ROBERTS: Too late for reparations

Millions of Italian and Spanish people were abducted by black Africans and put into slavery. Rome enslaved black and white peoples, the jews were enslaved in Egypt. White Euopeans were the ones who ended slavery everywhere but Africa where it is still practiced today. Should American blacks who decended from slaves be compensated? Hell no, they should compensate us.

I believe that the persons who were slaves should be compensated, only by those that directly held them as slaves. SO go dig up all those bones and have the dead slave owners pay the dead slaves. Since all concerned are dead and gone it seems to me the issue is dead and gone. Each and every person has the rights and abilities to better themselves today, and while there are folks that never seem to get any better, look at how hard they are working at getting better. I don't believe in handing anybody anything. You should earn what you get, and if you are not willing to work for it, you don't have it. Your grandparents and great grandparents have nothing to do with your getting out and getting a job and earning things for yourself. Nobody owes anybody anything on either side of the slavery fence.

"Rep. Stephen Cohen, Kentucky Democrat. . ." "Miss Tinker ran against. . . Mr. Cohen in a primary to represent the majority black Memphis congressional district. . ." So. like, did they move Memphis? Did Kentucky invade Tennessee and take it over and I didn't hear about it? But as for reparations, what, 600,000 dead in the Civil War is not enough? And one more thing, those who think they are owed or otherwise deserve reparations because of their ancestor's slavery should think about this: If their ancestor HAD NOT been sold into slavery in America, where on this planet would they be now? And would they rather be Here? Or there?

This is a two way street, not a one way street. Neither blacks or other Americans grandchildren should inherit their ancestors sins. One could argue that African Americans should pay reparations for the billions of dollars pumped into inner cities at the expense of everyone else only to see them trashed, burned, pillaged and destroyed. One could argue that African Americans should pay reparations for all the lost productivity due to their refusal to accept education and pursue a productive life. One could argue that African Americans should pay reparations for the complete loss of large sections and in some cases entire cities to the rest of us due to the threat of muggings, robbery, rape and murder. One could argue that African Americans should pay reparations for the building of the drug trade and dependency that threatens to ruin the greatest country on earth. Maybe all inner city residents regardless of ethnicity should pay reparations to those in rural areas for the neglect to rural American because all their tax dollars were syphoned off to go to the inner city. Maybe all those who dropped out of public school should pay reparations to those who didn't as dropouts pay less tax and consume more tax payer resources than those who graduated. Maybe all those who have more than I do should pay reparations to me as I spent my life in the service to my country, forgoing better pay and an easier life only to retire at less. Or maybe Italian Americans should pay reparations for the Mafia. Maybe all Americans should pay reparations to those raised in orphanages who never had a family. OR MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES AND STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR OUR PROBLEMS. IT WAS MY CHOICE TO SPEND A LIFE IN SERVICE TO MY COUNTRY AND YOUR CHOICE TO DO AS YOU DID. The person you see in the mirror is the one who owes you. Life is a do it yourself deal. The world is run by those who show up.

I am of Irish (emigrated after the civil war) and American Indian descent, MY ancestors like 95% of all Americans never owned a slave or had anything do do with slavery -1/2 of them were not even in the country during slavery. But because I am considered 'white' there are those that think I should pay reparations to people "many of whom are not decedents of slaves" because they are black? How many ways can I say H@ll NO!

So this is what we get after spending trillions of dollars in war against poverty....Old John Conyers is looking for another hand out? Would it be shocking to admit I'm not surprised?