This report goes back to 2001, but I believe that the basic issues still hold true. "Britain on Monday stood by its refusal to apologise for its part in the transatlantic slave trade at a highly charged UN racism summit, a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said. Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands are believed to be in sympathy with British fears that an apology would add legal momentum to demands that those countries which traded in slaves pay reparations. " Question: Should Britain, the rest of Europe and the US make reparations for the profits made by slavery, and the consequent degradation of African states? About $ 3 Trillion would cover it.
The one reason I can find that such a payment is a bad idea is that it would not be given in good faith, and thus would only irritate old wounds that need to heal. Of course, if the South decided to secede again over something like that, I would be happy to let them, and the U.S. would probably be better off.
no we shouldnt say sorry for the slave trade!! what about all the whites that were also slaves?? i want an apologie for that!!
Yes, the fact that it was not given in good faith might hurt a bit, but $3 Trillion is a wonderful healer.
you dont see white people still crying over somthing that was abolished years ago. so why should people be compensated for they're relatives being slaves?
It's a legal matter. Look, there is no way we will ever pay back the debt for the damage that we owe to these countries. I accept that. But we are in a position today which is still benefitting from the riches we gained, and the countries we exploited are still suffering from those same acts. Oh, and Dragon, Post #2. You are correct.
I've always wondered... If their ancestors hadn't been slaves, doesn't that mean they would still be living in Africa? Is that better?
Chris: Oh, well that's just tough shit, isn't it!? If they want 'compensation', they can invade and take it from our cold dead hands. To the whingers who want compo, I've got this to say: "Quit your bitchin', nigger!"
If they had been living in the Africa that would have resulted from free trade and enterprise with Europe instead of bloodsucking exploitation, yes probably. Look what happened with Ireland as a nation once they became part of Europe instead of a backwater of the British Isles.
How? Most of them died of intensive labour and had no descendents. What was the average life of a slave? Was it 10 years? 15 years? While some of the slaveowners were unquestionably decent people, others saw slaves as a replaceable commodity.
well majority of the families of people who were slaves are now working and are doing well, (ok i understand not all of them are) if they let go of this "you enslaved my great great great uncle" they might get on with life and have the privalges that we do!! not all slaves were black and quite frankly you dont see relatives of white slaves demanding compensation!