To have any hope of a rational discussion about an incendiary topic like Reparations, we need to be clear about terminology.
The formal definition of reparation is: “Making amends for a wrong.”
The Left is adept at redefining words to advance their agendas. In this case, their modification of reparations would be something like: “Compensation for one group’s major historical harming of innocent victims.”
The underlying premise here is justice, as we all believe in fairness. But this is where critical thinking starts exposing the lack of structural integrity to this line of thinking. For example, in response to recent California reparations inanity, the argument that “we can’t afford it” is an inappropriate rejoinder. These are better:
Point #1: Life is not Fair!
I’m going to repeat this a few times because we need to be clear about this illusion. At no point in our life are we guaranteed by any credible source that life will be fair. Who would even have the authority or power to make that happen?
The underlying principle of Judeo-Christian beliefs is that life is NOT fair — which is why there are such things as Heaven or Hell. They are equalizers where final justice and fairness are ultimately meted out.
Since Americans are drifting away from their historically strong Judeo-Christian beliefs, an atheistic alternative is trying to fill the void: that humans (not God) should be the arbiters and authoritarians of what constitutes justice and fairness.
However, considering that ALL the injustice and unfairness in history was caused by humans, what assurance do we have that these human arbiters are competent, pure of intention, fair, etc.? None.
Point #2: Fairness only applies to the perpetrator and victim.
In other words, there is no justice or fairness in punishing me for the sins of my father. If under some distorted reality I am accountable for his actions (or inactions), then how far back does it go? To Adam?
I am only responsible and accountable for my actions or inactions.
Point #3: Who is the official determiner of what is Fair or Just?
That’s the point of such standards as the Bible: they specifically spell out what is fair and just, right and wrong. It makes it clear that God is the final judge and jury. He assures us that in the end (the afterlife), EVERYTHING will be just and fair.
But where are the standards written out by the atheists who have disavowed conventional religions? The answer is that they make them up on the fly. Since they reject the idea of any afterlife, that means justice/fairness must be adjudicated now.
The rationale for such verdicts and retribution is based on current political expediencies — which are not written down, and are in a constant state of flux.
To make things even worse, these people advocate relativism. That means values (and offenses) are completely subjective! That, in turn, leads to such absurdities as micro-aggressions. This is not headed in a good direction…
Point #4: Fairness is not selective.
The standards of the Bible apply to ALL: rich and poor, old and young, black and white, men and women, etc. That is fairness.
The atheistic standards apply to those who are politically favored. Today that often means “a disadvantaged minority.” Ironically we are ALL part of multiple minorities (e.g., based on our age, religion, intellect, talents, income, family size, etc., etc.).
But what about the “disadvantaged” part? Remember Point #1: Life is not fair! We have ALL been victims of unfairness and injustice. Yes, but not major some may say.
Not true. Look at what happened with COVID. The short version is that some 600,000 Americans were killed due to incompetence and politics. Where is the movement objecting to the unfairness and injustice of that? Where is the compensation to the families who were part of that disadvantaged minority? Note that in this case, the perpetrators and victims are right here, right now (Point #2). The lack of an appropriate response to such tragedies says that none of this is really about justice and fairness, but rather about politics.
Point #5: Fairness begins with our children.
Children are inherently innocent. As adults, we have a choice about what our children are taught to believe. A key message is, should they be taught to believe-in and follow: a) Judeo-Christian (or comparable) standards, or b) atheistic standards where people in power set the rules? The direction children go starts with the examples set by parents, and is then solidified by getting a proper education (which the Left is aggressively trying to undermine).
To counter the later, it is imperative to genuinely teach K-12 students to critically think. That is rarely being done today. If we had more critically thinking adults, reparations would not even be considered (e.g., for the reasons stated herein).
America was founded on Judeo-Christian standards. The Left is adamantly opposed to that, so they are bombarding us with cries of unfairness and injustice.
Point #6: Reparation is not about fairness, but rather fomenting friction.
Reparations are one of many tentacles of the Woke movement, which includes such subtrafuges as DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), CRT (Critical Race Theory), etc. Carefully listening to this powerful and revealing explanation about the history and objectives of the Woke campaign makes it clear what Reparations are all about.
