mikeymikec
Lifer
- May 19, 2011
- 18,164
- 10,527
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Considering that (at least in my experience) most of the time in developed nations, they wait long enough for the people affected to have died out before they admit they did something shitty, let alone look into making amends for it, I think it's reasonable for those a generation on from those directly affected by the massacre to get something for it.
After all, I doubt that many (any?) of us can claim to know what it's like to start with literally nothing. Even though my parents' business went down the toilet, they still got a council house from the state, they had their possessions, and with that a reasonable chance to get back up on their feet. As a result of them managing to do so, they were able to help me when I needed it. To have your house burnt down and (chances are) losing everything except your lives and ending up homeless possibly to boot, what are the chances of your kids building their lives reasonably?
I could easily see that situation affecting a family line for multiple generations. As far as 'how far back should reparations be considered for', surely that at least partially depends on when the state decides to act like mature grown-ups and try to satisfactorily address the situation. Kicking the can down the road rarely makes a dire situation like that easier to fix. Had the state stepped up to the plate and did its best for those affected then, there wouldn't be a substantial argument for reparations now. Consequences are a bitch.
After all, I doubt that many (any?) of us can claim to know what it's like to start with literally nothing. Even though my parents' business went down the toilet, they still got a council house from the state, they had their possessions, and with that a reasonable chance to get back up on their feet. As a result of them managing to do so, they were able to help me when I needed it. To have your house burnt down and (chances are) losing everything except your lives and ending up homeless possibly to boot, what are the chances of your kids building their lives reasonably?
I could easily see that situation affecting a family line for multiple generations. As far as 'how far back should reparations be considered for', surely that at least partially depends on when the state decides to act like mature grown-ups and try to satisfactorily address the situation. Kicking the can down the road rarely makes a dire situation like that easier to fix. Had the state stepped up to the plate and did its best for those affected then, there wouldn't be a substantial argument for reparations now. Consequences are a bitch.
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