Today I'm neither Angry nor Happy about....

[TANGODANCER]

I think what the Massive Attack guy says makes total sense. I'm not convinced by 'historic' apologies but he's on about recognising what happened.

All fine as long as we don't start with the blame culture for something that nobody alive for three or four generations had anything to do with. I agree with the last part of this:

"Personally I think it could be quite interesting to have a reconstruction of a slave ship in the harbour, but I think there would be more criticism than praise, along the lines of continuing to make money from Bristol’s unpalatable history. "

For me that would be keeping it alive for the wrong reasons. Jacon Epstein's brilliant bronze has been on show in Bolton Museum/art gallery all my remembered life. For me, it makes its point in the best possible way.

[Gary the Enfield]

I notice that despite us having repeatedly apologised for our role in something that was socially acceptable 250 years ago, we are stll being heavily criticised for it. I'm still waiting for an apology from the Italian PM for their role in conquering and enslaving the country around 1200AD.
That's before I start on the Belgians. And the Danes.

I note also that the countries we 'enslaved' on other continents (By enslaved, I mean built roads, railways, cities and infratsructure like sewerage systems, schools and hospitals etc) are rather happy to continue to take millions off us in aid, despite wanting independence. Funny that.

What did the Italians do to us in 1200 ad?

[TANGODANCER]

I have a bit of an interest in this topic for a couple of reasons. Bolton was quite heavily involved in slave cotton and many local workers took a stand against it because of the slavery element. James Watkins an escaped American plantation slave, lived in Bolton for a time and wrote a book about his life, a copy of which still exists in Bolton museum.

I also built a copy of an ex slave ship, a Baltimore Clipper called Dos Amigos that operated off Cuba and Africa. She was later captured by the British, cleaned, refitted and put back to sea under the name Fair Rosamund. Her job was to hunt slave ships, sort of the biter bitten.This is my model for anyone interested:

http://i-am-modelist.com/2012/01/30/fai ... os-amigos/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[William the White]

I note also that the countries we 'enslaved' on other continents (By enslaved, I mean built roads, railways, cities and infratsructure like sewerage systems, schools and hospitals etc) are rather happy to continue to take millions off us in aid, despite wanting independence. Funny that.

I think Jean Paul Sartre's rhetorical question might help you out...

What then did you expect when you unbound the gag that muted those black mouths? That they would chant your praises? Did you think that when those heads that our fathers had forcibly bowed down to the ground were raised again, you would find adoration in their eyes?

[Montreal Wanderer]

I have a bit of an interest in this topic for a couple of reasons. Bolton was quite heavily involved in slave cotton and many local workers took a stand against it because of the slavery element. James Watkins an escaped American plantation slave, lived in Bolton for a time and wrote a book about his life, a copy of which still exists in Bolton museum.

I also built a copy of an ex slave ship, a Baltimore Clipper called Dos Amigos that operated off Cuba and Africa. She was later captured by the British, cleaned, refitted and put back to sea under the name Fair Rosamund. Her job was to hunt slave ships, sort of the biter bitten.This is my model for anyone interested:

http://i-am-modelist.com/2012/01/30/fai ... os-amigos/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The workers only took a stand against it during the US civil war circa 1860. Personally I find criticism of Bristol faintly absurd. One critic in the article said:

“The slave trade was one of the biggest disasters in human history but there’s no museum anywhere that I know of which deals with it.

Really? How about the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool or the United States National Slavery Museum, Fredericksburg, Va.? Biggest disaster? - how about WW1 or WW2 (including the holocaust). What about Stalin's collectivization attempts? What about just about any Chinese civil war? What about the Black Death? How about that Flood?

Slaves have existed (and still exist) throughout history. They are commodities bought and sold. They were usually conquered peoples. The Africans were no different. It should be clear the Bristol merchants and others did not take slaves or enslave people - they purchased the slaves from Africans who had captured or purchased them. Let us also be clear which country was the first to take a stand stating slavery was wrong and should be outlawed. That would be us including the good folk of Bristol - and that was two centuries ago. No need for anyone to hang their heads or deny the past.

[thebish]

The workers only took a stand against it during the US civil war circa 1860. Personally I find criticism of Bristol faintly absurd. One critic in the article said:

“The slave trade was one of the biggest disasters in human history but there’s no museum anywhere that I know of which deals with it.

