Several Groups & Individuals are Now Claiming ...
That as 'Descendents' of Slaves ...
Brought Here Against Their Wills ...
They were Disenfranchised of Many Benefits ...
Including the Right to Vote ...
And are Now 'Entitled' to Monetary Reparations.
Some Ultra-Liberal Citizens May Concur with This Premise.
I, for One ... DON'T !!!
WHY NOT ?
Let Me Count The Ways:
1. According to Some Historical Records ...
It was the Chieftains of the Tribes in Africa ...
That SOLD Them for Profit Originally.
Perhaps Reparations Should be Sought ...
From the African Nations?
2. As the Third Part of the Reconstruction Era ...
in 1870, The 15th Amendment ...
Granted Blacks the Right to Vote ...
Whereas All Women Citizens ...
Had to Wait 50 More Years ...
19th Amendment in 1920.
Was That Fair?
3. While it Took over 200 Years ...
And The Bloody Civil War ...
To Finally Abolish Slavery ...
In The United States ...
And, Much, Much Unfairness Continued ...
Mostly in The Southern States ...
The Rights of Former Black Slaves and Their Descendents ...
Gradually Improved Tremendously.
4. I Would Ponder the Question ...
Where Would These Same Descendents Be Today If ...
None Ever Left Africa?
Would Any Today Wish to Be Transported Back There?
Is Their Heritage That Strong That ...
Anyone Would Want to Swap Places?
To Give Up the Many Rights and Freedoms ...
That They Enjoy Here?
I THINK NOT !
The American Indians from All Their Nations ...
Suffered Tremendously Under the 'White Man' ...
They Were HERE FIRST by God!
The Mexican Americans Who Populated ...
The Great Southwest Long Before Europeans Arrived ...
Certainly Got a 'Raw Deal' Also!
The Jews in Babylonia and Egypt and Germany Likewise!
The Palestinians in The Middle East ...
Have Reason to Gripe Also!
History is Replete With Transgressions ...
To Millions Upon Millions of People ...
Who Suffered Because of Race, Color, or Creed !
Can We 'Turn Back the Clock' ...
Or Erase Such Horrendous Happenings?
HELL NO!
We Are Supposed to LEARN from History!
We Are All Sojourners ...
Temporary Residents of This Planet Earth ...
Why Can't We ALL Live in PEACE?
Freedom? Justice? Truth? Fairness? Equality?
REPARATIONS ?
What Do YOU Think?
Should 'Common Sense' Be Employed?
Can It?
Will It?
As usual, you have your history and your thoughts right. Immigrants to this country are usually faced with tremendous odds including culture and language. But, they usually assimilate within one generation and become leaders in many fields.
I worked for a "separate but unequal" institution for over 30 years. While there was greatness there, it was overlooked in favor of the many administrations fleecing the state and federal government for funds to enrich themselves and their cronies rather than focus on the greatness and the benefit of the students who came for an education and were held up for their state in federal grants. I have seen several dips in the pot of reparation wasted on graft and frivolous one upmanship.
The only way that this will change is when everyone gets a fair shake and we include people "by the color of their character" rather than some other determination.
Yup, there are people in the world today that are still demanding vengeance and reparations from the descendants of people they think may have stolen a goat from one of their ancestors 3000 years ago. I think it's silly. However, in my case I believe one of my ancestors was speared by a member of the Goom Goom tribe back in the stone age when he complained about one of the Goom Goom tribe's member's pet sabre tooth tiger;s relieiving himself on the pathway to his cave. This...I will not forgive! So any of you descendants of the Goom Goom tribe out there better send me a couple of bucks...I'm starting to get really angry.
In all seriousness, Tom. These days I find there are a lot people and things out there urging that you hate them, In fact sometimes I have to stop and fight off the urge. Luckily, I recognized a long time ago that we are all born with Love and God are in our hearts, even atheists. I also realized a long time ago, that when you fill your heart with hatred, there is no longer room for either. It's a really stupid trade that is not worth making. .
"Why Can't We ALL Live in PEACE?"
Sorry, my friend. I doubt that will happen in our lifetimes, or our children's or their children. Let's see now? World War one was the war to end all wars as was World War two. Hmmm? How are those two wars "to end all wars" working out for us? Not so great, I think.
Mark
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I worked for a "separate but unequal" institution for over 30 years. While there was greatness there, it was overlooked in favor of the many administrations fleecing the state and federal government for funds to enrich themselves and their cronies rather than focus on the greatness and the benefit of the students who came for an education and were held up for their state in federal grants. I have seen several dips in the pot of reparation wasted on graft and frivolous one upmanship.
The only way that this will change is when everyone gets a fair shake and we include people "by the color of their character" rather than some other determination.
Ron
In all seriousness, Tom. These days I find there are a lot people and things out there urging that you hate them, In fact sometimes I have to stop and fight off the urge. Luckily, I recognized a long time ago that we are all born with Love and God are in our hearts, even atheists. I also realized a long time ago, that when you fill your heart with hatred, there is no longer room for either. It's a really stupid trade that is not worth making. .
Sorry, my friend. I doubt that will happen in our lifetimes, or our children's or their children. Let's see now? World War one was the war to end all wars as was World War two. Hmmm? How are those two wars "to end all wars" working out for us? Not so great, I think.
Mark