Posted on 09/11/2001 6:02:59 AM PDT by SJackson
I'M sorry about the slave trade. I'm sorry it happened in America, and I'm sorry it's happening today in the Sudan. I'm sorry human beings are being incarcerated and otherwise persecuted in Afghanistan for their unsanctioned religious beliefs and for being female.
Now that one-half of the intention of the U.N. racism conference has been satisfied -- I have apologized -- what about the other half? Should my fellow white Americans and I pay "reparations'' to African-Americans? The U.N. conference wants reparations to take the form of debt relief and other economic assistance to African nations. Some advocate direct payments to all African-Americans.
Though no one in my family (I've looked it up) ever owned a slave, I, as a "white'' person, am supposed to bear a racial "mark of Cain'' and give money I have earned to a select group of my fellow citizens.
Here are some conditions under which I might be willing to pay:
....snip....
Immigrants who came to America voluntarily had a different language and culture but overcame discrimination. Their main strength was not money but an intact family. Nothing fosters hope, commitment and persistence like a family working together for a common purpose.
The problem for "people of color'' is not discrimination. I have been discriminated against at various stages of my life because of my race, age (too young or too old), experience (too much or too little), height (too tall), and religion (too serious about it). I didn't complain, other than in private conversation. I worked harder to overcome. That used to be the model in America before grievance mongers convinced substantial numbers of people that they could never overcome; that they would always need "leaders'' who only talk about the poor and never do much for them, and that it is government's responsibility to "cure'' poverty. Government has spent trillions in that noble pursuit, but the poor we still have with us. That's because poverty's main cause is not lack of money, but wrong lifestyle choices.
When the above conditions are met, I'll be happy to pay "reparations'' and sing a new song with my fellow citizens of color: "We HAVE Overcome.''
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