REPARATIONS: Good Idea? Justifiable?  Merely a Political Move?
814449
History of slavery started in the continent of Africa. Tribes would war against each other and conquer, killing men mostly and keeping women. As trade started with the Europeans, African kings would barter and sell slaves to these Europeans traders for guns and other items, STARTING SLAVERY IN THE KNOWN WORLD!With there being so many countries in Africa know one knows who should pay who for this atrocity. This is just a fact of man's inhumanity to each other.In many African countries slavery still exists
985216
Probably what these folks are referring to are government reparations, in the form of laws that have made Native Americans sovereign governments unto themselves - tribal governments that may operate businesses in international trade zones, etc. - such as casinos, even if they don't agree with state laws. I can't imagine anyone seeing this as "making it up to them" anymore than we can say I am of European heritage, so I did it to them {Actually, I am Cherokee, Spanish-Jew, European Catholic go figure}. We cannot, however, throw out the baby with the bath water, so to speak. In an attempt to 'repair' the damage done to the culture, standard of living, and gene pool as a whole, this decision was made. It is a constantly changing and growing, evolving thing....as the consequences of that decision evolve, we see results and all have to live with it and adjust. Here in Oklahoma, for instance, state highways and roads are paid for with public tax dollars to reach these 'international trade zones.' what about that? On the other hand, the tribes ALL provide an amazing amount of charity and other structural social good support to society at large here. Again, we have to deal with it as we go along -- just like the many tribes as ethnicities have had to struggle with many questions. Here, there are fights in the tribes I have heard about between the "pure" bloods, or 1/2 versus 1/8 blood, etc. It seems to never end. What I personally believe is important is recognizing and acknowledging what occurred, in its truthful entirety. A good step toward this is the first ever National Museum for Native Americans- see the site below. I personally have read much about the Trail of Tears and the book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" still rips at my guts as I write this. These are tough issues with roots deep in the past. To compare this with 9-11 is, in my opinion, a fallacious argument at best; a disservice to a near genocidal event at worst. We cannot make such general, thoughtless statements off the cuff; after all, we are all Americans if we live in the 50 states, whether hyphenated with another lineage or not.
822245
I disagree because, well I started my life with nothing, grew up in the projects, and have now created a small fortune.  I owe no one!  I will walk on anyone who tries to take from me, what I have worked for!\n\nMe and my brother were the only white kids in the projects...  Talk about unfair!\n\nTake your cry for reparations to someone else...  \nI simply don't buy it!
551698
If you are talking about giving the Native Americans each a sum of money as reparations, even if it is feasible, it is a bad idea.  The money will be spent and the reparations will do nothing in the long run.  Reparations should be given in the form of better schools and better job training for the Native Americans living on the reservations, so that they can get good jobs, compete in today's society, and help themselves.  The schools they have now are awful.  \n\nI especially like cheddar and Monterrey jack.  I am not too fond of Swiss.  I think feta is odd because it doesn't not taste or look like cheese.
330786
zafrumi666 I would be most happy to return to the tropical paradise from which I originate if your western countries returned the wealth they stole from it and also stopped exploiting non-western countries for cheap primary resources (crops, minerals, oil, etc).\n\nBlond dyslexic I fully agree with you. Whether or not you believe in Karma most people would agree that at some time what you put around finally comes around. As those white oppressive colonialist farmers sowed, so they are now reaping!
444172
some believe that repentance is enough some require some sort of restitution still others are not happy unless the offender is punished in some ways you have punished yourself enough direct restitution is not possible repentance will have to do good luck and above all be happy
835509
I agree with the concept, yes. I've seen way too many times where people make blanket statements, and it's annoying to no end. You'd rather your tax dollars go to unjust wars? To hike government salaries? \n\nThere are plenty of people, women and men alike, on welfare programs that NEED it, that could not exist any other way. Many times it's due to circumstances that are entirely beyond their control, and most often they are ashamed to admit it and can't wait to be independent and self supporting. Gee, I wonder why they're ashamed when the general majority makes them feel like sponges.\n\nThere are others that take advantage of the system, and this is WHY people get jaded and judgemental. However, they tend to forget that this is not the majority, that there are people out there that could not exist without it, and that it's our responsibility to help those less fortunate ... our moral responsibility.
1094010
While pondering  the plight of those 'poor souls' referred -to in the question, consider whether they are worthy of any more pity than any other poor souls waiting for legitimate entry into the USA. Also, while we are at it, maybe we should be taking a hard look at the wisdom of continuing with an immigation policy that dates from a time when our country needed more people.
