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| No | 35% | 25 votes | Total: 72 votes | |
| Yes | 65% | 47 votes |
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Add to FavoritesFirst let's say what reparations are, and are not. Reparations don't cover entire racial, religious or cultural groups for historical events, such the Holocaust, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade or The Trail of Tears. No monetary amount could compensate a people for such events.
Reparations can only be made to specific individuals or groups in an effort to repair and repay for egregious acts of harm by government or legal entity that used its power immorally against a group of people.
The most famous reparation case is probably the US government's apology and compensation to Japanese-Americans who were imprisoned in internment camps and their property confiscated during WWII. Australia has recently apologized to its Aboriginal people for taking their children and sending them abroad for decades. It remains to be seen how the Australian government will compensate for that. Some attempts have been made to compensate the descendants of Holocaust survivors who worked as slaves for German companies that are still in business today.
The point is that reparations relate to specific circumstances. The debate in the US is whether and how African-Americans can and should be compensated for almost 300 years of slavery in the U.S. The short answer is that they can't be. But individuals and groups can be compensated for specific acts of immoral aggression on the part of a government that was legally bound to protect its citizens and failed to do so.
A primary example is Forsyth, Georgia, East St. Louis Missouri and Eatonville Florida where black communities in the 1920's and 30's were set afire, inhabitants lynched, and the entire population driven out. Census of records of the time would likely show who was living there at the time, and those people have probably have descendants who can and should be compensated through reparation and apology.
To often the debate over reparations degenerates a racial fight over who is guilty of what. The reality is that if a city, or a state or a government paid reparations using tax payer funds, African-Americans, who are tax-payers, would in some way be paying their own reparations.
The point is that African-Americans and others who seek reparations do so not for the money, but for recognition that a crime on a mass scale was committed and needs to be acknowledged.
The need for reparations ends or the time limit for collecting reparations arrives when there is an admission that a crime has occurred, and a sincere attempt at redress is made. It's not about looking backward, its about closing a chapter and looking ahead.
Learn more about this author, Frances Taylor.
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Yes
Reparations. Lets talk about this reparations. A made up word for entitlement for some wrong committed to another.
Who is responsible for the slavery mess? White land owners? Or rather, in a rational thinking persons view, the tribal "leaders" who sold human beings for slaves? I recall stories of a race or country of persons, selling flesh for profit a very grievous error on both parts.
No, perhaps the landowners knew better. I will assume they didn't. The slaves were victims of their own government. They were sold like livestock by their own kinsman.
Lincoln was going to send them all back, and was murdered for it. Before he could complete his ideal solution. He freed these people, with love, so that they could migrate back to their respective countries. IF THEY WISHED TO. No one was forcing them to stay. Therefore, reparations are not entitled to any slavery descendants.
As a white American, I have no advantage over any American of any color. There may have been a time where, as a white American, I would have the choicest work, the best of everything. Now, my country is invaded by bankrolled sleeper cells of all races. The motels and Kwik Marts, the cigarette stores, and bakery I would have liked to owned. Being as I am an American and most of these are simply illegal immigrants.
We took from the Native peoples long ago, now the same thing is happening to us. To the European descendants who stole from one people, are surrendering to the Spaniards and Africans. Natives knew better.
I like all races. I just happen to be white. I am not happy about that, in todays day and age. Often I am ashamed of my race.
But the other races should be ashamed as well. Asking for money from something no living person perpetrated is akin to stealing. No more handouts, no more coddling. The time of consequence is near.
There is no money for us to give. As a country, we are deeply in debt. We are at war if you can recall. The short time of patriotism was fleeting and sparse on 9-11 and the few weeks after. Then came the finger pointing. Then came the REPARATIONS to the 9-11 widows.
Talk about opening a can of worms. Never should the widows have received any government money. This made it seem possible to seek reparations for every wrong, seem right.
My children have no advantage being born white. Because, we are poor and white. We are right down to the level of every poor, victimized and downtrodden individuals. We are not special or unique for being white.
Perhaps I should seek payments from the Chinese or Mexicans for taking my industry and jobs away. I would suggest that forcing China to erect factories in the US would be a incentive to continue stocking Wal Mart with China products. That way, they don't just take, take, take.
A form of acceptable reparations.
Giving someone a check never solves a problem. Giving them something that others do not receive only harbors resentment and hatred from those not receiving help of any sort. The middle class working class.
Learn more about this author, Christine Buckley.
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