Ogletree to deliver reparations lecture

NY Law Journal ^ | 3/28/02 | New York Law Journal

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr. of Harvard Law School will deliver a lecture in Albany on whether the United States government should formally apologize and pay reparations for supporting slavery. Professor Ogletree, a champion of the reparations movement, will speak April 17 at 7 p.m. at Albany Law School. For more information, contact the school at (518) 472-5859.

[Hotspur]

There has always been two pretty basic concepts in American jurisprudence: "the statute of limitations" and "laches."

I'm not suggesting that it be done through this silly lawsuit, so jurisprudential rules are inapposite.

A more fundamental principle is that a man is entitled to recompense for his labor. That's the principle--a conservative one, I'll add--that's being championed, by me, if not by the race hustlers.

[aristeides]

I take it you must think that I, as a man of Irish ancestry, am due some reparations from the UK?

No, thank you. I have more interest in making some productive use of my life than in leeching off the descendants of people who may have done wrong to my ancestors long ago, on the basis of some screwy legal theory.

[Hotspur]

So typical of the trivial, condescending, patronizing vision of the heavy-hearted, guilt-ridden, white liberal, seeking to atone for his father's wealth. Let's pick up our acoustic guitars and sing "If I Had a Hammer" to salve his emotional wounds.

Sorry to break it to you, but I'm none of the above (other than "white"), and my father is about as far from wealthy as it gets.

[AppyPappy]

There was no market wage at the time. People worked for room and board on farms. Their income was derived from selling excess given to them by the owners. That's how slaves bought their freedom.

[dead]

Nobody with those ailments can adequately self-diagnose.

[Hotspur]

Whatever you say, slugger.

[Hotspur]

Right, it was a total barter economy on farms, across the board.

Call me when the shuttle lands.

[AppyPappy]

Hey brother. I'm just telling you. But my guess is we are going to have to come up with an assload of hams and beans to make up for 180 years.

[dead]

Still can't answer any of those questions, can you whitey?

[HockeyPop]

Not to mention such legal doctrines/hurdles as venue, jurisdiction, standing, mootness, failure to state a claim, res judicata, and the statue of limitations and laches you've indicated. Add to the mix stare decisis and judicial notice and the complaint will be dismissed as a sham on the court. Hopefully, this and the award of attorneys fees and costs will disabuse the reparationists from pursuing their redistributive and retributionist revolution. For now, it makes little sense for right thinking people to be drawn out to debate and dignify this crass attempt to steal. As they sow, they shall reap.

[gueroloco]

Well, in the interest of justice, after welfare and other transfer payments are subtracted from the "stolen wages", and interest likewise applied; this would actually leave blacks OWING.

[dead]

Don't forget, we also gave them the WB Network.

That's gotta knock a few thou off our tab.

[Psycho_Bunny]

ahhh. I see the logic now. I still think it's a bad idea...but I understand what you were saying.

[Pietro]

"but I guess we're dealing with a bit of an obstinate crowd."

Obstinate? Friend, you haven't even seen obstinate yet. If you think you're gonna get one bloody nickel out of me for this flim flam then you'll see obstinate like you ain't no where near ready for.

[smithson]

How come you didn't mention that there are over twice as many "white" people under the poverty level then blacks? Yes, over twice.

The typical racist mentality, "all whitey is rich." It's down right sick.

[smithson]

Let me add that when I went to college to study aviation to become a commercial pilot FAA regulations stated, as a fact, that anybody other then White males needed 1500 hours of flight trainning for their Airline Transport certificate. White males needed 2500 hours. This was FAA regulation. Not only that, the airlines use to come to class to recruit all but white males. This was 25 years ago,just after the vietnam war and airline jobs were hard to find. I was a bartender for many years after. If you add up the money I could have made as an airline pilot and subtract my portion of reparations they would owe me a s&@t load of money. So bring it on.

[teeman8r]

i am for reperations for all former slaves and their descendants. let us add up all the monetary costs for all the wrongs of slavery, jim crow, discrimination and then, let us subtract the price of affirmitive action, quotas and then the price of freedom itself. and after freedom's cost is factored in, perhaps they shall rethink all they owe to a system that only enslaved them for 400 years, but fought for their freedom for eternity.

[Rightproud]

We already have reparations.

It's called WELFARE!

[Rodney King]

Should Halle Berry get the full amount, or just half because her mother is white?

Should people who were starving in Ireland at the time have to pay anything?

Should descendants of dead yankee soldiers have to pay anything?

How would one prove sufficient racial correctness to get money? 1/8 black? 1/4? 1/2? Hell, could I claim to be 1/16 black but say that there are no records?