Letter to the Editor (Graphic Illustration/MetroCreative)
Reparations. The act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury: something done or given as amends or satisfaction. Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
Reparations is a popular topic in the news again. But, what does it really mean? The act of making amends, in this case giving money to an affected party is ludicrous because the affected parties are no longer alive. Slavery ended after the Civil War, which was over in 1865. As egregious as that war was, giving money today, taken from persons not alive back then, to persons not victimized back then makes absolutely no sense.
It makes as much sense as forgiving student college loans. You would be getting something you do not deserve. College students signed a paper when they got a loan and they owe the money. Joe Biden is only proposing this because he wants to buy your votes in the upcoming election. I paid my college loans. I owed them. Paying reparations to people who were never slaves by people who never owned slaves is stupidity of the first level. It is a divisive, racist, and economically ignorant plan.
Most Americans of any color are decent, law-abiding people and good citizens. For some of the others, just like some white Americans I know, those who rely on government assistance instead of getting a job and working, the thought of reparations sounds to them like winning the lottery. I have no problem with someone who gets government assistance who deserves it.
But reparations are wrong. I know many Americans who happen to be Black, that do not blame their lot in life on something from 150 years ago. Yes, slavery was evil and not of God and was wrong, but I had nothing to do with it. Slavery still exists in the world today and I cannot make it go away.
There is a segment of society who believe that most problems can be solved by throwing money at it. That simply is not true. Slavery is over. Get on with your life and quit blaming your problems on something from the past and get off the couch and do something with your life. This applies to Black and white people. Get some education and training. Have a goal in life other than going to the mailbox to get a government check. Have pride and self-respect for yourself.
Robert Sadler
Marietta