and experienced the same kind of things as I have in the United States? Most importantly, would I have been happy? All these questions along with many others have plagued me and I reflect on them occasionally, but I feel everything happens for a reason and I think if someone gave me an ultimatum to either stay in the United States or go back to the place I was born, I would choose to stay because after all, this is the place of opportunity and dreams."

Mona Al-Abadi '11
Public Relations, ALANA Network

2009 ALANA DIVERSITY AWARD

The ALANA Network is pleased to announce that Allen Bruehl, Director of the Academic Support Center, is this year’s recipient of the ALANA Diversity Award.

The recipient of the ALANA Diversity Award is chosen by ALANA students for demonstrating sensitivity to diversity issues, a commitment to treating all students fairly, and incorporating different cultural perspectives into his or her work.

Allen Bruehl has been in his position at Assumption College for almost twenty years. He has been quoted, “The most satisfying part of my job is to experience students gaining confidence and enjoying the academic pursuit of knowledge.”

Allen was selected by the students because of his concern for their academic well being and his belief that every student regardless of their cultural background be given the opportunity to succeed at Assumption College and in their post graduate careers.

Congratulations, Allen Bruehl

2009 ALANA Diversity Award Recipient

Previous Award Recipients

Dr. Richard Gendron - 2006

Dr. Steven Farough - 2007

Dr. Jeanne McNett - 2008

THE CRISIS OF CREDIT VISUALIZED

more about "THE CRISIS OF CREDIT VISUALIZED", posted with vodpod

This is a short and simple story of the credit crisis. The goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated.

This project by Jonathan Jarvis was completed as part of his thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Click here for more info. on Jonathan Jarvis and his broader thesis work exploring the use of new media to make sense of an increasingly complex world.