I. The fact that many different groups of people throughout history have practiced slavery does not excuse Colonial European and American involvement in slavery. It’s not OK just because “everyone was doing it.”
II. The social detriment that American slaves suffered outweighs any economic “benefit” that might have been the result of slavery. Slavery shouldn’t have been financially good for anyone.
III. The act of enslavement was less significant than the ethics behind slavery in Colonial America. Very few Colonial Americans, wealthy enough to own slaves or not, transcended the racist mindset that allowed the enslavement of an entire race of people.
IV. The progress of racial tolerance that has occurred in this country does not erase the past. We all need to be conscious of how far we’ve come by remembering the struggle of American Colonial slaves.
V. The argument that “many blacks” were free or owned slaves themselves during the era of slavery is a poor excuse for the many more black people who suffered enslavement during that time.
VI. If Horowitz thinks that discrimination does not still exist, he needs to take a look around. We have a long way to go as a country concerning discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation and many other factors.
VII. African-Americans don’t need David Horowitz to say when they’re being victimized. No reparations messages can be more “damaging” to the African-American community than an immature and ignorant argument such as that of Horowitz.
VIII. The damage done during slavery has not been and cannot be repaired. Money and laws do not make up for an entirely inhuman practice that lasted more than 300 years. The best we can do is to make sure we don’t make similar mistakes in the future.
IX. No few white “Anglo-Saxon Christians” deserve all the credit for ending slavery. The American value that “all men are created equal” owes itself to the effort of all different races and types of people working over the course of many, many years to come to an understanding based on tolerance and mutual respect. Black people owe no “debt” to America. They had to work as hard or harder than anyone else to gain that respect.
X. Horowitz is in no position to judge how an entire race will react to any kind of reparations. “The nations that gave [black people] freedom” (only after having enslaved them) should have less ignorant representation than the media voice of Horowitz.
I am not an expert on the reparations claims that Horowitz addresses, nor am I an expert on slavery. I do know, however, that Horowitz’s advertisement, no matter how complicated, nonetheless exemplifies the kind of ignorance and racism that continues to trouble this country. Furthermore, I’m convinced that Horowitz is trying to anger people for the sole purpose of causing harm. There is no beneficial motive behind Horowitz’s advertisement. I am surprised and disappointed by the publication of his work in a seemingly open-minded and tolerant newspaper such as the Emerald.