On the contrary, I said that extremely specifically.
And yet I still have an emotional reaction to the term.
In any event, I can accept that I'm the minority opinion here. Ignore my complaints with the language, etc.
On the contrary, I said that extremely specifically.
I object to the notion that I am personally responsible for things that happened hundreds of years ago...
So we go with reparations as a reasonable mechanism.
Leaving aside any moral or ethical concerns with regard to reparations, there's an issue with how "reasonable" the mechanism is purely in practical terms. The first one being that most estimates for how much money is due to the African-American community tend to be too large to actually be paid.
The young German who finds stolen artwork in his or her attic is by no means accountable for the theft, but they're responsible for returning the goods.
My problem with reparations is it would be paid by tax payers, and many Americans, like myself, have ancestors that didn't arrive in the US until after the start of the Civil War, meaning, none of my ancestors owned nor facilitated the institution of slavery in any way - why should I be held responsible to help pay for that? Add to that my ancestors who arrived here after the start of the Civil War, fought for the north, so helped end slavery.
To extend this train of thought, since I live in Illinois, all the native Americans that have been displaced from Illinois, occurred while the French owned this land, by the time my ancestors arrived in Illinois, no natives were living here, so my ancestors did not help displace the natives from their land, and since my ancestors settled in Illinois, none went west to help displace those natives either. Historically, my family was never part of the problem, yet as a descendant American, I am expected to help share the burden of cost in reparations, if such should occur. I don't agree with that.
There is no Roman Empire from whom to seek reparations.Where do we draw the line for reparations? My ancestors were enslaved by the Romans...should I demand reparations from them?
AndMy problem with reparations is it would be paid by tax payers, and many Americans, like myself, have ancestors that didn't arrive in the US until after the start of the Civil War, meaning, none of my ancestors owned nor facilitated the institution of slavery in any way - why should I be held responsible to help pay for that? Add to that my ancestors who arrived here after the start of the Civil War, fought for the north, so helped end slavery.
I'll also echo gamerprinter...my family did not arrive in the US until after the Civil War (my paternal grandfather is British, and my maternal ancestors are French Canadian/Irish). Reparations would inevitably require taxpayer dollars to finance...