The mortal enemies of America are Communists. They are keenly aware that if Americans work together that we are unbeatable. To avoid that, they are focused on undermining the together part.
The strategy of Communists (the Left) is to sow dissent and discord among Americans. They want to pit Americans against each other: young vs old, men vs women, haves vs have-nots, black vs white, etc. Think Woke.
Every bit of this internal bickering dilutes from the time, effort, and resources that should be directed at our REAL threat. Don’t be distracted.
Of course, none of this strategy is publicly acknowledged. It takes some critical thinking to separate the wheat from the chaff. That’s why they focused on undermining the K-12 Science curriculum: to not only avoid teaching critical thinking, but to actually indoctrinate our children with the opposite: a Lemming mentality. Many of these children are now propagandized, voting, adult citizens.
If we want America to continue, we need more critical thinking and less political correctness, more working together and less immediate gratification, more God and less entitlement. Those messages are embedded in the Declaration of Independence.
Emulating the Left’s tactic of clever wording:
Not Reparation but Restoration of the Declaration…
Here are other materials by this scientist that you might find interesting:
WiseEnergy.org: discusses the Science (or lack thereof) behind our energy options.
C19Science.info: covers the lack of genuine Science behind our COVID-19 policies.
Election-Integrity.info: multiple major reports on the election integrity issue.
Media Balance Newsletter: a free, twice-a-month newsletter that covers what the mainstream media does not do, on issues from COVID to climate, elections to education, renewables to religion, etc. Here are the Newsletter’s 2023 Archives. Send me an email to get your free copy. When emailing me, please make sure to include your full name and the state where you live. (Of course, you can cancel the Media Balance Newsletter at any time - but why would you?
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John,
Another great article - glad you're writing your thoughts and getting them out there to your list. I don't know of anyone who is writing about the issues that you wrote about.
After reading this article, I realized:
You know how many people complain about how God allows so much suffering in the world?
If there was no suffering, if humans had their every desire catered to and nothing bad ever happened, there would be no striving. Mankind would never have advanced beyond its most primitive state - why would it need to?
There would be little to no science. No disease, no problems, no need for science.
- rich
We also suffer from the same affliction her in Oz John! And, recently we have seen the evolution of that eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious word "woke"! There was most studious comment on JoNova's blog that produced a good definition: We Only Know Envy! (Interestingly, it seems that those who are 'woke' mostly tend to live in inner-city suburbia, and certainly don't seem to be of the variety who get out and make positive things happen.)
And, as part of the 'woke' movement we have the self-righteous who continue to be behind the 'anthropogenic global cooling' - Oops! - now 'warming' - Oops! because nothing much has happened, now 'climate change/emergency/disaster/apocalypse' quasi-religion.
And, here in Oz we know have the latest political stunt that we have to live in disgrace for what happened several centuries ago due to the 'invasion' of the country by (Gulp!) 'The British'!; and so we must make symbolic reparations. Thus we have a new quasi-religion, complete with 'Welcome to Country" ceremonies - and, as a fourth-generation Aussie that rather irritates me - to say the least!
And it's all because my ancestors imposed their culture over the natives who have been resident here for who knows how long? But wait! There have been a number of extensive anthropological studies that show that there was never 'one culture' but rather some 300+ warring tribes, with as many languages, etc.. So, once again: 'woke' nonsense so that denizens of inner-city suburbia might massage their egos!
In the meantime, the need for 'Net-Zero Emissions' continues, and with our young people being subjected to propaganda in schools - propaganda being promoted by young propagandised teachers! (Of course, you don't have this in the U.S. of A. - now do you? Oh! There was a flying pink pig that just went past!) So, it's with increasing frustration that I've complied an extension to the 'introduction to an introduction' that leads - ultimately - to enable people to learn about modern nuclear energy reactors, and this extension about propagandising children is linked in to a perhaps appropriate page 20: www.galileomovement.com.au/media/SaveThePlanet.pdf.
But wait! Wasn't he some sort of a nutcase who was 'off with fairies' according to the scientific 'experts' of his day? Hmmm...... I wonder how that panned out?
Anyway John, I'd be most interested in your assessment of what I've compiled. Whatever it takes to start to educate people with non-"end-of-the-world" information ......