shame

Let's face it... there's always going to be someone who thinks we need to change. To that person, or people, we will never be good enough. Good... I don't want to be.

When I grew up, I was very proud to be an American. At the local airshow my heart would swell with pride as the song "I'm Proud To Be An American" played. I dreamed of flying a fighter plane off of an aircraft carrier when I grew up. I watched "Top Gun" so many times i wore out VHS copies of it without number.

I was recently reading an article about the history of the African slave trade. It occurred to me whether as a white person, I should feel some shame at my ancestors for having done such a thing. As a modern person, after all, I had no direct role in the slave trade (discounting the possibility of a role in a previous life). Why should I feel shame about something I had nothing to do with?