What is your opinion on reparations?

Question

Isn't enough enough already?

Native Americans. I have a deep amount of respect for the Native American nation. My issue is with the constant media circus in which several members of the African American race are relentlessly complaining about the lack of reparations for slavery 100 years ago. Today I watched as this African American man complained that the successful white people owe the African American people a percentage of their income because they got all the opportunities that the African American race never could have had. This black man who was whining about all of this business had a PhD himself.

My issue is none whatsoever with Native Americans. I have a deep amount of respect for the Native American nation. My issue is with the constant media circus in which several members of the African American race are relentlessly complaining about the lack of reparations for slavery 100 years ago. Today I watched as this African American man complained that the successful white people owe the African American people a percentage of their income because they got all the opportunities that the African American race never could have had. This black man who was whining about all of this business had a PhD himself.

Answer 1

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One issue that needs to be noted is the fact that more
people in our society need to come to the realization
that (as a consensus) when the African-Americans (AAs)
have requested "reparations" -- (unlike the other groups
which have 'demanded' reparations in the form of ‘cash’)
-- the AA 'consensus' definition of "reparations" has
essentially been for a government-sponsored / endorsed
"museum" (as opposed to all of the 'privately built' ones
the AAs have created on their own) & a "national
day of remembrance" & a "formal apology".

In addition, one would also hope that society will
one day come to realize that AA-tax dollars would
also be included in the cost of such a "museum".

Another thing one hopes that society becomes aware of
is the fact that the U.S. paid for a 'Holocaust Museum' in
Washington D.C. -- despite the fact that the Holocaust
took place in Europe (and, in that case it was American
tax dollars -- not European – that paid for the museum).

What is odd is that the 'one group' that (as a consensus)
has not requested a 'cash settlement' for their "reparations"
is the 'one group' that every one protests (without bothering
to hear them out) when the topic is brought up for them.

Meanwhile -- the U.S. has given "reparations" to the
Japanese government (the $20 Billion they received
after WW2 built their auto factories); the citizens
of nations like Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt; Iraq,
& numerous other people groupings.

Some of these payments were for offenses that Americans
did not even commit; or were committed as a part
of war; or were simply committed by other groups
on foreign soil -- yet no one ever protests or
becomes indignant about these reparations.

The discussion of “reparations” in the form of a
"museum" request—however -- makes them go nuts.

It should be noted that-even though the AAs neither
'caused' nor benefited from the sufferings of groups
like the Native Americans (NAs); Japanese-Americans
(JAs) & European-Jews (EJs) ... the AAs (like all
Americans) have 'paid reparations to’ all of these groups.

What's ironic is that most of the AAs never complained
about paying 'reparations' out to other groups--yet people
always complain about even the 'discussion' of paying
'reparations' of any sort (even if just in the form
of a 'national museum') to the AAs

The people complaining seem to forget that AAs
themselves would be a part of the group that would
'also' be 'taxed' in order to 'pay for' the “reparation”
(whether in the form of a 'museum' or 'national day of
recognition', etc.) that they are requesting be considered.

If it doesn't bother the AAs to 'contribute to the pot'
of 'reparations for all the groups (including their own
... why does it bother so many people to even 'hear
them out' & bother even trying to listen to them
and 'what they are actually requesting'?

Another ironic point is that most people protesting any
form of “reparations” for this group-just assume the AAs
would not be included in 'contributing to the funds' &
always assume the AA's want "cash"-when, in reality
(while we Americans have willingly doled out actual cash
to every group here & overseas demanding 'reparations'
from the US)-the one group that (as a consensus)
states they just want 'a museum' or 'an apology' (&
not “cash”) is the one no one wants to hear out.

Let’s also try to remember that the whole 'reparations'
issue is not related to 'how poor’ a group is as a result
of the harsh treatment it's ancestors went thru.

(Ex. Japanese-Americans & European-Jews are some
of the world's most successful and well-off people -- yet
have received 'reparations' & the European-Jews even
received reparations funds from the US -- via the UN
& the Holocaust Museum in D.C. -- AND – also --
contrary to myth -- most of the AAs are not poor
and do not live in ghettoes or the inner-city).

For those who would like to mention other previously
suffering groups such as the Chinese railroad workers
or the Irish factory workers (and unlike the AAs, JAs,
NAs & EJs)--it needs to be remembered that these
groups entered into their situation 'volitionally'--
so 'reparations' isn't even an applicable issue to
them-- as 'reparations' are only considered when
a group has been physically 'forced' into a situation.

Also 'reparations' isn't always about "cash"--
in fact, many of the AAs have simply requested
their ‘reparations’ in the form of a 'national
museum', etc.--yet every one always 'assume'
they've been requesting "cash" (when most of
them actually have not done any such thing).

