Reperation for African americans

[escobert]

http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/rayhome...eperation.html

So, how do you feel about this? I think that it's stupid. I think that we shouldn't have to pay them when there are places liek Vermont that never allowed slavery and such. Also not all white family back then owned slaves. Also whos to say that some of the African Americans didn't move here after slavery was banned. I mean if we are goign to pay them money for being slaves then why shouldn't we pay the Irish for being tormented for so long when the first immigrated here or women for having less rights then men for so many years? There are lots of different types of people who ahve been repressed and don't demand everyone pay them money for it.

[Dr Unne]

If we're going to hold people responsible for the actions of their ancestors, we're all guilty of a whole lot of stuff, probably much worse than slavery. Some of my ancestors were German; should I have to pay Jewish people?

[escobert]

Exactly. Then every European nation would have to pay since they had ancestors who helped int eh slavery and all that. I think it's just a horrible idea.

[Bahamut2000X]

I think that it sounds like people are just trying to make a excuse for quick cash based on what happened to thier race, not them, maybe not even thier familes even, but thier race in general. Besides I doubt it'll go over well from all the families who never had slaves and are being forced to pay for something a long time ago they they had nothing to do with.

[Kirobaito]

Just to mention a fact: Only 30 percent of the south owned slaves in 1850. Oftentimes, racist African-Americans (yes...they do exist) will try to make the South appear as if everyone owned 100 slaves and lived on a plantation, and north was a safe haven to them. In reality, the entire country was racist at that time, and luckily most of it has now recovered from that era.

I think this suggestion is absurd, for the reasons already stated. I just wanted to back it up with actual facts. I agree that the freed slaves should have been helped out with things like reparations, and they were during Reconstruction, with the Freedmen's Bureau, but it has been 140 years since then, and this nation is a very different place. White people should no longer have to pay for what their ancestors did, as horrible as they were.

[The Captain]

Gotta make up the huge deficit somewhere...

But, in all seriousness, this law will never fly. According to a recent census, whites are beginning to be the minority in America, so it would seem highly impossible for a now smaller group to pay a larger group. Besides, as others have said, making the descendants of those who made mistakes pay for the wrongs is very silly. I believe that because of this very principle, there will never be peace in the Middle East, because the hatred is only rooted in the past, and no one can move on from it. Yes, slavery was terrible, probably one of the darkest hours in American history, but I wasn't even born during this time, so I had no sway in the actions. How can I be held responsible, or anyone who had no involvement? It's time to focus on the future. Black or white, we can all get along now, so I say that it's time to bury the hatchet. Passing this law would only open up old wounds and probably create new ones.

Take care all.

[Kirobaito]

I agree with ya, except whites are not beginning to be the minority. Not even close. While the population gap is closing, it's not close yet.

[The Captain]

I believe we are though, but the majority won't be our dark-skinned brethren either, it'll be those of Hispanic background very soon.

Take care all.

[Kirobaito]

According to the US Census Bureau:

White: 69.1%
Hispanic or Latino: 12.5%
African-American: 12.3%
Asian: 3.6%

There are others, but not enough to make make the list, like Native Americans or Pacific Islanders.

Doesn't seem very close to me. Where do ya live, Captain? I live in the South, and down here we're more racially diverse than the north, amongst Latinos, African-Americans, and Whites. We are probably in a White:Latino:A-A ratio of 40:30:30, with a little taken out for Asians.

[The Captain]

In Long Island, about 10 or so miles east of the city. Is that the most recent census? I could have sworn there was one from last year that showed the gap had closed dramatically... perhaps I'm mistaken.

Take care all.

[Kirobaito]

Censuses are taken every 10 years. And it's doubtful that the gap could have closed dramatically over the course of 4 years. Even by 2010, it probably won't be beyond 60-17-17 ratio.

[The Captain]

Maybe, I saw a state census then, because I know that the gap in NYC is almost fifty-fifty white to black/hispanic.

Take care all.

[Casey]

They should be paying the people that were slaves, not there children who weren't. There just trying to exploit there ancestors, and if they really want one, they can go back to Africa. Sounds cold but its true.

[TheAbominatrix]

In certain parts of California, whites are indeed the minority. It's the truth in my home town.

This is a stupid idea, for the reasons already stated. My family wasnt even in America at the time. Sheesh.

[Shadow Nexus]

Well, it's better than spending the money in weapons.

Also...

Reperation is the biggest sham since Communism and Utopianism.

:rolleyes2

Only for that, I'd start agreeing with reperation just to annoy that gentleman. Well, I actually think many parts of that article suffer from lack of documentation, but eh...whatever.

But OK, to be quite frank, I don't see the point of it. Those people who want money were never slaves, right? I can make a long list of countries where there are people who had been hurt by US external policy and probably deserve that reperation more. I'm not saying I think US should do it, but it makes more sense to give that money to people who have suffered in Chile, Cuba or Nicaragua than to the descendants of people who suffered it more than a century ago.

EDIT: Sorry, I'm kinda going to go off topic but:

http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/rayhome...tscenario.html

6.) Likely groups to be detained, subjected to summary execution, or shot on sight

Is it me or is this gentleman being a little bit sensationalistic?