Really? How about the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool or the United States National Slavery Museum, Fredericksburg, Va.? Biggest disaster? - how about WW1 or WW2 (including the holocaust). What about Stalin's collectivization attempts? What about just about any Chinese civil war? What about the Black Death? How about that Flood?

I think it is reasonable to assume he means "in Bristol" - especially given the context in which the quotes are set ("People come to Bristol looking for our history") and the points made in the previous paragraphs.

I don't believe the article is asking anyone to "hang their heads" or "deny the past."

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

What is it with 'recruitment specialists'? Just had an email stating that X company seeks <insert very generic job title>. She then goes on to tell me to email her my current salary, notice period and salary expectation. How am I to have a salary expectation if I don't know what the job is? It's like bidding for a house you haven't seen and the only information you have is it is a house.

[Worthy4England]

What is it with 'recruitment specialists'? Just had an email stating that X company seeks <insert very generic job title>. She then goes on to tell me to email her my current salary, notice period and salary expectation. How am I to have a salary expectation if I don't know what the job is? It's like bidding for a house you haven't seen and the only information you have is it is a house.

Don't understand the problem. Start with Current Salary + 75% and see if there's still a conversation to be had. If there is, they can call me any job title they want.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

What is it with 'recruitment specialists'? Just had an email stating that X company seeks <insert very generic job title>. She then goes on to tell me to email her my current salary, notice period and salary expectation. How am I to have a salary expectation if I don't know what the job is? It's like bidding for a house you haven't seen and the only information you have is it is a house.

Don't understand the problem. Start with Current Salary + 75% and see if there's still a conversation to be had. If there is, they can call me any job title they want.

Given the industry the company is in, they might want me in Kabul. It would take a lot more than +75% to get me to have a conversation!

[Worthy4England]

What is it with 'recruitment specialists'? Just had an email stating that X company seeks <insert very generic job title>. She then goes on to tell me to email her my current salary, notice period and salary expectation. How am I to have a salary expectation if I don't know what the job is? It's like bidding for a house you haven't seen and the only information you have is it is a house.

Don't understand the problem. Start with Current Salary + 75% and see if there's still a conversation to be had. If there is, they can call me any job title they want.

Given the industry the company is in, they might want me in Kabul. It would take a lot more than +75% to get me to have a conversation!

Kabul's lovely at this time of year.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

What is it with 'recruitment specialists'? Just had an email stating that X company seeks <insert very generic job title>. She then goes on to tell me to email her my current salary, notice period and salary expectation. How am I to have a salary expectation if I don't know what the job is? It's like bidding for a house you haven't seen and the only information you have is it is a house.

Don't understand the problem. Start with Current Salary + 75% and see if there's still a conversation to be had. If there is, they can call me any job title they want.

Given the industry the company is in, they might want me in Kabul. It would take a lot more than +75% to get me to have a conversation!

Kabul's lovely at this time of year.

Kabul would be the least of my worries. Just noticed they're big in to Iraq as well. I need to ask what happened to the last fella

[Worthy4England]

What is it with 'recruitment specialists'? Just had an email stating that X company seeks <insert very generic job title>. She then goes on to tell me to email her my current salary, notice period and salary expectation. How am I to have a salary expectation if I don't know what the job is? It's like bidding for a house you haven't seen and the only information you have is it is a house.

Don't understand the problem. Start with Current Salary + 75% and see if there's still a conversation to be had. If there is, they can call me any job title they want.

Given the industry the company is in, they might want me in Kabul. It would take a lot more than +75% to get me to have a conversation!

Kabul's lovely at this time of year.

Kabul would be the least of my worries. Just noticed they're big in to Iraq as well. I need to ask what happened to the last fella

That seems reasonable.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

[bwfcdan94]

If our football club moved to Afghanistan tomorrow I would be well up for getting a job in Afghanistan. Not necessarily Kabul though although I presume that would be where we would be based. De Abasin away anyone?

[Lord Kangana]

Is he a goalscorer?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Is he a goalscorer?

He's pretty explosive, I know that!

[bwfcdan94]

no a team.

[Lord Kangana]

B team then?

[bwfcdan94]

They (De Abasin) are a football team in the Afghan premier league.

[Lord Kangana]

Do they wear whigs too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMN7qrwLr7E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;