Posted on 02/11/2002 7:09:50 PM PST by Matchett-PI
But I believe Keyes, Sowell and Williams would oppose calls for reparations.
The modern descendants of slaves brought here in chains in admittedly miserable, soul-gutting conditions who are now calling for reparations need to remember a few things:
They should not only be glad to be in America, they should be glad to be ANYWHERE !
Had that NOT happened, the blood of their ancestors would have run into the earth over there several centuries ago and these modern day would-be "plaintiffs" would not even exist.
And should the great-great-great grandchildren of the approximately 3,000 SLAVE OWNING BLACK plantation owners in this country also be subject to PAYING these reparations?
If so, how do we find THEM?
Robert Hitt Neill tells of attending a Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Conference years ago with several other authors. Among them was Alex Hailey, celebrated author of “Roots.” Watching a TV news show, a group of them watched a demonstration in a Southern state against the “Rebel” flag incorporated into that state’s flag. The very next report covered a famine in Africa. Graphic images showed dead bodies, starving children with distended tummies and runny noses and dying people covered with flies, too weak to brush them away.
Mr. Hailey intoned in a low, serious voice:
“Every time an American black sees a story like that, they should find a Confederate flag and kiss it.” He then pointed to the TV screen and continued, “Because these would be me and my descendants, except for American slavery. I thank God that my family and I are here instead of there.”
Notice how "North America"(which also includes Canada and Mexico) is switched with "U.S."
The Indian-descended population of Mexico is far in excess of 40 million, while I doubt that the pre-Columbus Indian population of what is currently the US was more than a few million.
And it only gets WORSE closer to 1860
Some blacks served in the Confederate army, which is another omission in our popular culture. The movie Glory did not happen to mention that blacks served in the Confederate army. It did give the impression that the black soldiers in the 54th Massachusetts were former slaves-- which was not true.
Say it ain't so stainless!! Kind of blows lincoln's American vision that has been forced down our throats straight to heck doesn't it?
The issue of reparations will kill the RAT party, if blacks push for it.
I'll admit the story sounds good, except when you look at the factual record. Kind of like "Pay not attention to the man behind the curtain" isn't it?
MEDIA ALERT! MEDIA ALERT! ... what .... you say the truth is is not news? ....
Probably because they were a ready supply (provided by their African foes), cheap, and required little conquest.
Why did the Americas enslave Africans?
All of the above, plus the inherent ability of Africans to work well in the heat of the tropical climes of Central and South America and the Caribbean as well as the summers in the American South. Likewise the cotton gin as well played a huge role in exponentially increasing the demand for African slaves.
There are only a few vaguely uniques aspects of the African trade. First it was arguably the last and most recent large scale slave trade. Second it involved for the most part members of one distinct race enslaving members of another..albeit with help from their racial kin. Thirdly the distances involved in the trafficking. Fourth, the magnitude of it...I am not aware of another commercial slave trading arena involving these numbers.
One has to wonder what would have happened to these subjugated tribes had they not been diluted by slavery. The Ibo, Yoruba, and Coramamtee tribes are still today huge.
Conquering slavery was originally viewed as humane as opposed to mere genocide.
Your comments have caused me to reflect that perhaps the biggest distinction about the Afro-Atlantic slave trade is merely that it is the most recent of any major slave trade after all.
Hardly distinctive and certainly does not rank as among humanity's worse crimes from recorded history. It was bad no doubt but relative to it's day it wasn't exactly the holocaust today's revisionists would have you believe.
Regards
The " blame game ", for money, just doesn't cut it. This blame game for political purposes, doesn't cut it either. It is long past due, that EVERYONE stands up against this con-job. If one is called " racist " , for speaking proven , historical facts, turn it right back on those label . : - )
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