Recently I sat through yet another television show about reparations. This particular show was about some modern day african-americans who’re seeking reparations for land apparently taken from some other african-americans over 100 years ago! I think it was in Virginia just after the arrival of the 20th century. I’ve seen similiar shows. Usually about African-Americans, but just as often about American Indians.

 First off, if you look up “reparations” these folks are after the wrong thing? My dictionary defines reparations as, “... making amends for a wrong one has done..., by helping those who were wronged...” Or as,  “... compensation for war damage paid by a Defeated State”. There are further definitions, but None that include payment(s) by some “One” living generations After a wrong’s been done! Still, that doesn’t deter people from pursuing “reparations” for things done in the long ago, misty past.

 Indians looking back to the 1800s (and further) wanting to convince the rest of us “Ones” living today to give back “their” land. (Don’t include me, even though according to family history, I carry Indian blood from two sides of my family). African-americans seeking to garner “something” for wrongs done to (long dead) ancestors held as slaves. Both groups seeking payment for wrongs done generations ago, By someone, To someone, to be paid by modern day “Someones”!

 Sometimes it’s just an apology of some sort that’s being sought. Admittedly, I often feel my heartstrings being stretched taught listening to some of these folks. I feel terribly sad that their ancestors were so mis-treated. Often on a grand scale and yet in such intently personal, inhuman ways. But then, reflecting on history reminds me to come to my senses.

 If you’re familiar with the past 5,000 years of history you know what I mean. People have lost their land, their freedom, possessions, even entire countries through wars and conquest. Nearly every part of the globe has been fought over (most of it many times). And each time, the conquerors took anything they could get their hands on (and kept, long as they could). The primary reason for war was to take whatever the defeated country offered. Defeated peoples were often made slaves, sometimes for centuries. It was (is?) the way of the world.

 That is, at least up until the past 50 years or so. That’s about the time when we (America) began to get a little stupid? We’re the first (only) country to fight wars, then go back and rebuild whatever we could, even in the defeated nations!

We rebuilt all of Europe (twice!) including Germany (the defeated enemy) after both of “their” world wars. Not feeling good about ourselves yet, we did the same thing for (defeated) Japan. We gave ourselves a guilt trip instead of taking the “spoils of war”?
 Perhaps this contributes to the belief on the part of some people that we (you&me) should “owe” them something? Including for things we didn’t have any part whatsoever in doing!

 I mean I never owned any slaves, and neither did you. My parents, grandparents, nor my great-grandparents owned slaves, neither did yours. And unless they come from a family line with Very Long-Lived ancestors, No One living today, nor their parents or grand-parents, were held as slaves!

The same goes for American Indians. Any land taken from them was many generations ago. And back then we had the same mindset as most people, you got to keep what you took in war. Hey! Don’t go grumbling and throwing stones at me. I didn’t make the rules, I’m just pointing out the way it was.

 I can’t recall anyone in other parts of the world being asked to give back land or things they’ve taken over the past 50 centuries, generations after the fact. Well, unless you count the middle east. Arabs seem to insist on wanting whatever Israel owns? Meanwhile, I haven’t heard of the Israelites wanting reparations from Egypt for those 400 years they spent as slaves, but I digress.

 There are people all over this old world who could complain about how their ancestors were mistreated, killed, taken as slaves, their land “stolen”. Thing is, they don’t live in America. They realize that where they live they would be laughed out of town (or worse) if they even brought it up. Only in America would people think those living today should apologize or pay “reparations” for something done by (or to) people dead for generations.

 I don’t know about you..., I feel badly about their ancestors mis-treatment, but I don’t “owe” these folks a thing.

Cal Teeple, fulltime member of the Observational Cogitation Consortium is often found three stools down from you. He may be ignored, accosted or contacted at: twinews@wayneindependent.com.