Nth Man: I am glad that you are working and getting your degree. I believe this is very commendable. However, using one good example to refute a statistically accurate statement is as unfair as using some of the generalities being thown about in this thread.

Most of the White people I have known that were on welfare were not embarrassed by it. In fact when I worked in Gillette WY (where white trash outnumber all other races trash by about 50:1) I was asked to help a couple of these people to defraud the system. They would buy my groceries with their food stamps if I would pay them $1 for $2. When I turned them down they acted like I was being insulting rather than honest. Let's be fair here people, the welfare mentality hits every race. In fact one of the best things stated here is that it is, in many cases, generational in nature. If you grew up on welfare your chances of remaining on welfare are much higher, irregardless of race. Why throw race into a raceless equation. Percentage wise there are more African Americans on welfare. However, historically, African Americans have been forced into poorer areas, working lower paying jobs and having no recourse but to go on welfare when hard times hit. Many of today's third and fourth generation welfare families came from similar conditions, again regardless of their race. This sets up the generational cycle which leads to the current conditions today.

I do not accept that "Blacks are lazy (please note the intentional use of the term Black vs. African American to make a point)", I do accept though that people who are raised lazy tend to remain lazy. In most cases a good work ethic is taught not inherent. There are many exceptions, even within my own family there are those who are inclined to work hard and those of us who work hard because we were trained to do so (that's me, I am inherently lazy).

Back to the topic of reparations though. As I stated before, if it is an apology? fine that is acceptable to me. Money? I can see no way that the government could fairly distribute reparations, should distribute reparations, or even could fairly raise the money for reparations. While this may be a movement that goes farther than Jesse Jackson or the Rev. Al Sharpton it does seem strange that it has picked up steam at the same time that Jesse Jackson's trusts and charities have been hit by declining donations and scandal. Jesse needed a cause and seems to have found one. I do not think that most of the African Americans supporting this cause are doing it for political ends. I think they are probably sincere in feeling it is another step towards healing wounds. I cannot say the same for the leaders. I do not believe they want the wounds healed. Strife, contention, and racism are their bread and butter.

One brief note on Israel. I support aid to Israel. Why? Well for two reasons, one personal, one political. The personal one is that I am a Christian and I believe it is Biblical to support the nation of Israel. The political one is that I believe they are our first, best, weapon against the fundamentalist fanatics and terrorists that threaten us. Take the figure of the aid we sent them and then compare it to the cost of the Gulf War which only lasted a couple of months. With this money we buy military units, political influence, and intelligence gathering that we could not provide for ourselves at 100X the cost. I think our Return On Investment (ROI) makes Israel an excellent market to invest in.