239894
Yes, I definitely think he would be disgusted.  Reparations were not a part of his dream that all people would stand together on their own, proud to be Americans.  People who want reparations have a "poor me" victim complex and that was not what Martin Luther King Jr. wanted for his people.....)(
1176639
This question was posted awhile back and I said No but now after such bitter answers from the two above,I will say yes!\nAfrican-Americans do deserved reparations regardless of the incompetence of others who say present or future inheritors and generations don't deserved. Racism still exist today. Blacks may not be in invisible shackles or chains of bondage but we are still bounded by whites in economically,classicism,and religion etc... I just pray that we don't splurge the money on materialistic things and be laughed at for our wastefulness. You must realized that the money will go back to the ones who ancestors that have enslaved our past generations. As for myself, if I was to receive this money, I would buy a piece of land nd build a house so that my son will have a place for him if something was to happen to me.
504026
Of course. If you cooperate in unjust laws, you are cooperating in an injustice. When Hitler made it legal to discriminate against the Jews, seize their property and posessions, hound them to death, are you suggesting that a just person should have obeyed those laws? Should a citizen of South Africa have worked to support the laws enforcing apartheid, or to destroy them?\nBecause something is endorsed by law, that does not make it legal, as the Nurenberg trials proved.
758715
Suppose that once upon a time there was a country where in good deeds were rewarded by a free market system with wealth, status, and power. Suppose that there was a contest between families to determine whose family could do the most good. Suppose after about 400 years most of the wealth, status and power was concentrated into the hands of those families who won this contest presumably by doing the most good. Suppose that after reviewing 400 years of history the vast majority of the inhabitants of this country realized that this contest was unfair to certain families because of their ethnic background or simply because of the colour of their skin. Suppose that for almost 300 years certain families were never compensated for the good deeds they had done because their labor was stolen from them by institutionalized slavery. Suppose that for about 100 years after that these same families were discriminated against; were denied fair and equal access to wealth, status and power; and continued to be denied the opportunity to compete fairly in the this contest to do good. Suppose that members of these very same families volunteered to serve their country in times of war and died for their country. Would you as an inhabitant of this country wish to do something to address this social injustice? Would you as an inhabitant of this country wish to win this contest to do good fair and square or would you be satisfied with being from a family that cheated by having a 400 year head start? As I understand it, Affirmative Action is doing something to address 400 years of social injustice suffered by certain families due to institutionalized slavery and or the denial of fair and equal access to wealth, status and power.
1162872
It not necessary, All it would do is make everyone mad except blacks, for blacks it would mean a lot of restless nights over the anger of some people. Is reparation owed? Yes but who gets it? Could it be the desendants of slaves or something else, one thing for sure is that this country always held on to it.\n\nThe thing about reparation is that it means to repair or to restore something. If we were to look at what America owes then we would find out that no amont of money could be restored. This nation simply do not have it. If the Black race were to get reparations from the goverment that took it, then they would still come up short.
1007516
The problem is that many African countries don't have functioning governmental institutions.  Sending money might help alleviate problems temporarily, but until they have more stable institutions and social welfare programs, governments can't be effective in helping their people.  Another problem is that many African countries have outrageous amounts of debt, so this plus unstable economies (that part is sort of a chicken and egg kind of thing) make it really difficult for these governments to become more stable and to provide and maintain public goods.
353493
Sounds like a good idea in theory, but here is the problem, there are so many wars in Africa, more than I can count. If you could get every war lord, every dictator, every ruler in Africa to stop fighting, than something like that could be done. But until then good luck.  The only thing you can do is local help in areas of Africa were there is no fighting or little fighting. However these are the places in Africa there are realatively well off.  The fact is WAR CAUSES POVERTY, therefore the more war there is the more poverty there is.
358807
its a stupid idea like what the stupid Israeli did in the Palestine land.that will encourage violent  and other illegal ways.pleas don't encourage discrimination.what you calls it your land Had been the red Indians land thousand years ago.\nso stop your sally questions and your silly ideas
712094
the answer to your direct question-- is a definite NO. as to the thesis that accompany your question-- it all depends. not all countries are in the same "bag" --humans differ as to their origins ( I mean social and political) and their heritage and their experiences with different types of governments or rulers. we can not and should not over-simplify "democracy" that it is applicable "as is" to all countries. that is wrong and that is why we have so many issues and problems in countries where their applications is resented. to cut short a long conversation -- democracy is the best among the the worst alternatives. but it should be applied with degrees of latitude to that particular nation/government/population -- like all social remedies in life -- it will take time before it bears fruit. hope it helps.