[nututv]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

We could replace them all with pacifier statues.

Amen! And a box of tissues beside them all.
Life has become too easy for people. 50 plus years ago you were too busy working so you and the family didn't starve to death to even wonder who's statue was who.
Now they sit back, collect assistance and ponder what to protest next. Often times in the basements of their parents home where they live.

[roscoguy]

Saying it hasn't really helped much so far.

Originally Posted by Byte1

How would ANYONE have a "case" for reparations? Would they be granted it based on the color of their skin?

Like I already said, "... I was not the one who raised the idea of reparations and truthfully, I doubt that it could do a lot of good at this late date. I suppose a lot of people could have a case; none stronger than African-Americans and Native Americans, IMO." And again, IF there were any chance of reparations (emphasis once again on the IF), African-Americans and Native Americans would almost have to be the first groups of people considered. I thought that was easily understood.

Originally Posted by Byte1

How many ways does the country have to say that it's sorry for what folks in the past did? When I said this before, I was including the means of saying "sorry" such as affirmative action/quotas, school grants to minorities, quotas, etc. Is holding today's taxpayer accountable for someone else's mistakes, not the same as punishing the innocent?

I really don't know "how many ways." If your ancestors endured slavery for hundreds of years, then decades of legalized discrimination, targeted violence such as lynching, etc., and were then continually reminded of the war to retain slavery via flags & monuments to the leaders of the Confederate states, what would it take before you believed that "sorry" was sincere? Since it is impossible to hold guilty parties of the past financially responsible, how exactly would you suggest funding any programs to amend for past mistakes? I really don't feel that I am being punished by affirmative action, school grants or putting Civil War monuments in museums. Interesting that you seem to...

[Madelaine Amee]

How many of us have ever watched the PBS Program "Who do you Think You Are". I have watched episodes where black celebrities have been brought face to face with evidence that they are descended from slaves. When they see the evidence in black and white in front of them it reduces them to tears.

The saying Walk a Mile in my shoes applies.

Having said that, I still cannot agree with removing the history of this country. Whether we like it or not, it happened and removing the evidence does not remove the history books. We keep the remains of the concentration camps in Germany and other Eastern European countries to remind humanity to never let it happen again. Maybe we should be doing the same thing here.

[GoodLife]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

How many of us have ever watched the PBS Program "Who do you Think You Are". I have watched episodes where black celebrities have been brought face to face with evidence that they are descended from slaves. When they see the evidence in black and white in front of them it reduces them to tears.

The saying Walk a Mile in my shoes applies.

Having said that, I still cannot agree with removing the history of this country. Whether we like it or not, it happened and removing the evidence does not remove the history books.

Speaking of history, every person on earth has ancestors that were once slaves. It's been going on since the first civilizations in Mesopotamia and China.

Maybe we should erase all history. We could also give everyone some of that sweet reparations money.

[billethkid]

I continue to repeat and thank GOD every day for us having come through life when we did/have.

For now we can only hope the silent majority will get to a point where enough is enough....and start pushing back against the destructive politics and special interest groups.

[karostay]

If they succeed in erasing history how will the future learn from the past

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by roscoguy

Saying it hasn't really helped much so far.
Like I already said, "... I was not the one who raised the idea of reparations and truthfully, I doubt that it could do a lot of good at this late date. I suppose a lot of people could have a case; none stronger than African-Americans and Native Americans, IMO." And again, IF there were any chance of reparations (emphasis once again on the IF), African-Americans and Native Americans would almost have to be the first groups of people considered. I thought that was easily understood.I really don't know "how many ways." If your ancestors endured slavery for hundreds of years, then decades of legalized discrimination, targeted violence such as lynching, etc., and were then continually reminded of the war to retain slavery via flags & monuments to the leaders of the Confederate states, what would it take before you believed that "sorry" was sincere? Since it is impossible to hold guilty parties of the past financially responsible, how exactly would you suggest funding any programs to amend for past mistakes? I really don't feel that I am being punished by affirmative action, school grants or putting Civil War monuments in museums. Interesting that you seem to...

There are many shameful things that were done in the past.
However slavery is long gone, no more lynchings, spent trillions on war on poverty.
Is there still some racism, of course but things are a heck of a lot better than before.
We owe everyone a level playing field and equal opportunity but we all must work to get ahead, relying on the govt is a great way to get left behind.
Too many parents do not instill a work ethic in their children and that is a huge failing.

[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by GoodLife

Maybe we should erase all history.

Who exactly is suggesting that history be erased? Removing statues honoring Confederate Civil War leaders from public display is NOT erasing history. Maybe they belong in a museum or other memorial to the war period instead of being proudly displayed at courtrooms, parks & state government offices.

Originally Posted by GoodLife

We could also give everyone some of that sweet reparations money.

just stirring that pot...

[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

There are many shameful things that were done in the past.
However slavery is long gone, no more lynchings, spent trillions on war on poverty.
Is there still some racism, of course but things are a heck of a lot better than before.
We owe everyone a level playing field and equal opportunity but we all must work to get ahead, relying on the govt is a great way to get left behind.
Too many parents do not instill a work ethic in their children and that is a huge failing.

Thanks for all of that! I knew there had to be some common ground.

[Bay Kid]

Originally Posted by karostay

If they succeed in erasing history how will the future learn from the past

2020 history will be embarrassing. No telling what will happen in the next 6 months.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by roscoguy

Who exactly is suggesting that history be erased? Removing statues honoring Confederate Civil War leaders from public display is NOT erasing history. Maybe they belong in a museum or other memorial to the war period instead of being proudly displayed at courtrooms, parks & state government offices.

just stirring that pot...

The success of certain demographics, is to try and bring out internal rage and vitriol...then finding/manufacturing a target for that rage.

[NoMoSno]

Originally Posted by roscoguy

Who exactly is suggesting that history be erased? Removing statues honoring Confederate Civil War leaders from public display is NOT erasing history. Maybe they belong in a museum or other memorial to the war period instead of being proudly displayed at courtrooms, parks & state government offices.just stirring that pot...

How do you feel about Sen. Robert Byrd's portrait being proudly displayed in the halls of the senate?
He was a KKK member responsible for recruiting other KKK members, responsible for many black lynchings.
He did say "sorry, my bad" tho.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by NoMoSno

How do you feel about Sen. Robert Byrd's portrait being proudly displayed in the halls of the senate?
He was a KKK member responsible for recruiting other KKK members, responsible for many black lynchings.

He did say "sorry, my bad" tho.

And after that apology, went on...and walked the talk.

Unlike so many other people, whose overriding mantra is..."NEVER admit to being wrong."

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by slbellmd

Woodrow Wilson was not a traitor. He was a president. He was a scholar. He supported womens' suffrage and the League of Nations. His racism was only one part of his personna. Should we have removed his statue from Princeton University? Or should Black Americans walk by it every day as proof he was wrong about race. Don't remove it and hide it; talk about it.

And Wilson resegregated the military. It took Truman to reverse that. Wilson was also a fan of Eugenics.

[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by NoMoSno

How do you feel about Sen. Robert Byrd's portrait being proudly displayed in the halls of the senate?
He was a KKK member responsible for recruiting other KKK members, responsible for many black lynchings.
He did say "sorry, my bad" tho.

Don't know that much of his story. After a bit of quick research, I'd say he had a checkered past at the very least. I don't know anything about the lynchings you refer to or where you got that information; my searches came up with nothing.

But honestly, how does this relate to the question of removing Confederate leaders from public display?