[thathamiltonwoman]

My ancestors from the first African to land in SC all the way to my parents got a raw deal but I don't want reparations. Money can't repay their hardtimes and it would further ruin race relations in this country. Knowing my co-workers I'm pretty sure they'd resent knowing that I got a $2000 check from their taxes. Reparations is a really bad idea. It will push the races apart in a time when being American should be the most important thing.

[Destructor]

"My ancestors from the first African to land in SC all the way to my parents got a raw deal but I don't want reparations. Money can't repay their hardtimes and it would further ruin race relations in this country. Knowing my co-workers I'm pretty sure they'd resent knowing that I got a $2000 check from their taxes. Reparations is a really bad idea. It will push the races apart in a time when being American should be the most important thing."

Your point of view is refreshing. Let me offer you mine. I had one ancestor (a wealthy German immigrant) that owned a cotton plantation and slaves. The rest of my ancestors were poor farmers that owned no slaves. The Civil War divided my family almost down the middle. A little over half fought for the South to defend their homeland. The rest fought for the North, because Slavery was against their convictions as Christians.

The point being that not all Southern Whites owned slaves and profited from Slavery. Most of the men that fought for the South did so out of patriotism, and a sense of duty to their own State of residence. Whether they wore blue, or gray they were all heroic for defending their homeland.

I agree with you that the over-riding concern should be that race relations remain in tact. If the Reparations movement ever succeeds it will be a huge setback to race relations in the United States. It could be anywhere from a 40 to 60 year setback.