Reparations

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Thrawn
Hmmm, so it looks like no one is for reperations on this bbs...again.

In my post I thought I made it clear that I am for reparations.

[Sandman]

Maybe it's an issue in Florida. They've done some silly things in the past.

[rc51]

what? someone not get there welfare check???
The welfare system is reperation as far as im concerned.

[hyena426]

well,,some people would just like to get free money,,thats all it is,,,do you see the african americans asking africa for money?<~~sence they were the ones who sold them to us,,heck no you dont,,because they wanna blame white people instead of there own,,,people seem to forget the zulu's were some of the biggest slave traders in the world and so were alot of tribes in africa

anyone ever lisin to the black avenger on am radio? that guy will tell you how it is,,,and he is black man,, like he said,,are own people were slave traders,,but you dont see all the black americans tring to go back to africa to kick there butt and get money out of them do ya?,,,nope you sure dont,,because they got it a mite site better here in the states then in africa,,like i said,,its just people tring to get money for free

[Gunthr]

The movement for Reparations to those of African descent is not particular to the USA... it is world-wide. When the United Nations convenes the World Conference Against Racism in this coming August 2003, the issue will no doubt be discussed.

A lot of Americans do not believe this is a serious issue - and view this as just a bunch of militant blacks in America, shaking that old money tree to see what will drop out...

However, the idea of Reparations is being taken quite seriously by the rest of the world...

 Reportedly, There is international and national agreement among reparations supporters and advocates on five basic principles:

(a) That there occurred a mass kidnapping, sale and transport of over 20 million Africans from the continent to the New World between 1445-1875, which enriched Western and European countries, while it simultaneously impoverished affected African areas;

(b) That that process, variously called the Trans-atlantic Slave Trade, the Middle Passage, the Triangular Trade, inter alia, was a "crime against humanity" that must be reconciled (A "crime against humanity, as defined by the charter of the Nuremburg Tribunal, is "Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population...whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country here perpetrated.");

(c) That no compensation was ever paid by the Western and European perpetrators of that "crime" to the direct sufferers nor to their descendants;

(d) That the dire consequences and legacy of that "crime" continue to negatively impact Africa and the Diaspora (e.g., persistent continental African poverty and underdevelopment, and Jim Crowism and other forms of racial discrimination in the Diaspora); and

(e) Reparations in some form, including apologies, are due from the existing governments of those countries who were "unjustly enriched" by their participation in the slave trade and in the enslavement of Africans in the Diaspora.

( Diaspora = "dispersion of an originally homogenious group")



Mietla, you assert that there is no legal claim for Reparations whatsoever. I'm no attorney, but I think it could be argued that there are legal precedents for the payment of Reparations...

[Saurdaukar]

Im all for reperations.  The catch is that you must have actually been a slave, and you must still be alive in order to collect.

This entire argument is rediculous... and in my opinion widens the very differences that many people are try to erase in the first place.  

Now, I know we have blacks that play this game... what do you all think?  Are you behind this idea or do you see it for what it is: roadkill?

[lazs2]

fortunately... this one won't get as far as the 'sue mcdonalds cause yer fat' one.   not near as far.

unfortunately.... it is the best scheme anyone ever came up with to continue racism and resentment... The KKK couldn't have done better.. they aren't smart enough.   The really bright biggots will milk this one for all it's worth.

OTOH... it is a pretty good satire on the whole afirmative action thing and holds a mirror up to those particular biggots.
lazs

[Dingbat]

Originally posted by john9001
my family never owned slaves, and did not become rich on the "free" labor of slaves, that is why i am poor today, so i figure the govt owes my family money because we never took advantage of "free" slave labor and amassed a fortune, i think my familys loss is about $783,294.27....., more or less.

Mine too, let's sue

[2Slow]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
All my relitives imagrated here way after slavery. "

I agree, however I can trace my line back to Mr. Wilson, who signed the Declaration of Independence.

[capt. apathy]

how can you owe money for doing something that was legal at the time.  also the talk I have heard has been for the gov't to pay. AFAIK the US gov't has never owned slaves.

also, if reperations where decided to be in order then couldn't the statistics that prove blacks commit a dis-proportionate amount of crime be used to justify whites being allowed to take property from blacks in reperations for high crime rates perpatrated by blacks.  never mind that those you are taking it from probably wheren't even the problem.  reperationist don't care that we wheren't the ones who owned slaves.

[Gunthr]

reperationist don't care that we wheren't the ones who owned slaves.- Capt.Apathy

Exactly, Capt.

Their rationale in the US is the same as that used for Affirmative Action:

You are a white person currently living in a racist society. You have benifitted from living in a racist society whether you owned slaves or not, and therefore a debt is owed to African Americans who "built the country" with slave labor. The debt is to be payed for by the individual taxpayers of the racist society.

[midnight Target]

Reparations for slavery is a silly idea. The discussion of reparations is a good idea.

Why?

Because the harm to the African Americans in this Country did not end with the conclusion of the Civil War. Institutional racism continued for a long time thereafter. There may be living Americans today who were directly harmed by those laws. Should they be compensated for their loss?

For an example of direct loss, do some research on the Tulsa Riots. An entire middle to upper class Black community was wiped out. Possibly thousands were killed. Not too high on the list of topics in most history books though.

[Gunthr]

Reparations for slavery is a silly idea - MT

Please explain...

[ra]

The discussion of reparations is a good idea.

Discussion of reparations is a bad idea because it is deliberaltely devisive.  It implies that ALL black people are victims of every anti-black racist event, and that ALL of America is the perpetrator.  This stirs up resentment all around, and does nothing for real victims, past, present, or future.  If anyone wants to air America's racial history, there are infinite avenues available.   Turning to lawyers in an attempted money grab is probably one of the worst.  The message it sends to blacks is "America owes you $", the message it sends to everyone else is "you owe blacks $".  Nothing good can come from that.

ra

[StSanta]

I want reparations from the brutal occupation by Sweden. And as I lived in Sweden, I want from the Danes too.

Have to finance the reparations to the French and Brits somehow.