However that is not to say we should ignore the claims. Creating a fairer playground for international trade would be a start (not sure how though)! How about creating educational opportunities for citizens of these states? Cheaper and possibly less open to exploitation than pure financial repatriations. Ensuring that our children are totally aware of the disgrace of slavery. Oh the uproar that the Nat.Trust created for putting the information up and available – I heard someone say they were going to knock the houses down because they were funded by slavery. It is not just slavery that needs consideration. The treatment of Indians was despicable in both India and the USA; Our treatment of indigenous peoples has been a continued legacy of shame.
So should we be cowed into silence about the great things in our past. Warfare and colonialism are bloody events, History should be a learning process so saying ‘I am sorry this occurred in the past, but we will work together to prevent similar episodes in future ” is surely sensible?