Boo Radley
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2009
- Messages
- 37,066
- Reaction score
- 7,028
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Liberal
I don't think people recognize what they're saying.
Agreed.
I don't think people recognize what they're saying.
So how does this apply to the debate on reparations? What we have done to African Americans was and continues to be a shame. If we pay reparations, those problems won't go away - in fact, it's possible they might worsen from the backlash from those who oppose reparations for whatever reason. But the problem is still there, and needs fixing...even with such a bubble-gum-and-bailing-wire solution as reparations. We can't allow the possibility that things won't improve or might even worsen stop us from doing what we can to make things better.
What have "we" done to African/Black Americans today that would be receiving these reparations?
We might not be responsible as individuals, but we ARE responsible as a nation. Try reading the article I referenced in the OP.
We might not be responsible as individuals, but we ARE responsible as a nation. Try reading the article I referenced in the OP.
What have "we" done to African/Black Americans today that would be receiving these reparations?
Perhaps an argument could be made Mississippi or some Southern States owe reparations or that country club owe them but why in the hell should my tax dollars go to anything like that? The idea is ridiculous. My family had nothing to do with slavery or gaining anything from black labor.
You do realize that there are African American people who were live before 1964? Yes? Tell us how great black people had it then. Hell, Reagan began paying reparations to the Japanese in 1988 and their swing through the oppressive playground lasted what? 4 years? Lol, in white America, only a select few get reparations. Native Americans got their casinos and reserves, the Japanese got money, black people got... what? Welfare checks and accusations of affirmative action?
Part of my family owned slaves. We worked hard, improved ourselves across the generations, and then had everything taken from us - tossed into poverty. If black people want reparations from me, I want the cost of transportation, feeding and clothing, and then loss of property reparated to me from the north.
While we're at it, I think we should also give reparations to American Indians, good for roughly 100% of the value of the non-reservation land in the United States. But then they should turn and give it to the tribes they took it from, and if no descendents can be found, they should dig up the graves and bury it. Also we should probably give reparations to the British Empire for the value of the 13 colones. France owes Reparations to Germany for Alsace-Lorraine, who owes Reparations to France for Alsace-Lorraine. About 1/3 of the world owes reparations to the British Empire, who owes it to the now-defunct empires it took them from, who owe reparations to the Mongols.
All ridiculing of a foolish idea aside, there is probably one group of people who legitimately do deserve them - Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII. I would say of all the groups clamoring, they are the one that actually deserve it.
Indians should not have gotten casinos and black people that have a specific case should take it to court.
To make blanket reparations is not the way to do it. I don't know what happened with the Japanese but I think that only those that lost a job or a business should have gotten money... not just all of them.
Exactly... where does it end? My Scottish clan lost land from the British. I deserve 600 years of interest.
A specific case? Every black person could be legally discriminated against prior to 1964. What exactly are they going to argue against? The same states rights defended by Southern states today? Haha, yeah, good luck.
Yeah, it's too late to argue what we think should have happened and shouldn't. The precedent was set by Republicans and that's why black people don't vote for them. They'll give reparations to the Japanese but black people who'd been oppressed for 200 years can go **** themselves? Lol. Yeah, kk.
Cool. MY people had their property seized. I want reparations too.
Oh wait, we're getting interest? Oh man. Those Neanderthals are going to make out like bandits.
And were they sold into slavery with the understanding that they and their children and all their descendants until the end of time would also be slaves? And did they face a century of Jim Crow afterwards?
One of the least wise things a white man can do is suggest that his ancestors had it as bad...because they didn't. Period.
And were they sold into slavery with the understanding that they and their children and all their descendants until the end of time would also be slaves? And did they face a century of Jim Crow afterwards?
One of the least wise things a white man can do is suggest that his ancestors had it as bad...because they didn't. Period.
Perhaps an argument could be made Mississippi or some Southern States owe reparations or that country club owe them but why in the hell should my tax dollars go to anything like that? The idea is ridiculous. My family had nothing to do with slavery or gaining anything from black labor.
White people's/groups haven't been enslaved, raped, murdered or had their land and property stolen... or been slaves? Really?
White people's/groups haven't been enslaved, raped, murdered or had their land and property stolen... or been slaves? Really?
And your family likely had nothing to do with the Japanese internment...but IIRC we paid reparations to them. Your family also likely had nothing to do with the decision to illegally invade Iraq on false pretenses...but that's what we as a nation did.
You see, while we may not personally be responsible, we Americans as a whole ARE in a very real way responsible for what our nation does.
And your family likely had nothing to do with the Japanese internment...but IIRC we paid reparations to them. Your family also likely had nothing to do with the decision to illegally invade Iraq on false pretenses...but that's what we as a nation did.
You see, while we may not personally be responsible, we Americans as a whole ARE in a very real way responsible for what our nation does.
I would like to say that I am embarrassed to be a homo sapiens. I feel personally guilty for the fact that we wiped out the Neanderthals, your people. And I cannot begin to imagine how many microaggressions you must suffer every day in our Sapiens-Normative culture.
And were they sold into slavery with the understanding that they and their children and all their descendants until the end of time would also be slaves? And did they face a century of Jim Crow afterwards?
One of the least wise things a white man can do is suggest that his ancestors had it as bad...because they didn't. Period.
Everyone was enslaved and abused at one point in history or another. The reparations game is a fools' one.