Reparation for slavery

HEthePrimate · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:08 AM

What do you folks think about the notion of paying reparations to descendants of slaves?

HEP

john doe · #2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:23 AM

I'm against it.

Mykdiver · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:35 AM

Um........ NO!

Why would we that was over a hundred years ago! That is like giving me money because I was born into a poor family.

Misshalfway · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:35 AM

I am against it as well.

WANDERER · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:42 AM

Wasn't the cost of all those lives in civil war enough....no .

unixknight · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:57 AM

I'm adamantly against it for the following reasons:

-This country should be moving toward racial unity, not looking for more issues to be divisive.

-There are a lot of different racial groups that could claim a right to reparations, not only blacks. Chinese immigrants were virtually enslaved in the American West in the 19th Century, The Irish immigrants fared little better in the Northeast, and so on and on and on and on. Where does it end?

-This country is founded on the principle that you are to be rewarded or punished for who YOU are, not who your father was.

-Who would receive the reparations? People with dark skin? Not everyone with dark skin came from Africa or has ancestors who were slaves. Who pays it? Only whites? Not every white person had ancestors who owned slaves.

It's just flat illogical.

Jbs2763 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 09:04 AM

i heard this on the radio, paraphrasing, cause i can't remember the exact quote

"I should pay you because someone I didn't know, didn't pay someone you didn't know for some work he might have done" Ronnie B

HEthePrimate · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 09:23 AM

I quite agree. I think, however, that slavery's aftermath has continued for a long time, and that racism continued after the Civil War (such as the Jim Crow laws). I have no problem with helping the less fortunate, including blacks, but don't think reparations are the answer. Perhaps improving the schools in inner city and other poor areas would help, as well as improving health care access, and jobs. Simply handing out money may help a little, short-term, but in the long run it won't really solve the problems and the people will remain disadvantaged.

Thanks for your replies, and keep 'em coming!

The Primate

Truegrits · #9 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 09:40 AM

How in the world would giving a monetary "I'M SORRY" to a great, great relative in ANY way make up for wrongs done, for lives taken, for the suffering of the ones that actually lived (or not) it?

hethathathears · #10 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 10:55 AM

I think I would like to add my two cents worth. Maybe two thoughts on the subject. First- I think we are paying out millions and millions of dollars every month as far as cash and housing and medical as well as education. The second thought is, and I'm not up on all the knowledge in life like my teenagers are, but where would they be if they weren't here. Africa is one of the most impoverished nations on the earth. Thousands upon thousands are dying from starvation and diseases not to mention war and injustice.

Could it be that by bringing them here, we saved a lot of their lives. Don't get me wrong, I think that the whole slavery issue was totally wrong and a big black eye for America, however, we have millions of people here illegally, Why, because America is the land of freedom and opportunity. Now it is true, there have been a lot of injustices done in racist manors, however, even Americans low income is better than 40% of the entire world. They are cared for and educated. They have T.V.'s, cars, medical, food, and hope if they want to reach out and grab it. Just my two cents worth.