So will the Mormons get back,
Nauvoo Illinois,
Kirtland , Ohio and
Independence Missouri?
It's something that comes to my mind, whenever the issue of
“reparations” for blacks, comes up.
No one is still alive who had any direct part either in what was done to blacks, in the form of slavery, or in what was done to Mormons, including my ancestors.
How is anyone alive today, affected by these past events? In the case of black Americans, they get to live here, in the United States, instead of being back in Africa from where their ancestors were taken. To any who think that they are harmed by this, I would support
“reparations” in the form of giving each a one-way ticket to any nation in Africa that will have them, to giving them whatever legal assistance is needed to establish their citizenship there, and i revoking their American citizenship. That would, indeed, be the truest form of reparation, making it as much as possible for the affected person as if the wrong don to his ancestors had never happened.
Think there'd be any takers? However bad any blacks think they may have it here, do you think there's anywhere in Africa where their lives could be better?
As for me, if enough investigation was done,it's very possible that some properties could be located back in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, or other places from which my Mormon ancestors were driven, which once belonged to my ancestors, which they were forced to leave behind, and which fell into the hands of those responsible for the crimes committed against them. Some of these properties may now be in the hands of descendants of the criminals who persecuted my ancestors.
I think a better case could be made for reparations for me, than for black Americans. Somewhere out there, may be land or antique items of value, now owned by descendants of those who stole them from my ancestors, which it could be rationally argued should more rightfully belong to me, as a descendant of those from whom they were stolen. A case could truly be made that I should receive reparations, either in the return of these properties to me, or else monetary compensation for their value, from those who now possess these stolen properties.