My ancestors came here (US and some to Austrailia) as indentured servants against their will. Poverty was rampant throughout Europe during the early 1700's so they did what they could to survive. Should the ancestors of indentured servants be entitled to reparations or citizenship from the countries they were kicked out of?
2007-10-13 12:18:16 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
You need to read up on indentured servitude a little more. Many people that came to the US, Austrailia and other British colonies came not of their own free will but as prisoners. As I said, the smallest crime in the UK during those times would either get you hung or sent to the colonies. You eventually got your freedom after 7 years if your master followed the law and the servant knew enough to persue it. Yes, some wanted to come and they did come as that but most were against their will. Many books are written on the subject. One in particular is called, "Immigrants in Chains". Far from voluntary....
It is very far removed from me now so why not everyone else? Things were different then so why do we need to rehash this thing now other than to break apart what we've worked so hard to get away from?
2007-10-13 13:41:48 · update #1
NO - WHO SHOULD PAY? IF GOVTS PAY THEY USE TAX PAYORS MONEY. MY ANCESTORS DID NOT HAVE SLAVES OR INDENTURED SERVANTS,SO WHY SHOULD MY TAX DOLLARS GOTO YOU?
2007-10-14 11:11:00 · answer #1 · answered by Ted M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should not receive reparations for many of the same reasons that Africans Americans should not receive reparations for slavery. There is not a single former slave or indentured servant alive today. If there were, they would certainly be due just compensation for their labor, but the ancestors of atrocities do not deserve compensation in any way.
As a precedent for this point of view, from the last century, let us look at how the compensation of slave labor during the holocaust of World War II has been handled. The thousands of people that survived that inequity are being compensated by both the government of Germany and by the companies that gained from their forced labor, and rightfully so. But their children have no inherited right to collect for the uncompensated labor of their parents.
2007-10-15 11:54:59 · answer #2 · answered by Carl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Indentured servant means that you owed someone money, or you offered your work for passage somewhere. No, you don't deserve reparations. The time spent as an indentured servant was used to pay off your ancestor's debts.
2007-10-13 12:23:03 · answer #3 · answered by Your Best Fiend 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It would result in an unending cycle of unfairness.
2007-10-13 12:24:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