200 years after the British started the process of ending the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, why haven't we started the process of Reparations? After all, America and Europe benefited and continue to benefit from the shameful act of slave trading.
Why did Germany pay reparations to Europe and the Jews if it is such a bad thing.
Why did the USA pay the Japanese reparations for imprisoning them during WWII.
Why do a few continue to benefit from the pain of others?
2007-03-25 09:49:17 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Hmmm, this one is touchy. What worries me is the idea that descendents of one group be considered responsible for the rotten actions of their ancestors, whom they didn't even know.
When you look at the Islamic/Christian/Jewish conflicts, it's not uncommon to see a Muslim questioned as to why he feels somebody must die and have the answer sound something like, "Well, during the Crusades, somebody from that man's family killed my great-great-great-great-great grandfather." So the f*** what? They are not the same person.
I think the best solution for African-American suffering is to strive for true equality ... right here, right now ... so that they, as Americans, are also getting the most out of this country. The ancestors are gone -- they were wronged, but they're gone. The descendents, on the other hand, should truly be as free as any Caucasian, and if they're not, then EVERY AMERICAN should be filled with indignation.
2007-03-25 11:24:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Germans paid reparations to the very same people who suffered, not their whiny, entitlement-greedy descendants.
Only the Japanese interned were given reparations, not their grandchildren.
How about some reverse reparations? Let's take all the money we have had to expend on prisons, and deduct that. Then we take all the formerly beautiful neighborhoods, such as the South Side of Chicago that went to hell from neglect. It's not a matter of money. My Polish aunt earned very little money, but she saved, she was frugal, and she worked very hard. When neat, clean, safe Polish neighborhoods are overrun by other groups, they are neither clean nor safe anymore. Enough said?
How about all the money on welfare to people who never even attempted to find work? How about all the money spent on education to people who would rather follow the rap, street thug lifestyle instead of actually cracking a book open? That's all wasted money.
So, just find me one living person who was formerly a slave, and if he or she wants reparations, we will give them, but their descendants have to pay a heavy tax, or be shipped back to whatever country their ancestors came from, which was probably a country that sold the slaves in the first place.
2007-03-25 13:15:47 · answer #2 · answered by pachl@sbcglobal.net 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who would be required to pay? All people in America? Or do we include the nations who sold their people? Or do all people who reside in all countries involved make payment? And does this come from a tax base or contributions? What about people like me whose ancestors immigrated after the civil war, do we pay when we have gained nothing from the country's history? I think too much time has past. I know that if reparations were forced out of my pocket, I would think it unfair since I have never even remotely had any gains from slave labor. This includes any possible inheritance or family legacy. I earned my own way from the time I walked out of my mother's house with one change of clothes and a car I bought after earning money as farm labor. And now have a wife, 6 kids, and a home. I have been an employee and employer. I never received a gov't grant. I worked off of small loans and personal investment. I didn't get grants for college and never got a degree. I don't feel I owe anything. But I am sure that there are people out there whose families fortunes trace back to those times. Maybe they should have percentages taken. Maybe not. I am not trying to be offensive, but I am sure that I am not the only one who feels this way. I just took the time to tell you why.
2007-03-25 10:09:37 · answer #3 · answered by bamacrimsonandwhite 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because the holocaust and WWII happened during the life of people who are still alive. There is not a single person living who was a slave in Europe or the United States. Who do you think these reparations should be paid to? You, because you think my white foot is holding you down? Get real. You have more opportunities than I ever will. There is not a single college fund fund or scholarship that is only available to white males.
2007-03-25 10:11:26 · answer #4 · answered by bugs280 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your right, America should pay reparations to any surviving slaves.
But since there are no surviving slaves, who would you pay reparations to ?
Germany didn't pay reparations to jews not born during WWll.
America didn't pay reparations to japanese-Americans who weren't actualy imprisoned.
Maybe you could get the African Countries of Ghana and Nigeria to pay reparations, since they captured and sold the majority of slaves into slavery.
On a practial side, just who would be paid such reparations ??
Would it be based on people who could prove they had an ancestor who was a slave ?
Would it be based on the percentage of slave blood in thier ancestry?
2007-03-25 10:04:00 · answer #5 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The US is still benefiting from slave trade that ended in the 1850s? That's amazing, since we aren't even benefiting from the post-war boom after WWII.
You want reparations? How about freedom, education, and democracy, things you never would've experienced in Africa. How about the knowledge that half of America fought to free your ancestors in the 1860s, or that several million pushed to make the country more equitable in the 1950s-1960s.
2007-03-25 10:04:33 · answer #6 · answered by Curtis B 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The greatest reparation for everyone involved is not to look constantly over the shoulder to what was or what hurt...but to look at the now and live into a future of possibility with no hate, resentment, discrimination, revenge, and the constant bring the past and making sure it will be in the future.
Don't forget the Native Americans had all they had, land, animals, dignity, leaders, religion, and all that they believe was theirs from the creator, take and divided among this nation we so freely judge. My culture was not part of it yet I too live on the land the Natives bled on. So instead of who owes who, lets live together with a motto of "never again" and just live together in peace, joy and reciprocity. Amen?
2007-03-25 09:58:30 · answer #7 · answered by teri 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The British brought my family here in Chains and half of them died the first year. I'm White
IF REPARATIONS are based on an assumption that the victims were kidnapped and brought here to be exploited THEN it would be a logical assumption that REPARATIONs
would be paid to REPATRIATE them.
SO if you are paid Reparations you have to go back to whever you were kidnapped from.
2007-03-25 09:57:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
The history of reparations is a failed history. Ask the French and Germans. Unfortunately for your argument, those to whom you think reparations are owed are all dead.
2007-03-25 10:04:05 · answer #9 · answered by Slug 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well technically, those people who were paid reparations were still alive. Slaves no longer exist. They are your ancestors. There is no one to pay now. Cripes, blacks got to vote before women did. Women were slaves to the home. Where are my reparations?!
2007-03-25 09:53:47 · answer #10 · answered by Groovy 6 · 11⤊ 0⤋