John Conyers: U.S. Owes Slavery Reparations

Newsmax ^ | 5/9/06

[peggybac]

John Conyers: U.S. Owes Slavery Reparations

The left wing Democrat who will become chairman of the House Judiciary Committee if his party wins back Congress in November wants to hold full blown congressional hearings on whether the government should pay African Americans reparations for slavery.

Michigan Rep. John Conyers has attracted attention in recent months for his House resolution calling for an impeachment investigation against President Bush.

But another Conyers cause-celeb is reparations, which he's been advocating since 1989, when he first introduced legislation to establish what he calls, "The Commission to Study Reparations Proposals for African American Act." ( H.R. 40)

In a press release posted to his official congressional web site, Conyers explains how he intends to handle the hot-button issue.

"My bill does four things:

• It acknowledges the fundamental injustice and inhumanity of slavery.

• It establishes a commission to study slavery, its subsequent racial and economic discrimination against freed slaves.

• It studies the impact of those forces on today's living African Americans.

• The commission would then make recommendations to Congress on appropriate remedies to redress the harm inflicted on living African Americans."

Conyers says:

"I chose the number of the bill, 40, as a symbol of the forty acres and a mule that the United States initially promised freed slaves. This unfulfilled promise and the serious devastation that slavery had on African-American lives has never been officially recognized by the United States Government . . . " He goes on:

"Just as we've discussed the Holocaust, and Japanese interment camps, and to some extent the devastation that the colonists inflicted upon the Indians, we must talk about slavery and its continued effects."

Though Conyers reintroduces his reparations resolution every year, would-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has never indicated whether she'd back the controversial proposal.

[Howlin]

And I was a sucker.

We all were about something; I actually thought Larry Klayman was noble.

For about a week. ;-)

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Just wait until the Liberal Democrats get back in power because of some Republicans are not happy, and those Democrats/Liberals will alliance themselves with the UN and demand that the USA pay back to the rest of the world for " Globe Warming Damages " reparations.
If these people get back in power, and we have to pay any kind of reparations, our economy, and country ( not that it already is, but, worse ) will go broke and go under.
Think about it fair weather Republicans/Conservatives, if you decide not to vote, or vote 3 rd party this November , the alternative is worse.

[Petronski]

Very telling, and very repulsive. Thanks!

[vic ryan]

I've claimed I'm of several different ethic groups on the last 3 census'. Who's to say I'm not what I say I am. What's the criteria for each group?

[WoofDog123]

congrats are actually in order for the GOP itself and the media. Between the two of them, it is amazing anyone votes republican anymore.

[pandoraou812]

Let him pay it if he wants too. I'm only second generation here on both sides. Why should I have to pay? He is a moron.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

What about the reparations that the blacks owe the Jews ?

Remember ? Hey John Conyers ? you and the black folk OWE !!! the Jews for the 400 years that Pharaoh ( Egypt - African nation ) had the Jews in bondage for 400 years.

[JollyJupiter]

Global Warming damages...
That means that Puegeut(sp), the French auto-maker would have to take back it's slogan "Creator of the Automobile"...
I think the Germans would have to throw in a couple pennies, too, considering how much they smoke.

[Petronski]

There probably was a week when Larry Klayman was noble, so that would explain that.

;O)

[Torie]

Keyes didn't favor just cutting checks. Keyes thought blacks (I guess figuring out which were descendants of slaves, and which not, was too administratively difficult, so Colon Powell gets to not pay taxes too) should get an income tax holiday, and not have to pay taxes for some period of time, I don't remember how long. Of course, for those blacks who don't pay income taxes, well, they are left out in the cold. It was sort of reparations light for more well to do blacks, I guess as a reward for their success in overcoming it all.

[Waco]

Any chance of getting Hillary to pony up the 900+ FBI files she has? Didn't think so.

[claudiustg]

Scolding the voters because they don't like what their party is doing is probably not going to help the cause. If Conyers is raised on high the folks to blame all have names that start with Senator and end with (R).

[cibco]

Mine were 1900 ought 10 at the earliest. They were condemned for Lutifisk.

[JollyJupiter]

But wouldn't that be discrimination?

[Petronski]

Some poor family from Appalachia pays higher taxes so Bill Cosby gets a tax cut?



Ach!

[Ptarmigan]

Thanks. Just clicked it. Not good. I always held Keyes to high regard and he is for reparations. WTF?????????

[tcrlaf]

I say Sure......
Find a Living Black that can PROVE they were an owned slave during the Civil War period, and send them a check........

Situation solved........

[Torie]

Every law discriminates.

[Howlin]

You got me.

[Petronski]

But wouldn't it be racial discrimination?