What do you think about reparations being given to members of minority groups who have had a long and direct history of suffering oppression (descendants of slaves, holocaust survivors, etc., etc.)?

Not descendants, no. Something like that should only go to the surviving people who personally experienced it. Things that happened to great great great grand daddy are not a reason I would deserve a payday. Even so, this country has a history of oppression. Taking into consideration the number of groups through the years, how exactly would the country fund this? Higher taxes? And then we have the number of people. What would everyone end up with? $1.25? So no. The best I think we should hope for is that history will never repeat itself.

CeCe wrote:

Not descendants, no. Something like that should only go to the surviving people who personally experienced it. Things that happened to great great great grand daddy are not a reason I would deserve a payday. Even so, this country has a history of oppression. Taking into consideration the number of groups through the years, how exactly would the country fund this? Higher taxes? And then we have the number of people. What would everyone end up with? $1.25? So no. The best I think we should hope for is that history will never repeat itself.

Agreed.

If someone has been enslaved, tortured, or put through any kind of sectarian ordeal at the hands (or negligence) of government, then I am 100% "for" them receiving reparations. However, you're not owed a dime on behalf of your holocaust survivor great grandparents…or your great, great, great grandparents who were slaves; it wasn't you who endured their atrocity. You don't get to spend their repayment.

I'm against it for descendants. It's ridiculous for descendants to pay for what their ancestors did to the ancestors of other people. Heck, many people didn't even have ancestors over here when said injustices happened.

Wait a sec, you mean I can get some money?

I agree with everyone else, although I think apologies can go a long way for the descendents who suffered as a result of what their parents went through. There's one incident in particular that stands out. In 1939, a ship carrying almost 100 people who were Jewish sought safety in Cuba, the US and Canada and were turned away by all three countries. The ship was forced to return to Germany, where many of those on-board were put into prison camps and died there. A few years ago, Canada offered an official apology to the descendents and invited them to visit the country of the unveiling of a memorial to the ship and those who were lost.

http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/9863/memorial_to_st_louis_passengers_unveiled_in_canada

I also know that the Japanese Canadian interned by the government in WWII were issued an official apology in the late 80's or early 90's. After the war, the Japanese weren't allowed to return to the coast for another 5 years. Everything they had was sold off and their fishing boats were sunk and then salvaged. The Japanese never saw a penny and were told that their houses, cars, and belongings had been sold to pay for their accommodations during the internment.

Compensation for those who actually suffered is something I"m fine with but for those who are descendents, I think an official apology goes a long way.

Nystyle709 wrote:

Jason B. wrote:

Wait a sec, you mean I can get some money?

LOL, for real. Go reparations!

I know, right. Was I supposed to say NO to this?


Reparation me please.