Guilt

The United States ... has never really dealt with its guilt in handling its native people so savagely. It hasn't fully owned up to and sought forgiveness for slavery. We could, even now, show clear, sincere appreciation for the beauty and wisdom of our native ancestors. We could make strong, public resolution to atone for slavery. Without strong, sincere, participatory expressions of remorse on our part, Native Americans carry the moral weight on themselves, and the society as a whole has little access to its original spirituality. African-Americans still struggle for their basic rights and dignity. Like a person burdened with guilt ... [he] may not be aware of, a country can be held back by its failure to deal with its past. (Thomas Moore, Dark Nights Of The Soul, p. 64) 25 February 2013