I can't imagine anyone but DH & co. can likely gain anything from our
debating (Jeff, Marty) whether Jews during the Holocaust or Blacks during
centuries of slavery (or Native Americans, or Palestinians, or single
mothers' children during millenia of, or etc.) suffered more.
Other point--when Marty rightly brought up the blamelessness of the
children for the parents' crimes, I was reminded, though, that victimization
affects not only the victim at that time but his/her progeny through, often,
generations (just as the Bush Pharoahs build--have us build [hey, that's
progress!]--for their Dynasties.
Seems obvious--I think Marty was making this point--reparations would have
to become, rather (be absorbed by? replaced by?) some sort of more general
redistribution of wealth program to be just. And yet--where great debts are
owing--e.g. to (not only Jewish) survivors of the Holocaust, and e.g. to
still-oppressed Black Americans--can we really say don't pay these? (I think
of, for instance, the elderly Holocaust survivors--and there are many--who
never really got back on their feet, who *need* the reparations money. Or of
the young Blacks for whom a sum could mean a chance to finish college. Do
they wait until, y'know, the revolution? or--oy--the re-"Great Society"?)
Anyhow, I've an injured hand and shouldn't be typing, so enough.
Paula
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