Mr. Evil is on vacation until August. Until he returns, classic articles from the past will be posted for your reading enjoyment.
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has asked Spain and the Vatican to apologize for conquering the Americas 500 years ago.
In a letter he sent to King Felipe VI of Spain and Pope Francis, he asked for an apology to “the original peoples for the violations of what are now known to be human rights.”
I hope that the Pope and the Spanish King have sense enough to ignore the letter.
We do not live in the world of 500 years ago. Not one of the conquerors or the conquered is still living. It’s impossible for dead people to apologize. It’s also ridiculous to believe that Spain’s King or the Pope have the moral authority to apologize for people who lived centuries ago. Even if they had such authority and vociferously repented, “the original peoples” aren’t alive to benefit. What a hollow move it would be.
I’m sure that over the many centuries, some of my ancestors did some horrible things. No matter who you are, no matter your race or origin, yours’ probably did, too, especially if you judge their actions by today’s standards. For example, some of my ancestors owned slaves. But I won’t apologize for it. I didn’t know them and have no control over their actions that took place 200 years ago. They’re all dead. Unless you can resurrect them and extract a statement of remorse, no apology is forthcoming!
— Mr. Evil