Is this sort of odd?

Question

My Great Great Great Grandfather fought in the civil war on the union side but my first cousins ancesters fought on the Confederate side. Come to find out they both were in some of the same battles too. And I know that his family had a slave plantation and do you think it would be right to give reperations if he found someone who desended from a slave on his plantation. Or should he just apologize and tell people who would have never done it and is shameful of his famlilies history as slave owners.

Answer 1

I would say that far more important than just throwing money at the problem would be for your first cousin's family to actually have dialogue with the family, get to know them, establish a common kinship with them, and most importantly, treat them as equals. That would do more to preserve the spirit of your great great great grandfather's service than any amount of dollars could do.

Answer 2

My forbears fought for the Union and as far as I know, none of my ancestors ever owned slaves.

That said, I can not and do not understand why anyone should feel guilty or pay reparations to anyone for something that their third great-grandparents did.

I stipulate that slavery was terrible ... but it was part of life THEN and it was legal ... THEN. That the United States participated in and condoned, even encouraged slavery was a very bad thing. Thank God it was outlawed a long time ago. Were reparations to be paid, they should have been paid to those who were slaves and who suffered at the hands of their owners THEN. No question in my mind about that.

Also to my way fo thinking, believing that the descendents of American slave owners owe apologies and/or reparations to descendents of slaves is like saying that everyone who is of German heritage should apologize for what the Nazis did. Simply wrong-headed.

You will hear NO argument from me about reparations and apologies to Jews, et al, who were jailed, confined to ghettos, and/or sent to concentration camps. I also believe it is fair that our government made reparations to Japanese-Americans who were sent to camps during WWII. These kinds of reparations make sense because there are still people alive who suffered these atrocities.

We can not change what happened here over 150 years ago. There was a huge war that cost the lives of over a half-million Americans. That was terrible as well. Let's get on with our lives, and make things better for the future.

Answer 3

I don't think he should do either. And why should he feel shame for something done and accepted, at least in the South, generations ago? The Civil War ended over 140 years ago. Do modern Italians apologize for the slaves the Romans kept? How about the Greeks? Back then, slavery was a part of society. If he feels obligated to do something, how about doing what he can to end modern-day slavery.

Answer 4

Your cousin has nothing to feel a shamed about either for himself or his ancestors. To even consider providing reparations to someone who was never involved from someone who was never involved is totally illogical and an act which will only create and perpetuate ill feelings between individuals who had nothing to do with what occurred in the past.

If you are so concerned with such acts then focus on current acts of slavery which are occurring throughout much of the third world, primarily in Africa. In fact slavery existed in Africa prior to the arrival of Europeans and has continued to current times.

No matter how someone feels about the slavery which occurred in the Americas in the 1600s through the mid-1800s that portion in the United States came to an end on the deaths of over 600,000 people. In addition this confrontation also altered for all time the intent of the Founders who created the Constitution of the United States. Anyone who doesn’t believe that this price is sufficient should spend more time reading history.

Further, the civil rights movements which built into the 1960s has provided the path for anyone to succeed to their hearts desire in whatever life goal they have, ‘if’ they are willing to apply themselves. Millions of descendants of slaves have succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of most people and anyone can do the same.

To support reparations or apologies to those living to day is to say that those who fought in that war died for nothing. That those of us who were part of the 60s civil rights movement acted for nothing.

Answer 5

Farien is right. However, I think apologies of this kind should not be expected at the individual level. It should be at government level.
At any rate, most people in the Americas whose families date back more than a hundred years would have either plantation owner ancestors or are the descendants of slaves.

Answer 6

First of all, I believe slavery was a heinous thing and was a blot on humanity, but why should your cousins be responsible for or have to apologize for something they did not do?

Secondly, how would they know for sure who the descendants of their slaves were? If they gave "reparations"
to one person they might be swamped with other people who claimed also be descended from slaves. (Not all black people are descended from slaves. And there are some whites who had black slave ancestors although many of them don't realize it.)

And how would someone decide what was a fair "reparation?"

Answer 7

Why would anyone feel guilty over what someone else had done? It does not make any difference if it was an ancestor or not.
My sins are mine, but others sins are theirs alone!

Answer 8

well....that was very common in the civil war, members of the same family fighting on different sides...but about the reperations...thats up to him....whatever he chooses...but it would be right to do

Answer 9

He should do whatever he thinks is right.

Answer 10

im sorry but i hvae no idea