Actor Kirk Douglas praised Sen. John McCain on Sunday, releasing a statement lauding the Arizona senator for supporting an effort to have the U.S. Senate issue a formal apology for slavery in America.
In a statement released to the media, Douglas said:
My name is Kirk Douglas and I have been a Democrat my whole life. More importantly than being a Democrat, I am a believer in America, human rights and freedom. It is in that spirit that I risked my career during the McCarthy era and helped break the Hollywood blacklist.
Even though Senator John McCain is a Republican, I openly applaud him for being a true American -- he adheres to the principles that make America the best country in the world. Last Wednesday in Columbia, S.C., Republican presidential candidate John McCain said the Senate should apologize for slavery and segregation, calling them "dark chapters in our history." McCain said he would support a planned resolution by fellow Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, who is also seeking the presidency, to apologize for racist laws, some of which ended more than a century ago.
Why are all the other presidential candidates SILENT on the topic of an apology for slavery? I agree with McCain and Brownback: "They were federal policies. They were wrong. The only way for us to move forward ... is at the end of the day to acknowledge our mistakes, take ownership, and ask for forgiveness."
Right now ... THIS COUNTRY IS A MESS. As a 90-year-old man, I ask myself, "What happened to our country? We started off with such noble intentions." An apology for slavery mirrors the many issues that this country today needs to take inventory of as we prepare for the 2008 election.
This apology, coming at this time, will have great impact on African-Americans ... and the "morale" of the whole country. It will reinforce that as Americans we condemn egregious behavior and racism. By apologizing for slavery, the Senate will restate its mission to condemn crimes of all kinds: slavery, torture, war crimes and more.
I modestly lend my name alongside the Governor of Alabama, Senator McCain, Senator Sam Brownback and all those who have had the courage to voice their opinion on this topic. We are all Americans, we believe in this country and this is the time for the senate to officially apologize for slavery.
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