Great speech by Robert Ingersoll, this guy had a great Liberal mind.
"I hate to think that all this (slavery)was done under the Constitution of the United States, under the flag of my country, under the wings of the eagle.
The flag was not then what it is now. It was a mere rag in comparison. The eagle was a buzzard, and the Constitution sanctioned the greatest crime of the world.
I wonder that youthe black peoplehave forgotten all this. I wonder that you ask a white man to address you on this occasion, when the history of your connection with the white race is written in your blood and tearsis still upon your flesh, put there by the branding-iron and the lash.
I feel like asking your forgiveness for the wrongs that my race has inflicted upon yours. If, in the future, the wheel of fortune should take a turn, and you should in any country have white men in your power, I pray you not to execute the villainy we have taught you.
One word in conclusion. You have your libertyuse it to benefit your race. Educate yourselves, educate your children, send teachers to the South. Let your brethren there be educated. Let them know something of art and science. Improve yourselves, stand by each other, and above all be in favor of liberty the world over."
Address to the Colored People (XHTML) ? Antislavery Literature Project
Oh my gosh. The founding "eagle" was a "buzzard?" If not for that founding eagle and the early flag you likely wouldn't be enjoying your freedom of speech today. The past is the past. Time to stop wallowing in it. Stirring a pot of spilt milk is a waste of everyone's time and it's counterproductive. You race-baiters aren't fooling me!!
Those were Robert Ingersoll's words, did you somehow "miss" or avoid the entire context of what he was saying? I agree that the "past is the past" but do you have an aversion for true American History? Robert Ingersoll was a Liberal and a Republican, he fought for the Union Army. He was an Abolitionist and a strong advocate of FREEDOM and Civil Liberties for EVERYONE.
How is showing the brilliant works of a WHITE MAN who was for FREEDOM and LIBERTY, suddenly "race baiting"? People who don't know history and it's lessons, are doomed to repeat it. How is learning about the founding of this country and how it evolved into what we have today; " a waste of everyone's time and it's counterproductive. "?
Black History month, that's right they have a whole month to themselves, was last month. Where were you? As for your claim this is just about history, please do me the favor of not pissing on my leg and telling me it is raining.