What no comment? I thought at least SOME ONE would find something to say.

I think it is was a shame for what happened to the slaves in America and all across the rest of the world, but I DO NOT believe that todays generation should be entitled to any sort of reimbursement for what happened to their ancestors. First of all, the records of slave traders are sketchy, at best, it is very difficult to trace back. Now, if an idividual wanted to take the time to do some very well documented research, I may be inclined to consider a pre-determined "blanket --across-the-board" amount of reparation. I also wonder, this will probabley sound pretty messed up, but are the Americans (African) today better off in the United States than they would be if they were still in Africa? I don't know for sure, but my guess is, "Yes, they are." So, with that I'll offer this option. If many are so adement about reparations, could we offer them a pay-off if they'll move back to Africa and denounce their US-citizenship? I am not advocating for this, but I do not see how ANYONE, black, white, yellow, green, and blue can actually believe they are entitled to a free hand-out because of something that happened to them hundreds of years ago. Personally, I am not trying to get reparations from Germany because of the religious persecution that my family endured in the late 1700's which caused their immigration to America. If we continue to live in the past, as a country, we will never get ahead (further) in this world.

-Ghost

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To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. -Henry David Thoreau

Knowledge is power.

I have seen racism in Mississippi when I first went to Keesler AFB. The US has done a lot for the minorities. We have had "Equal Opportunity" and other "Affirmitive Action" programs for about 47 years!

If they couldn't get off their duff and grab for the brass ring by now- Sorry! Many have done so. There are a lot who haven't. After over forty years of welfare and handouts a lot of folks of all races still won't work for a living. We have done it to ourselves, making it easier to get welfare than to work! There is no real excuse anymore for needing a handout for 99% of minorities. Unless alcoholism and drugs are involved, we don't need to give away money to lazy people anymore. If a person quits free public school, live with the consequences. There are always exceptions, but our government has ways of helping the exceptions.
The Indians in New Mexico, where I lived for a while, had lots of programs to help their folks. The Casinos make lots of money. There is still an aid distribution problem, according to my friend Jerry, who worked for the US Govt. Bureau who administers funds for the Tribes. We could do more in medical help for all Americans. But give them money, or pay them to go to school? No. Equal Opportunity for ALL, Special privileges for NONE.

[quote=short_lil_chick]I really think that the only reparations that should be given out are the chances to go back to Africa to live. Before someone starts calling me a racist let me explain a little more. I'm not saying "lets ship all the afiican americans back to africa" What I am saying is I think that that is the only equal course of action that can be taken. Money isn't going to fix it, although I'll bet a lot of the undeserving people that would qualify have dollar signs in their eyes, but since early Americans brought the Africans over here against their will the only thing of equal value would to be to send them back to Africa.{/quote]

The fact that people in this day are still talking about it tends to suggest it will not go away as an American topic until some action is taken. An action such as a free college education to anyone from the two groups I mentioned, anyone who has the grades, is one that could put an end to the debate and be good for the country. They were not simply 'brought here against their will'. Imagine, if you can, for a minute, what if you were hit over the head tomorrow while downtown, hijacked and put in chains in the belly of a ship, taken to, oh how about Iran, and forced into slavery, and whipped to a bloody pulp at the will of your master, for the rest of your days. Imagine you were forced to breed like a dog with another slave and had your offspring taken and sold off after you weened them. I could go on but you see, it is not a simple matter of being brought here against their will. Now there have been things like affirmative action and others that have not worked so well and they definitely have not ended the debate. A final solution is needed or it will never go away and our great grand children will be arguing about it.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

How about a final solution of get the over it and move on. These topics ALWAYS come up around election times because minorities know they can get some attention from politicians trying to swing some votes. Just give it some time and it will go away.

-Ghost

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To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. -Henry David Thoreau

Knowledge is power.

A very simple answer. You should be president.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

I believe the Hispanics are breeding faster, and they have more males willing to take responsibility for their children. They generally have an excellent work ethic, and will become the majority in a generation. (We didn't build that wall soon enough. ) So the problem with homeless and people on welfare and jobless poor people who expect reparation will become their problem! Hispanics want "their country" back. I'm suspecting it may well happen!

We'll be able to gum breakfast burritos, brought to us by cute Filipino nurses, in the nursing home!

I'm betting it will happen. www.spp.gov

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

Turk "They were not simply 'brought here against their will'. Imagine, if you can, for a minute, what if you were hit over the head tomorrow while downtown, hijacked and put in chains in the belly of a ship, taken to, oh how about Iran, and forced into slavery, and whipped to a bloody pulp at the will of your master, for the rest of your days. Imagine you were forced to breed like a dog with another slave and had your offspring taken and sold off after you weened them. I could go on but you see, it is not a simple matter of being brought here against their will. Now there have been things like affirmative action and others that have not worked so well and they definitely have not ended the debate. A final solution is needed or it will never go away and our great grand children will be arguing about it"

If this happened to me I would hope that I taught my children well enough, that they would teach their kids, and they'd teach their kids (and so on and so forth) not to go around looking for handouts and to have a little self respect. Your right about something though, there probably will never be a resolution to this because someone is always going to want the easy solution. "Well my g-g-g grandparents where tracked down, brought here, sold, etc, etc, etc so I deserve monetary compensation for it, even though it didn't directly happen to me" Money is NOT the answer to the problem. The answer is learning self respect, teaching kids the importance of education, and teaching kids about all the things that can ruin their lives, especially things that effect inner city children such as drugs, gangs, teen pregnancy and so on. I bet if more minorites had more self respect, and took advantage of educational opportunities then they wouldn't be prey to money hungry lawyers looking for their next big commission. Not to say only poor people want reparations, some people can never have enough cash, but I think then maybe it might lose some momentum.

If this happened to me I would hope that I taught my children well enough, that they would teach their kids, and they'd teach their kids (and so on and so forth) not to go around looking for handouts and to have a little self respect. Your right about something though, there probably will never be a resolution to this because someone is always going to want the easy solution. "Well my g-g-g grandparents where tracked down, brought here, sold, etc, etc, etc so I deserve monetary compensation for it, even though it didn't directly happen to me" Money is NOT the answer to the problem. The answer is learning self respect, teaching kids the importance of education, and teaching kids about all the things that can ruin their lives, especially things that effect inner city children such as drugs, gangs, teen pregnancy and so on. I bet if more minorites had more self respect, and took advantage of educational opportunities then they wouldn't be prey to money hungry lawyers looking for their next big commission. Not to say only poor people want reparations, some people can never have enough cash, but I think then maybe it might lose some momentum.[/quote]

Your thoughts are good ones and ideolistic. Were you the first generation of a slave race, you probably would not have had the chance to teach your children such ethics because they would have been taken from you and sold into the market like chattel. The problem is that this will be an ongoing debate in our country because a precident has already been set. Our country has already paid CASH reparations to the Japanese who were routed into camps during WWII. Once a precident is set, it greatly empowers the other groups with such claims. The country will most likely eventually have to deal with it , seriously. The solution I advocate, should it ever come to this, is not one of cash payment but one of free education to those who earn it. Whether this actually becomes a serious national issue beyond the kind of chit chat here, remains to be seen.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo