The case for reparations: Fixing the damage done by oppression is everyone’s responsibility

TC Daily Planet ^ | 5-8-08 | Ralph Remington

[SJackson]

Since the sharp toothed progressive brought up reparations

Obama Wins Guam by Slimmest of Margins
By Shailagh Murray

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Sen. Barack Obama won the Guam caucuses, but not by much.

The margin of victory in the Pacific island, a U.S. territory, was only seven votes, quite a bit closer than the Obama campaign anticipated earlier this year. According to a chart of estimated outcomes, the campaign projected the llinois senator to carry Guam by 11 percent. Instead, the final spread was 0.2 percent -- 50.1 percent for Obama and 49.9 percent for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. More than 4,500 people cast ballots -- three times the number to vote in 2004's Democratic caucus, Reuters reported.

Neither candidate campaigned in Guam in person, but both made big promises, including extending to island residents electoral representation in the general election and providing World War II reparations.

...snip...

[mosaicwolf]

I was told never to try and be responsible for another's irresponsibility. Having said that, what does reparations have to do with me?

[MortMan]

Ralph seems to think that one can purchase forgiveness.

[JohnLongIsland]

hey ralphie, if that act (as horrid as it was) wasn't committed you wouldn't be writing this letter right now, and you want overtime pay on top of that?

[MEGoody]

After discovering this information in high school, I had to find my way to forgiveness.

And money would have purchased that from you? I think Jesus would have an issue with that idea.

[TommyDale]

My Irish ancestors were slaves. When will I get a reparations check?

[redstateconfidential]

Seems we should have left the Guamians to the Japanese, that would have worked out nicely. Personally I’d like to get a check for something somebody did to my family somewhere a long time ago.

[steel_resolve]

By the same token, those Blacks who have found White acceptance by being obsequious toadies must stop now! Your behavior is embarrassing and an affront to all of those who have died for your right to be free.

Oh yueah, and STOP SNITCHIN! And quit tryn be white by studyn books - knowledge aint kool!

Black racism is alive and well it seems...

[ctdonath2]

As Minneapolis 10th Ward City Council Member, Ralph Remington seems not suffering from any consequences of “oppression”, no matter how recent or ancient.

[Myrddin]

Ralph seems to think that one can purchase forgiveness.

LBJ tried that with the "Great Society". The U.S. taxpayer has forked over in excess of $5 trillion dollars in the "war on poverty". The lion's share of that has "benefitted" the "impoverished" black community. Enough. It was a stupid idea that accomplished nothing but the creation of multiple generations of fatherless children who believe it is the responsibility of government to provide for all their needs and wants.

[NavVet]

What a bunch of crap. Another professional victim. And we all know who he is basically calling Uncle Tom's: the Clarance Thomas and Condalezza Rice's of the world who dared to succeed on their own merit without demanding or receiving special treatment, or wallowing in some sort of self-imposed victim status.

[Jim Noble]

I have two questions about reparations:

1) What about the 600,000 white lives between 1861-1865, and what about the $7 trillion dollars paid out since 1965? Do they count?

2) Assuming they don't count, how much will this cost me and mine, and what is offered in return?

[caver]

That is some torturous reading. This author is grasping for something but he don’t know what, other than money.

[yarddog]

No way to know for sure, but I would bet every thing he is saying is a lie.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I thought all the fruits and nuts were in California.

[pgkdan]

I agree. And even if it’s not a lie, why should I pay for it?

[Loyalist]

Obama hasn’t openly promised reparations, but his constituency will force the issue if he gets elected.

A Democratic Congress motivated by white liberal guilt, cynical electoral calculations and the fear of rioting, just might do it.

[Tao Yin]

those Blacks who have found White acceptance by being obsequious toadies must stop now! Your behavior is embarrassing and an affront to all of those who have died for your right to be free.

I don't think he understands the concept of freedom. If you are free, you get to decide how you act. If you're not free, someone else gets to decide. How can someone who says he's for freedom turn around and attack someone for making their own decisions? What a fool.

[eclecticEel]

We all have to correct our mistakes from participation in past injustices and man-up or woman-up for the battle that is ahead. Let the healing begin.

Because, as we all know, 'battles and' 'healing' always go hand in hand.