Should anybody have to pay for the sins of their ancestors?

Question

i.e. Should white people compensate black people because of slavery even though this generation had NOTHING to do with slavery?

Should Germans have to compensate the jewish culture becuase of what that sicko Hitler did?

Should the child of an axe murderer have to compensate for what his father did?

Just curious as to what you think.

Answer 1

Absolutely not. Good question.

Answer 2

No, unless you had a direct part in the activity then no.

I mean, yes. All of these things that were done to all of those people is absolutely terrible and I can't understand how a person could ever do any of them, but then on the other hand it is not the fault of those living now. And in some of the cases presented, the ones being compensated never actually went through the suffering of their ancestors.

Another problem I see with this is how far do we take this?? Do we punish all the children of the axe murderer? His cousins? How do we prove whose ancestors took part in slavery? Do we force all Germans to compensate or do we exclude ones that left the country?

It all just becomes a tangled web...in the end I feel as though some compensation needs to be made for those that suffered through anyone of these, but past that the chain needs to be broken and people need to forgive and forget.

Answer 3

No on most counts. The German people still owe a debt to those they tried to wipe out. Many were involved, or knew about it and did nothing. Some of those people are still alive and I think have already been compensated to some extent, as well as the families of victims.

However reperations should stop when the people that were affected are all long gone.

Reperations for slavery? Fine. Every black person still alive that was ever a slave should be given the cash value of 40 acres and a mule, + 140 years interest. Heck, even extend that out to their first generation children, that would be damn few takers.

If we are going to go back that far, why not farther. I'm sure there are many blacks who were victims of other tribes during African wars and such in slavery days and prior. Maybe we should go back and reperate for all those wrongs too. Hey you know what? The Mongol invasions in the 1300's were never reperated. Maybe all the descendants of the victims should be seeking reperations?

Answer 4

One pays for ones' own sins. However, the world has many compassionate people thus to forgive and forget. The child need not have to compensate for what his father did in the axe murder. However, as for the Germans and issue on salvery pieces, these acts were committed from representive of the respective countries thus yes, the country will need to compensate for past decisions made by heads of states.

Answer 5

Where have you been since WWII? Argentina? The Germans did spend very significant amounts of money since the war compensating European Jews for the Holocast. However, I doubt America could afford paying compensation for slavery, which went on for hundreds of years, and of course, as taxpayers, African Americans would also be required to pay for part of whatever bill came due. And, of course, so would Asian Americans. So, relax, if it ever does happen, however highly unlikely, you won't be paying the entire bill.

Answer 6

NO. I wasn't there, then and would not have had anything to do with the owning of anyone else, anyway!
As for the child of an axe murderer.....the question is did the child do it or did the adult do it! We are all only accountable or responsible for our own wrong doings.
As for the Germans-ONLY THOSE that particpitated in the crimes against the Jews

Answer 7

I dont think anyone should have to give up money for what their ancestors did. I dont know of any slave decendents that are suffering today because their great-grandaddy was a slave. It was wrong what this culture did, but that was the times. I really dont see any Jewish people demanding money from the German government, crap...they even had all their possessions taken away.

Answer 8

Those ideas are so absurd they would never come to fruition. It was just wishful thinking on the NAACP part to get some more money for their members.
I doubt anyone ever mentioned the jews.
I cannot imagine laws like that being passed or enforced.

Answer 9

I think the children pay a heavy debt emotionally.

Uninvolved individuals should not pay.___But groups such as Germans are different. THEY HAVE BEEN responsible for the sins of their parents.

At some point we must start all over again with renewed insights.___ and get on with our lives.

Read History and learn.

Answer 10

The living survivors of Nazi Germany should be compensated.

The stuff that happened 200 years ago has nothing to do with anyone alive today.

Answer 11

According to the 10 commandments, yes.

Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;