How about mutual respect?

Regarding the Nov. 5 news story, “Civil rights lawyers will seek reparations for blacks in U.S.”: I would like to know how these attorneys are going to sue participants in the ownership of slavery when most of these people lost their homes, their sons, etc. during the Civil War. The northerners came south to take over what value was left after the devastation of the Civil War. This war was fought to free the people that lived in slavery. The cost was high – not only in terms of dollars and cents but in blood!

Don’t people realize that when they sue another party, there might be an award of a sizeable amount, of which the attorneys get a big piece of the pie? But, of course, this is how attorneys make a living.

There is also the possibility that if the party they are suing is rich and powerful enough, they might not ever get the award in their lifetime. Exxon still hasn’t paid the fishermen what they were awarded for the Valdez spill in 1989. Exxon’s attorneys are still appealing the decision.

I would like to know where I can go to get reparation for the last 50-plus years of my life. I have the following strikes against me: I’m female; I was a single parent trying to raise a family without child support; I was always working for a lower rate of pay; and now I am considered too old for any job that isn’t minimum wage. In addition, my mother lived under the same conditions.

I think it is about time for the average citizen, regardless of what color their skin, to sit down and really think about who they are making rich (it wouldn’t be the attorneys, would it?). People should start concentrating on what they have to be thankful for (alive, roof over head, food on table, etc.). And they should realize that they are part of the human race (which means treating the person standing, sitting or residing next to them with the same courtesy and respect they would like to receive.) It takes time, but what goes around, comes around.

Marysville