THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503040652
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 135 lines
It is an irrefutable fact that African Americans have been the victims of slavery, oppression, exploitation and discrimination in the United States. It is also a fact that while slavery has been abolished, discrimination continues.
But the best course of action to remedy the past wrongs and to eliminate discrimination altogether now and in the future is a matter of opinion and should be discussed.
Reparations paid to Jews by Germany or those paid by Japan to its neighbors cannot be the models in the present case. European nations such as Britain and France have not paid reparations to countries like India, which were colonized and brutally exploited. The reparations paid to the Japanese Americans or to the Native Americans also cannot be used as models because of the sheer number (30 million) of African Americans to be compensated and the very limited usefulness of cash payments.
In the present political climate and economic condition, a crusade for reparations can kindle animosity and racial tensions. If America is to set its house in order, by reviving family values, the work ethic, and the community spirit, and cope with the harsh reality of global competition, nothing should be done to divert public attention and dissipate energy.
On the other hand, a nonmilitant advocacy of reparations may be used as a bargaining chip and can stem the growing tide of opposition to affirmative action. Equally important, such a gentle espousal of reparations can hasten the demise of continuing discrimination.
If the cash is forced out of the government as reparation, there is a real danger that the nation will feel that the wrongs have been righted. There is no guarantee that present and future discrimination will end simply because laws have been written. On the other hand, talk of reparations can be a gentle reminder of the sad past and an incentive to stop discrimination. It is important that while talking about reparations, African Americans should develop a strong sense of shared suffering and common purpose; they should work hard to solve the many serious problems within their community that are as damaging as continuing discrimination and which cannot be solved by reparations of any magnitude.
Ramamurthy Prabhakaran
Virginia Beach
I definitely don't think blacks should receive reparations for several reasons. I am terribly sorry for what happened to blacks during slavery - indeed, for the hardships they endured attempting to acclimate to a society into which they were forced. I weep for their suffering and make no excuses for our forefathers. I am appalled that any human could subject another to such torment and degradation. If I could change that time in history, I would.
But I can't. And neither can anyone else.
Initially, when abolition was first set in motion, blacks needed help getting on their feet and forming some semblance of a life. This integration took a terribly long time and was (has been) an extremely enduring journey. True it was an unfair beginning for them, but I have to say that Mr. Fletcher's assertion that ``white Americans have benefited from education life experiences and wealth that was handed down to them by their ancestors'' is both unrealistic and ridiculous. I'm not independently wealthy due to rich ancestors, and I had black kids in my classes growing up, receiving the same education I was.
Everyone has positive and negative life experiences passed down. You take what you get and make the most of it. It's the person's responsibility, white or black, and to blame slavery for a higher percentage of blacks being unemployed or in prisons, is a cop-out. Today, blacks have as much opportunity as whites, perhaps more thanks to such programs as affirmative action.
I get sick and tired of racism being used as a excuse every time a black person feels wronged. I seriously think many young blacks today wouldn't recognize true racism if someone came and burned a cross in their yard. They need to talk to people around in the '50s and '60s who could paint a more vivid picture of what prejudice really is. By crying racism at every little turn, they undermine and gradually set the civil rights movement back, which is tragic. Many people judge a person's worth on the basis of their color and that sucks. But I don't think it's as prevalent as they believe.
Quite frankly I think we have bigger things to concern ourselves with then quibbling over what color people are. People are being massacred in Rwanda and blown up in Bosnia. Groups of people are being persecuted now in 1995. We can actually do something for them. We can't take back slavery or help its victims, but we can learn from it and take precautions against future persecutions.
It's time to put slavery behind us. We'll never know where we're going, or worse yet, what we may run into, if we spend our entire life looking behind.
Vicki Violette
I f every race that has been enslaved were to litigate for redress and win, the world would be flat broke in 10 years. A level playing field does not occur in nature; and if imposed, it would still be unlevel. Adding to one group of citizens would call for subtraction from another. The only hope any race has for fair and impartial judgment will occur on the other side of the grave.
W.G. Humphries
Chesapeake
I do not believe reparations should be paid for society's acceptance and practice of slavery many, many years ago. Regrettably, holding human beings in bondage or slavery has been practiced throughout the history of mankind. It wasn't right or a proper practice, but it was accepted and allowed as a ``societal norm.''
I believe reparations would further widen the gap which still exists between the races and create bitterness, resentment and deeper divisions.
I believe reparations would result in the very same thing, but the racial resentment created would be many times worse. America does not need that!
Tony Robert
Norfolk
I am mostly upset over the comparison made with the Jews who collected reparations for the Holocaust. I have no problem with reparations to those who were directly affected by the injustices, but to even comprehend paying descendants is too much. It should also be pointed out that reparations were made only to survivors of the Holocaust. Each year as more and more pass away, the bill gets smaller.
I think that blacks and whites should stop playing the role of victims and pull themselves up based on their accomplishments and drive to succeed.
To expect to be compensated for the suffering of others is just plain ignorance. Where will we draw the line?
Brigitte Lovely
Virginia Beach
I t seems that everyone wants something for nothing and if they get it, all their problems will vanish. Common sense should tell us differently.
I don't believe present people should be punished for any wrongs done by previous people. Paying billions of dollars in reparations would be punishment for taxpayers and would not go to former slaves.
Mr. Fletcher and other proponents of reparations mistakenly say that payment ``would repair the damage.'' Untold billions of dollars have been spent on hundreds of programs in the past, and billion more are being spent on programs earmarked for blacks. Still many problems exist and, depending on whose statistics you use, are increasing.
I don't pretend to be wise enough to say I have solutions for all these problems, but I definitely believe that reparations will not solve them.
C.T. Halfhill
Harbinger, N.C. by CNB