Obama: Yes To Slavery Apology, No To Reparations

[Hope And Change]

Aug 2, 2008 9:25 am US/Eastern

Obama: Yes To Slavery Apology, No To Reparations

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ― Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes offering reparations to the descendants of slaves, putting him at odds with some black groups and leaders.

The man with a serious chance to become the nation's first black president argues that government should instead combat the legacy of slavery by improving schools, health care and the economy for all.

"I have said in the past -- and I'll repeat again -- that the best reparations we can provide are good schools in the inner city and jobs for people who are unemployed," the Illinois Democrat said recently.

Some two dozen members of Congress are co-sponsors of legislation to create a commission that would study reparations -- that is, payments and programs to make up for the damage done by slavery.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People supports the legislation, too. Cities around the country, including Obama's home of Chicago, have endorsed the idea, and so has a major union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.


more...

http://cbs3.com/national/barack.obama.slavery.2.786137.html

[Orangeone]

1. Reparations

I think reparations should be given for lynching since they occurred in more recent times.

[glowing]

2. I do sincerely apologize to the disgusting things that man can do to other

men... but we have bigger fish to fry... Addressing all Americans needs should uplift all Americans... I'm sorry, I just don't have any extra money at this moment to pay someone else for things in the past that my relatives had no involvement in.. I'm from the North.. my peeps come from VT.. we were a state you could hide in on the train.. AND I don't feel I owe anyone else anything but human compassion and the ideal of becoming better in the face of humanity. Now, you want to take it from the rich assholes who proped it up and their families are still running the show, then be my guest.. take it from those money men in suits.

[Danger Mouse]

3. I think reparations for slavery are a terrible idea.

Why punish people for the sins of the past. A lot of us white folks are struggling, too.

[KittyWampus]

7. exactly. we ALL deserve a decent home, food, health care, good educations

[still_one]

4. "The best reparations we can provide are good schools in the inner city

and jobs for people who are unemployed"

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. No to reparations. Apologies? Sure.

[Barack_America]

6. His position on this was known.

The interview in question where he reiterated his stance was last Sunday.

Curious that this article comes out now.

And why the hell end the article with this:

"People say he can't run and get elected if he says those kinds of things," Randall said. "I'm like, well does that mean we're really not ready for a black president?"

[Hope And Change]

8. AP article.Maybe because of that?

[Barack_America]

9. My question was actually why the AP would write about this now...

I went and found the original article.

I just think it's a bit strange.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Trying to stir shit up in the Black Community.

AP doesn't like unity among those who would vote for Barack Obama. I find it quite transparent on their part.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Because that's what white folks are certain black folks spend all of their time thinking about....

HAHAHAHA! I wonder if there actually is a black person anywhere out there who is like white folks' conception? :rofl:

[CitizenLeft]

19. I've only thought about reparations when it's been brought up...

...by the media. I've NEVER had a conversation about it with another black person, or anyone, for that matter.

It would be impossible to divvy up reparations. How could it be done? Once they were freed, my family managed not to fall into poverty. Hence, we're vastly less qualified to get reparations, in my opinion. Yet, my ancestors were slaves too. How do you put a value on that? It's impossible.

Obama's right. Fix what's wrong NOW, so that all have a chance at an equal education, level the job playing field, and that works for me.

[Hope And Change]

12. Yeah.Wasn`t it AP`s CEO that "mistakenly" called Obama "Osama"??Anybody remembers that?

[bigmoon]

13. How would Congress pay for reparations and how would they

address all the free blacks who owned other blacks?

Not all slave owners were white and some slaves were also Native Americans

[Beregond2]

14. I asked two black friends what they thought about

reparations, and they both said they found the idea insulting and condescending. They also pointed out that there is no sensible way to calculate a figure. Plus, where do you stop? If we started compensating the descendants of every person this country has oppressed or ripped-off in one way or another, it would never end. And there is this: right-wingers would use it as an excuse to end all policies designed to help minorities in this country, saying: "We've paid that bill." It's just a bad idea, any way you look at it.

[undeterred]

15. What about reparations to women for being paid less than men?

I'm just askin.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. I love him

From this product of a black father and white mother to him. I love him.

He's bang on.

And you know - I HAVE thought about reparations. :rofl:

And I wonder . . . how it would possibly benefit me. :rofl: I know damn well how things work in this country. I'll end up paying and extra 15% in taxes so I can get $12 back from the Fed that had nothing to do with me. :-)

That ain't right.

[elkston]

17. The problem with reparations is identifying those who are truly descendants of slaves.

We missed the boat on them. They should have been distributed 30-50 years after slavery when the victims were more readily apparent.

Now all we can do is be pissed about it.

That being said, anyone here that thinks those who were enslaved do not deserve compensation are off their rockers.

I don't like the tone of some of these postings and it always bothers me how easy it is to get some people defensive when the reparations topic is broached. Note: I doesn't necessarily have to be direct cash money. It could be tax exemptions, for instance.

Anyway, I realize it's political suicide to support them so I'm not making a big deal of Obama's stance.

[JustAnotherGen]

18. elskton

You are correct - my great grandparents and great great grandparents SHOULD have received reparations. One hundred percent.

Some of my animosity though? It's really a matter of Too Little Too Late to do right by the people that were harmed. Those people are my ancestors.

And they are getting their justice now. By Barack Obama being the candidate.

Take that Woodrow Wilson - Doddering Old Racist Democrat . . . Ha ha! Enjoy the rolling over in your grave.

[CitizenLeft]

20. just what you said.

[CitizenLeft]

21. jobs programs... fund the schools...

...but I like what you said. :hi:

[rasputin1952]

22. A cash payout for descendants of those who were enslaved...

would do little to make up for what happened during those years.

I believe Obama is correct in stating that education and opportunities should be the best option. If this were 130 years ago, I think that those who were enslaved should have gotten paid back wages and be given an education, but for those who are descendants of those who were enslaved, or were held as indentured servants...while many went through harsh times...an education is for a lifetime, a cash payout is fleeting. You can use an education as a springboard, when you've earned your education, no one can take it from you. While some people would use cash as a springboard as well, I know from personal experience, it rarely is used for such things. Paying down debt, paying for a place to stay, whatever, but suddenly the cash is gone, and prospects for the future are as dim, if not dimmer, than before.

The way out of poverty is through education and opportunity, both are intertwined. That's why I have returned to school as a geezer student...:D

[mvd]

23. How about big businesses that had their foundations..

built by slavery giving back in some way? That would be easier to figure out.

[Nye Bevan]

24. My ancestors were enslaved by the Holy Roman Empire

I want an apology and a check from Italy.

[Zynx]

25. The Holy Roman Empire was mostly Germany and Austria.