To the editor:

I am trying to figure out what place President Clinton has in apologizing for slavery. Representative Tony P. Hall, who proposed the apology, said that "When you've hurt somebody, nothing solves the problem at first like a good, old-fashioned apology." If Hall wants Clinton to apologize for slavery, then does he think that Clinton is responsible for slavery?

Perhaps Hall sees that Clinton would "apologize on behalf of the nation," as Tuesday's Inquirer described Clinton's apology to participants in the government's Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Is speaking for 250 million people the proper role of the president? It is easy to see how controversial such a task can be, as not everyone is going to agree with the words the president is putting in their mouths, or accept the implication that who ever apologizes for something is accountable for it.

The politicization of a "good, old-fashioned apology" represents the problems that result when people ask government to do things for them. If individuals want aplogize for slavery, contribute to charity, educate children, support the arts, etc., why don't they do it themselves instead of forcing all tax payers to fund what they deem worthy? Individuals can write letters to publications, or even join together voluntarily to fight injustices as they see fit. People who do not approve of the means or the goals of such private efforts are not forced to support them. They are free to pursue similar or different goals in ways they think will succeed.

Now I will not pass the buck for President Clinton and speak for myself: I am not accountable for the enslavement of people in this country over 100 years ago, and I think such practices were entirely inhumane. Like all other American tax-payers, I have experienced [a subtle form of] slavery, as I never see the wealth I create for five months of every year, as the government keeps it in the form of the income tax, and spends it in ways beyond my control. With the rest of my earnings I will fight for freedom in this country for all.

Brian Schwartz