Slavery reparations: `It’s always about the money in America’ | Opinion

Apology and reparations

“On Juneteenth, consider what made Frederick Douglass great” confused me, at first. Why would someone from The Heritage Foundation, one of the most conservative think tanks in America, extol a Black civil rights champion? In paragraph 6, the author makes his point: “(Douglass) could have argued — as some do today — that because former slaves suffered injustice, they should now have a turn to benefit from it.” He then applauds Douglass for “taking a higher road” and letting it go.

Paying reparations to the descendants of slaves is a hot topic, and will become more so in the near future. It’s been done before, with the example of payments to survivors of World War II Japanese internment camps. At first, they said an apology was enough, but Congressman Norman Mineta, who headed the effort, said no, Americans don’t respect an apology without compensation. It’s always about the money in America. That’s why we have Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other billionaires trying to outdo each other to become the first trillionaire. Just think, it’s estimated to cost us about $1.5 trillion to pay those whose ancestors built America with their slave labor.

Harold Crumpley, Modesto

Have some compassion, county

re “Couple battles Stanislaus County’s eminent domain action” (Front page, June 9-10): Who cares about Stanislaus County’s decision to exercise eminent domain? I do, and many others I’ve spoken to regarding the lack of consideration and compassion for the plight of the Bachs, longtime residents of Modesto wishing to live out their days on the property they’ve owned and enjoyed for more than 50 years.

Isn’t there some solution that takes into consideration their age and value of the property? Can the community rise up and voice objection to such an outrageous and inhumane decision by county officials?

Donna K. Bradley, Modesto

Psychedelic therapy

Senate Bill 58 is a sensible and cost-effective bill that will promote decriminalization of psychoactive non-addictive substances scientifically proven to effectively treat PTSD, depression, addictive disorders, and other debilitating mental illnesses.

Oregon and Colorado are on the progressive and science-proven track to help society advance and improve mental health treatments in our current state of mental health crisis. People who need education on this important subject can tap into the sciences at maps.org (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). The recent Psychedelic Sciences Conference in Denver had over 12,000 attendees from medicine, science, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, treatment programs, education, politics, and indigenous communities.

Psychoactive science is the new wave of medical science and effective treatments that are moving us forward to a healthier and more enlightened society. Encourage your elected state representatives to vote for SB 58.

Daniel Bruce, Modesto

Need tests for leaders

I don’t know about all America-loving people out there, but I am extremely unhappy and tired of all the lying people holding any position of authority or power, from school boards to city council members on up to the White House. If you get voted into a position that is paid for by taxpayers, you should have to take a polygraph test on a yearly basis. And all tests should be videotaped and the public should be able to watch. If anyone feels they have to plead the Fifth, they should be fired and never be able to hold any position of authority ever again. This includes all of Congress. Start with Biden.

Let’s divide our country down the middle so all Democratic-minded people go to their states, and all Republican-minded to theirs. I bet the Republican side would survive and the Democrats would implode. It’s shameful how the left is destroying our great nation.

Donald B. Balmain, Salida

Can’t trust Biden

Joe Biden is the most corrupt president in American history.

A highly reputable IRS whistleblower has testified to Congress that Biden sat in a room – blocks from the White House – while his son Hunter messaged a Chinese Communist Party official. The younger Biden told Henry Zhao, who has had deep ties to Chinese military intelligence: “I am sitting here with my father and would like to understand why the commitment (for money) made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight. And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.”

Within 10 days of Hunter Biden’s message, a CEFC subsidiary sent $5.1 million to accounts linked to Hunter Biden. The Bidens have received tens of millions of dollars from China.

Elizabeth Best, Tracy

A match made in MAGA

It’s 2023 and our government still has not charged Trump with sedition. He has the temerity to smugly run for president, funded by blood money willingly donated by those who openly supported his MAGA terrorist Jan. 6 attack on our capitol. Sulking and pouting since his 2020 loss to Biden, Trump has been drooling droplets of seditious saliva as he awaits the opportunity to mount a blitzkrieg against our democratic electoral process. To bolster his chances, Trump is relying on his female counterpart, Arizonian Kari Lake. Like Trump, Lake must continuously feed and stroke her Olympian-sized ego while her malnourished, pea-sized intellect continues to evaporate. Together they represent MAGA’s ideal master-race partnership.

When Trump loses the 2024 election, he will once again give the order to unleash his personal kristallnacht upon our nation’s capitol, spearheaded by the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, QAnon and unpaid Trump mercenaries. Will Americans be able to defeat fascism again?

Brooks Judd, Turlock