From: jrr@flippers.com   
      
   On 2023/05/09 11:45 a.m., Peter W. wrote:   
   > Apply some logic:   
   >   
   > a) Native Americas and children of slaves were not given opportunities for   
   education, training, mortgages, nor many of the other means to accumulate   
   wealth as were whites of any origin. It took Harry Truman to integrate the   
   Military as one single    
   example. The last "Indian School" was closed in 1969, as another.   
   > b) Accordingly, the cumulative effect of wealth-gathering was denied to them   
   as a race, as a class, as a group.   
   > c) Today, as a race, class or group, they are still suffering from that   
   denial with (generally) poorer education, fewer opportunities, reduced health,   
   and much more.   
   > d) So, there is a 500 year history of everything from direct oppression to   
   complete indifference to overcome.   
   >   
   > And, guess what? The entire "white" race continues to be enriched by this.   
   >   
   > Neither of my parents spoke English as a first language. But they were both   
   University educated, white, and ambitious. They left their children with   
   excellent educations, no debt, and a strong sense of mutual obligation to the   
   'social contract' that    
   sustains all of us. We have given our children excellent educations, left them   
   with no debt, and they are doing the same for theirs. BUT - we have, between   
   the four families, five houses, all paid for, 9 degrees, solid incomes,   
   assured retirements, and    
   much more. Did I mention, no debt!   
   >   
   > How much do you thing that applies to any random native American or child of   
   slavery?   
   >   
   > I do not agree with reparations in terms of cash payments. But, fer   
   crissakes, the oppression, indifference and results of that oppression and   
   indifference are acutely visible to this day. Something must and should be   
   done - but short of a complete    
   attitude transplant, in a world where 25% - 30 % of the American population   
   adores the Orange Toad, this is  unlikely.   
   >   
   > Peter Wieck   
   > Melrose Park, PA   
      
   Thanks for saying the above.   
      
   Political systems are responsible for the actions of their predecessors   
   for as long as the political system has been in continuous existence.   
      
   Thus in Canada we try to make reparations to those wronged by previous   
   governments and hold Truth and Reconciliation councils.   
      
   Our federal and provincial governments were aware of the situation in   
   first nations reserves and did next to nothing. A federal health officer   
   tried to get the federal parliament to pay attention to the death rate   
   and poverty back in 1910 and was pensioned off and spent some of his   
   last years on Parliament Hill handing out leaflets to people to try and   
   get people to look into this tragedy.   
      
   Everyone involved in this fiasco is long dead, but our federal   
   government (and most provincial governments) has accepted responsibility   
   for the actions of previous legal governments and is doing what it can   
   to change how things are done here.   
      
   That is how adults deal with past errors.   
      
   John   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)