Thread: H.R. 40 explores paying reparations to African-Americans

Jean, that is exactly my issue with it all. I am not at all opposed to having some effective solutions to some issues, to rectify some things that still remain problems till this age.

However, I have issue with allowing every problem within the black community become something I have to be financially responsible for, I believe in something called personal accountability, and I hold all else to that standard and the choices they make in their lives, they have to live with the consequences, just as I do.

I have the same rules for my kids. Make a bad decision in your life, you will feel the consequence, and they are simply not allowed to use anything, or anyone as an excuse for it.

It's like a multi generational lawsuit, it gives money to people who were indirectly affected by history. I thought that we were supposed to come together but when we keep revisiting things that have been settled it just pits new generations against each other and that is wrong.

I remember someone at a bar in Cambridge when ethnicity came up saying that although he was the head of International Banking at BayBank no one guesses what his was. He was right no one did. It turned out he was a registered Penobscot. The Penobscot were victorious in a land suit but he had a career that he was successful at before hand. The Micmacs lived on the border and have been traditionally treated by Maine and the US as Canadian. The Micmacs I have spoken with say they used to migrate between Maine and Canada. I am not prepared to choose sides as I do not know enough.

Richard, my mothers family left that area in about 1890, they went to work in the shoe factories in Massachussets, they were telling everyone they were "just French". Though it was about 50% true (they had been intermarrying with the Acadians for some time) I was told, up there, now it is hard to tell the difference between the two groups anymore.

I do feel that the reserves/reservations are due them, but not monetary handouts. What I feel is a bigger shame is a way of life, languages and traditions are disappearing.