To the Editor:
Donald Trump talks about making America great again. But he ignores two sins that haunt America. Those sins must be atoned. They are: our ancestors took North America from indigenous people, killing thousands in the process; two, our ancestors developed/exploited vast resources with African slave labor. Those two groups (victims of greed) were denied the wealth generated from North American resources.
A modest proposal to begin reparations to those groups: federal and state income tax forms could provide a box for each filer to designate a specified amount to flow to a fund for community projects /job development for Native Americans and descendants of African slaves.
Let me stress that this should be an optional program. Not a requirement.
On his Nebraska album Bruce Stringsteen sings, “… shining across this dark highway where our sins lie un-atoned.” America cannot be great until we atone for those sins.
Why should reparations and atonement wait until the majority agrees? Why can’t legislators develop this elective program now? Let’s atone for our sins!
Dave Waldrop
Webster