Spring Break
Letter to the Editor: Why we should, but can't, make reparations to everyone
Issue date: 4/11/02 Section: Commentary
Beau Carson (4/10) asks very important questions regarding reparations for slavery in his column about the reparation lawsuit. In order to make it fair, taxpayers' money will be used to pay people whose ancestry includes slaves. I completely support this, because even though I'm white, I can trace my genealogy to slaves. And, I could definitely use the money to pay my out of state tuition. But, I think that if Deadria Farmer-Paellman wins her ridiculous lawsuit, she needs to be the one to pay these reparations, not the taxpayers.
If we can justify reparations for slavery, then we need to make reparations for all the other horrible things our country has done. So, we're going to need to find the descendents of the people killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We also cannot forget the Japanese-Americans who we forced into isolated camps during World War II. While we're dealing out reparations, how about all the child labor that still exists? Since we no doubt unknowingly buy their products, it is our responsibility to make sure that they at least get the pay they deserve, right? What about all the years that women were forced into submission by the men of society?
Since we're going to dish out reparations, other countries should to. I think that the families of POWs should be compensated by the governments that tortured our men. We should also make Germany make reparations for the Jewish Holocaust.
As a country, we cannot make reparations for all the horrible things we've done, nor can other countries. We spent enough money giving the countries we destroyed money to repair the physical damage we caused. Just like we abolished slavery. It's impossible to monetarily compensate every individual. All we can do is not repeat our mistakes. Be thankful for your freedom, there are still people in the world without it.
Margaret Corteville
If we can justify reparations for slavery, then we need to make reparations for all the other horrible things our country has done. So, we're going to need to find the descendents of the people killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We also cannot forget the Japanese-Americans who we forced into isolated camps during World War II. While we're dealing out reparations, how about all the child labor that still exists? Since we no doubt unknowingly buy their products, it is our responsibility to make sure that they at least get the pay they deserve, right? What about all the years that women were forced into submission by the men of society?
Since we're going to dish out reparations, other countries should to. I think that the families of POWs should be compensated by the governments that tortured our men. We should also make Germany make reparations for the Jewish Holocaust.
As a country, we cannot make reparations for all the horrible things we've done, nor can other countries. We spent enough money giving the countries we destroyed money to repair the physical damage we caused. Just like we abolished slavery. It's impossible to monetarily compensate every individual. All we can do is not repeat our mistakes. Be thankful for your freedom, there are still people in the world without it.
Margaret Corteville