I was just going to tell you my view on reparations for slavery in the US. I am conflicted on that one. I just am not the type of person who succombs to sentiment. And the people associated with that crime in any way are now all dead. OTOH, there are other reasons why they give people compensation and reparations. Like after a criminal trial, for example. It helps the victim in many ways. Financially. And psychologically too. They will need counseling (in the criminal example). And sometimes it seems just the right thing to do.
I have 2 points about this "Reparations" topic. 1. Check the history of Slavery in the US. It was Black Slavers in Africa that began the slave trade, and sold their own people to the Settlers. During the trip back to America, the majority of WHITE crew died of scurvy and dysentery, and yet the Black SLaves still went through with going to America to be sold, instead of going back home. Why? 2. My family came to America in 1889 during a mass exodus from Hungary that lasted nearly 50 years. Neither I nor my family have any connection to the Slave Trade of the 18th Century. If anything, maybe "I: should get reparations from the Hungarian people because of the poverty and repression caused by the Government that cause us to flee the country. Everyone has a story. If you look back in your history you can probably find some cruel thing that happened to your family, or your ethnic sect, religion, or faith. History is Rife with injustice and torture. THere is no reason why modern generations need to be financially beholden to dead people from the past.
According to Robert Davis, between 1 million and 1.25 million Europeans were captured by Barbary pirates and sold as slaves in North Africa and Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. Slavery, black or white , is a violation of human rights to freedom and actualization of human potential. A slave in chains does not have much of a choice in decision-making , and could be a reason why any possible pleas for freedom may not have been taken seriously by their remaining captors focussed on profits after returning home.
And, had I been alive in the 15th to 19th century, I might feel some responsibility. But Alas, I can only Lineage within the borders of the United States within the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries. As of this date, All my outstanding debts (including student loans from the 80's) are paid in full.
Of course! And this is how it works: 1) If you want someone to receive a reparation payment for a particular cause, you transfer money to a public charity that specialises in that cause. 2) These reparation charities never transfer money to a person who has transferred money to it. 3) Payments are only made to persons who have transferred at least the same amount to another reparation charity with identical rules.
