Federal Judge Dismisses Slave Reparations Case

[wallie_x]

But he said longstanding doctrine in matters involving political questions "bars the court from deciding the issue of slavery reparations, an issue that has been historically and constitutionally committed to the legislative and executive branches of our government."

Sounds like a judge who knows the limitations of what judges should do and what they should not do (such as pontificate social morality from the bench).

HERE!

[Bovon]

Man...can you even begin to imagine the far reaching ramifications should the descendants of slaves win such a suit?.. I mean, France had a big hand in transporting slaves all over the world..America included. A win here would open up the biggest can of worms ever imagined... The US could possibly sue France.

Then there was the early settlers who came to America by force from England, having been jailed at the whim of the Monarchy at the time..released but sent to the 'new world' without their families..never to see wives or children again. A win by the descendants of slaves could open the door to forcing the English Royalty to pay retribution to the descendants of those that can prove their ancestor was forced out...had to pay their way to America by working 2 or more years 'servitude in this country.

How will the US courts deal with the African tribes (some now pretty wealthy) because they sold their own people into slavery back in the 1700s and 1800s...and still are selling people into slavery today.

[wallie_x]

And how can we repay those soldiers from the Union armies who made the ultimate sacrifice setting the slaves free? Do we stick a monetary value on their sacrifice? Do we pay their families? Mistakes were made, but making an even bigger one would be to allow some sort of civil litigation suite to be won. I believe it would cause much more harm than good; and would only serve to embitter more people along racial lines.

We need social reform on both sides; and from a personal point of view, affirmative action is just as wrong because it discriminates against Caucasians.

[Theophylact]

However:

But the ruling dismissed the case "without prejudice," meaning the slave descendants seeking reparations from U.S. companies are allowed to file an amended complaint. ...

...In his opinion, Norgle acknowledged "the historic injustices and the immorality of the institution of human chattel slavery in the United States."

But he said longstanding doctrine in matters involving political questions "bars the court from deciding the issue of slavery reparations, an issue that has been historically and constitutionally committed to the legislative and executive branches of our government."

[RADAR1797]

Theo,

What is your opinion?

-RADAR

[RayH]

The slaves, themselves, were actually compensated after the Civil War. A lot of people seem to forget that. One of them was transportation back to Africa. There were some social programs set up for those who wanted to stay! This is in a period when there were no social programs.

[Mr. Goodbytes]

One could argue the point that they're better off for slavery. I mean, they could be killing each other in Africa today instead. They sure are missing out, hmm?

[Chuckiechan]

Actually, slaves were shipped all over the world.

Why is the United States the only country with a large population of slave decendants?

Edit: for background...

"There is nothing which contributes more to the development of the colonies and the cultivation of their soul than the laborious toil of the Negroes."

King Louis XIV of France, 1670

As the major European powers--Portugal, Britain, France, and the Netherlands--looked for ways to exploit the fertile lands of the New World, they looked to Africa for a steady supply of labor. Soon enslaved Africans had become absolutely vital to the cultivation of sugar, tobacco, cotton, and other goods Europeans craved.Based as it was on unpaid labor, the plantation system produced huge fortunes for many nations, companies, and individuals. And the king of all commodities was sugar. As European demand for sugar began to surge in the 17thcentury, plantations sprang up throughout Brazil and the Caribbean. Sugar cultivation created an insatiable demand for slave labor from Africa. Many plantations produced additional crops such as indigo, rice, and coffee, and the owners used their wealth to diversify into banking, insurance, and other industries.

The United States was officially born in 1776. European courts probably wouldn't settle for this nonsense, so they sue here.

Edit 2: This is a really great, simple read!

http://www.mariner.org/captivepassag...ion/index.html

[Bovon]

Good read, Chuckiechan

Thanks

[mad1]

What about the endentured servants from other countries, irish, chineese and others, would they be in line next?This lawsuit should have been throw out with penalties for the lawyer and people who brought this suit. The people who should have received reparations are the slaves themselves or the next of kin that is alive at the time slavery was abolished.