To Receive Reparations Or Not…That Is The Question

In the midst of all the “racial” turmoil today in America, I keep seeing a reoccurring demand from some people.  I quoted racial because some of the issues started out as something else, then people like Al Sharpton put in his two cents and suddenly it is racial.  But I digress.  So this reoccurring demand.  It is interesting to me because it does not make any sense today.  That demand is Reparations for Slavery.  Now, I will give some background then pose a question because to be honest it is slightly amusing that people still insist on asking for this.

In 1999, the African World Reparations and Repatriation Truth Commission asked for, wait for it…..$777 TRILLION to be paid within five years for reparations for slavery.  Let that sink in for a minute.  The current U.S. national debt is at $18 trillion.  That is debt.  Not just money for a rainy day.  In 2004, Lloyds of London, the auction house, was sued for 72.5 billion pounds.  By the descendants of African slaves.  Not the slaves themselves.  Some countries have sued the UNITED NATIONS, stating that the acts committed against slaves has caused their descendants to not be able to advance.  These are just a few examples.

I would also like to point out the fact that in the 1600’s, Irish slaves, yes Irish, were sold for roughly five British pounds.  In one decade, the Irish population went from roughly 1.5 million to about 600,000. African slaves were sold for roughly 45 pounds.  The island of Antigua had a population that consisted of 70% Irish slaves.  English slave owners would literally drop an Irish slave where they stood for farting in a ten mile radius of them.  They would not do that to African slaves because they were an investment.  So consider that.

Now, before I go any further, let me do a disclaimer.  I am not saying that whitey was right in the 1700’s to use Africans as slave labor.  I do not agree with it but that is because I grew up in a time of humans that understand humanity.  So, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

So lets come back to present day.  Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner.  Every one of these has evoked some sort of response from people stating that this wouldn’t have happened if the government would pay reparations for their ancestors being treated inhumanely as slaves.  I know this is a rather small group of people so don’t go and get all gung-ho.  I understand being upset about slavery.  But what sense does it make for some person born in Idaho in 1990 to demand a boat load of money for something done AT LEAST 100 years prior to someone they NEVER met?  This is like trying to get workers compensation for an injury your grandfather suffered working in a coal mine when he was 17.  I know it is a VERY lose analogy, but you get the point.  We live in a country where there are many opportunities for everyone to excel.  Yes there is racial bigotry, but there are THOUSANDS of people who have overcame the odds and made a good life for themselves and their family.  So here is the question:

Why do some people think it is appropriate to ask for slavery reparations in 2014?  This is not meant to be insulting, I just feel like I am missing something or some people are missing a large chunk of logic.