Forcing someone to pay for the crimes of someone else is a dangerous game of historical culpability. How far should we extend this game?
Should the 15M whites enslaved by the ottoman empire demand reparations from their descendants? Should the South Koreans demand that Japanese pay for their crimes? Should Italy pay reparations to the rest of Europe for conquering them? Should the Mongolians pay reparations for conquering and enslaving half the known world? Should the victims of a Cebuano King, who had thousands of concubines, require reparations for slavery? Should the victims of lunatic Kings and queens be permitted to apply for reparations? Should the victims of Vikings be entitled to reparations? Should we demand reparations from the descendants of black southern slave owners (there were more than a few)? Should we demand that Spain pay reparations for colonizing the Philippines and most of the America's 400 years ago?
Is that really justice?
True justice requires recognizing that people are individuals, not groups. We are born free, with the will to choose our destiny, not shackled by the crimes of an ancestor. Stealing my labor, which is what reparations means, on the basis of some historical wrong is a massive injustice because I have not committed any crime.
Forcing someone to pay for the crimes of someone else is a dangerous game of historical culpability. How far should we extend this game?
Should the 15M whites enslaved by the ottoman empire demand reparations from their descendants? Should the South Koreans demand that Japanese pay for their crimes? Should Italy pay reparations to the rest of Europe for conquering them? Should the Mongolians pay reparations for conquering and enslaving half the known world? Should the victims of a Cebuano King, who had thousands of concubines, require reparations for slavery? Should the victims of lunatic Kings and queens be permitted to apply for reparations? Should the victims of Vikings be entitled to reparations? Should we demand reparations from the descendants of black southern slave owners (there were more than a few)? Should we demand that Spain pay reparations for colonizing the Philippines and most of the America's 400 years ago?
Is that really justice?
True justice requires recognizing that people are individuals, not groups. We are born free, with the will to choose our destiny, not shackled by the crimes of an ancestor. Stealing my labor, which is what reparations means, on the basis of some historical wrong is a massive injustice because I have not committed any crime.