I absolutely agree with the sentiment and the premise, but it is not applied generally, and is being exploited in this instance.
If we universally don't believe in punishing children for the mistakes of their parents, why do some speak of the need for reparations? Why are children being taught ‘white guilt’? Children are children.
I don't want any child to suffer, ever, but there are children suffering all over the world. This includes those children who are caught in the cross-fire of Islamic radicalism. We should be holding accountable the countries that provide no opportunity for their children, creating or letting exist conditions that lead to illegal immigration. We should be holding accountable the countries that exploit children in the work force, or politically. It's a complex problem, but in my view the left isn't interested in an honest dialogue. They are mostly interested in identifying and using issues that give them a political advantage.
It is simply a liberal tactic. If you don’t do X, Y, or Z, you are against children/women/minorities/etc.
It doesn’t make any difference if X, Y, or Z are wrong, illegal or just bad for those groups. If you are against it, you are against children.
And your point is an excellent one....very good. If reparations aren’t “children” being punished for the sins of their “parents”, then what is it?