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnpIuUDbHEzGdVaYujjbKk_ty6IX?qid=20070730211939AAY4Fdq&show=7#profile-info-79e94510c6758ea6698945d636a25608aa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As4c725DnONFGdMmSdqCsBPty6IX?qid=20070731192147AAOT469&show=7#profile-info-c4Whtaysaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApWpYXGXp1KBskQ.X8R.oWEjzKIX?qid=20070724203335AAfkWu3

In addition – please also become aware of
the fact that the ’African-Americans’ are
not a “race” – they are an Ethnic group.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al5eeK2CFwcv4rD5U5qzvEfty6IX?qid=20070527201834AAIhzhM&show=7#profile-info-CiC2JY9Maa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiebDu.tSshJzQ0wS5fMp7jty6IX?qid=20070623205206AANUzPN&show=7#profile-info-q1hdwifgaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjwuxYj8agKY7yGgqaJ7i.Xty6IX?qid=20070704121228AA7ZMsA&show=7#profile-info-ezQwEaJLaa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/991
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1399
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1570
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1573

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Answer 2

Reparations for whom? If you mean reparations for blacks or even native americans, I don't think it is such a grand idea to have them. Many things happened long ago to these people that simply cannot be made up for in money alone. Nor is it possible to put an accurate monetary amount on their suffering. I'm not so sure the Jews under Hitler should get reparations because, again, this is impossible to determine a monetary amount for their suffering or their loss. I also have a problem with this because of the simple fact that most of the people who did those things are now dead. Why should the new generation have to pay for the sins of their fathers? That is an injustice in of itself. Since very few of the actual transgressors are still around, so do I deserve to pay reparations for a crime I didn't commit and wasn't even born yet to commit? The obvious answer is no.

As for the continuance of the oppression of certain peoples, this sort of thing ought to be stopped. But, again, having monies go to people nowadays from tax dollars means that you are taking out the pockets of people you have never met and have never been offended by. Again why should anyone have to pay reparations unless there is a direct causal link between someone's modern (not long since past) actions and an offense? That is what I think of reparations.

Answer 3

I think it's "a tale told by an idiot filled with sound and fury signifying nothing". They would be impossible to fund and impossible to distribute and would set too dangerous a precedent. 80% of white Southerners never owned a slave and 100% of Southerners who did own slaves are dead (and most died in financial ruin as it was). As an umpteenth generation Southerner I have 7 ancestors who owned no slaves for each ancestor who did own slaves and I inherited nothing from any of them, so why should I pay taxes for something 1/8 of the ancestors I never met did, and why should the descendants of an Italian immigrant who came to Ellis Island after the War was over or the descendant of Union veterans pay anything at all?
It's nonsense that nobody believes in but the most base of agitators (and even they don't believe it will ever happen). Slavery was an abomination, no contest, but it was also legal, and there were also hundreds of thousands of white people who gave their lives in the war to end it. The only people I'd ever have approved reparations for were the slaves themselves and they are long dead.

Answer 4

I think it is silly to give any reparations now. It is pointless. If there were people who were still living that were slaves or even if their children were still living I actually would be all for it. I think that would be a wonderful gesture and a way to somewhat apologies for such horrible treatment. The thing is now to many people want money for doing and suffering nothing. They look to any excuse they can to gain money. Hey my great, great, great, grandmother was an American Indian so where's my money for all the things they took from us? I would feel very strange if they gave me money for what they did to a family member that I nor my grandparents even knew. I agree enough is enough. Lets move forward and stop all this useless crap.

Answer 5

Most of the caucasian residents now living in the USA had ancestors that immigrated over from Europe decades AFTER slavery ended. They are not responsible for slavery at all. Taxing the relatives of immigrants from the 1900s, 1920s, and 1930s for slave reparations would be punishing the innocent to atone for the guilty.

Answer 6

The black people shouting for reparations, are the ones who haven't even seen a plow let alone know what one is! Most of them wouldn't even have a clue where to begin to trace their roots. (My last name is compound English and VERY old, so I am sure may ancestors were southern slaves on my grandfather's side... and they were from GA.) But, there are so many mixes of races, how in the world would they know if they are even part African and not a nice blend of Mexican and Comanche?

I wouldn't collect a thing if someone tried to offer, but I am sure my cousin who feels very entitled would be 15th in line!

Answer 7

WHAT reparations?

The US government hasn't even acknowledged it's crimes against US let alone made an apology or reparations of ANY kind to us.

Some of you will say "well you have casino's and free land, and free college etc" NONE of it's TRUE. SOME tribes have Casino's because we are SOVEREIGN NATIONS not STATES of the USA. WE deal with the US GOVT on a NATION to NATION basis. Just like the USA deals with Canada, or China.

The FUNDING we get is in return for the resources they take off Indian lands, ie. Timber, Water rights, coal etc.
IHS (indian health service) is Funded via THESE funds.

American Indian College Fund is FUNDED by PERSONAL donations not Govt monies.

And they are STILL trying to eradicate us.

http://www.indianz.com/News/2007/004214.asp

Answer 8

Yes, I definitely think it's enough already. I don't think any more reparations need to be given.

Answer 9

my family paid in blood at Gettysburg and Antietam and Fredricksburg.......

a thank you from the descendants of slaves to the descendants of the Union Army would be nice.......