Dinesh D’Souza: Reparations Not Necessary Because Slaves Are All Dead Now
Dinesh D’Souza, the conservative icon who was indicted for illegally funneling money and lying about it, received a praiseful review for his new film America: Imagine a World Without Her, on National Review Online, of course.
John Fund at NRO said the movie, along with the book, delivers “a more polished and more powerful message” than D’Souza’s 2012 film, which naturally, was full of conspiracy theories about the President.
Fund’s review quotes D’Souza:
“Did America owe something to the slaves whose labor had been stolen?” he asks in the book. Yes, he says, but “that debt . . . is best discharged through memory, because the slaves are dead and their descendants are better off as a consequence of their ancestors being hauled from Africa to America.”
Thank God all those icky slaves are dead so that we can agree with the Supreme Court that racism is no longer a thing, and that blacks are better off because, D’Souza said so.
After pleading guilty to to violating a federal campaign finance law, D’Souza claims to be a victim in the film.
In an interview at a preview of America, D’Souza acknowledged that critics will try to discredit his message by attacking the messenger. A few months ago, he pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations that could conceivably land him in prison when he is sentenced in September. D’Souza includes in the film a brief section on his legal troubles; in this, he clearly conveys his view that he was selectively prosecuted. But viewers should take the film on its own merits, he says, regardless of what they think of him.
So reparations are not necessary because slaves are dead, but D’Souza was selectively targeted even though he admitted that he was wrong and broke the law.
A grifter’s gotta grift, I guess. I feel compelled to laugh in his face, although that would require getting close to his face.
R.J. Carter June 30th, 2014 at 11:56 am
Anything my great-great-grandfather did to someone else’s great-great-grandfather is between them, and them only. I do not hold myself responsible or to blame for it.
Saint_Augustine June 30th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Yeah, you are not responsible for their behavior, but you’ve been paying for their actions and you’re going to continue to pay for their actions, along with the rest of society. The strange aspect of this situation, to me at least, is seeing the least costly way out of it is to pay out a couple hundred billion dollars.
Perhaps the biggest price you’ve been paying is in what you’ve learned from your family, those wonderful family traditions of hate?
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
If your ancestors cut down all the trees, it’s not your fault, but you still don’t live in a forest.
You are still, to this day, directly benefiting from those actions, and therefore the onus is on you to make the change.
Gene Gaudette June 30th, 2014 at 12:10 pm
Great gawkin; Cthulhu, what a D’ouchenozzle D’souza is! Convicted felon said whaaaaaat?
BanditBasheert June 30th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Maybe he’ll shut up when he starts serving his jail sentence? He is such a lousy human being.
madashellnow June 30th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Can’t express yourself without calling names…how sad!
mea_mark June 30th, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Your response is nothing but personal criticism, how sad. We really hope for better quality trolls around here.
BanditBasheert June 30th, 2014 at 3:35 pm
Sorry – calling DoucheBag a DoucheNozzle sounds fine to me. The guy is a douche – there is no polite way to say it.
BanditBasheert June 30th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
I don’t know how I feel about reparations. I don’t know how you make it up to people – for what our Founding Fathers did – allowing an entire nation to be built on the backs of slaves that were stolen from THEIR homeland (I hate that word) and brought here to work for and be raped and murdered at the hands of the wonderful Southern gentlemen in this early nation. That was before we discovered murdering the Native Americans who actually lived here before us. That was an even more fun time for the early Americans.
Do reparations change the attitudes of the current crop of racist haters who are turning our nation into a Christian theocracy riddled with abuse of all who do not share their beliefs?
We have a ton of problems in this country. I don’t see how reparations can take away the hideous nature of what was done in our early days. We were shameful then, but we aren’t much better now.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 1:52 pm
sooo, My great grand father came over in 1876, with not even a dime in his pocket. Was put on a train at Ellis island and shipped out to western Pennsylvania and worked in the coal mines. How does this make me responsible for what happened prior to their arrival??
Khary A June 30th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Hmmm dangle my feet in this pool? Nah…I don’t generally dignify the comments of house slaves with a response.
Dwendt44 June 30th, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Why does anyone, especially FakeNews, listen to this criminal?
madashellnow June 30th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
If reparations are the way to go, careful, the American Indians may force everyone to leave the country as they didn’t invite us.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
And this is supposed to mean what??? We all benefit from centuries of advancement of civilizations that had used slaves?? Sorry, not a valid argument…
Now if you want to create a pool of monies, dont forget to get all the african countries to contribute. After all, it was Blacks who sold Blacks into slavery.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
No, you benefit from white privilege, a society tailored to favor you based on the social construct of race and your place in it. Your great grandfather did too, as did everyone in your family tree between you two.
Slaves that were sold were criminals or prisoners of war. Black people did not invent the social construct of race to justify the practice, that was all white people. And since the social construct of race is the REASON why these repurcussions are still felt to this day (again, white privilege), that’s the only relevant part.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 3:12 pm
ahhhhhhh, the Old “White Privilege” comes out….
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Ahhhh, pretending like it doesn’t exist and failing to actually address a word I said…
BanditBasheert June 30th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Actually it did exist (still does evidently). The issue of reparations is tough – we have decimated, trashed, murdered, eliminated so many people, so many ways to get where we are, it would be difficult to know where to begin.
How do you put a value on reparations? Most of us believe slavery is abhorrent. But none of us participated in the acts that it came from.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Ohhh, and regards to slaves only being criminals or prisoners of war. Not true.. You might want to revisit that comment.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
True, many were just straight-up kidnapped by white people. You’re failing to address the point of the social construct of race, and how white people invented it, and how it’s the only reason any of this is still even relevant today.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
White people were not allowed into the interiors of the countries that most slaves were brought from. It was Blacks who kidnapped blacks. And it is not white people who invented social construct of race. Slaves have been bought, sold, and used by almost every race under the sun? Slavery amongst nations was not always predicated by the color of ones skin.
It may be your interpretation that whites created slavery, but it is not histories. Take some time and look it up for yourself. Dont rely on this “White Privileged” person to teach you world history.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Yes, other civilizations had used slavery, but white people were the first to predicate it by the color of one’s skin, which is the social construct of race that white people invented.
What, you think people of color invented a social construct that places white people at the top?
BanditBasheert June 30th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
and they are still at it … every day … in this country.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Soooo, shall we take a stroll through history…
Who built the pyramids… Ummm Slaves
Who built the great wall of China… Ummm slaves
Shall we dive into the Persian Empire ???
or better yet, have a little read for yourself.. This might just help you a little bit.. https://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-24156
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
I repeat, where did I say that white people invented slavery? I said that white people invented the social construct of race. The social construct that places white people at top, and that you still benefit from today.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Still not true…. But here is some more reading for your enjoyment… http://hnn.us/article/41431
But if you insist, please explain how “White People” invented the social construct of Race???
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Is this what you are referring to??
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/05/what-we-mean-when-we-say-race-is-a-social-construct/275872/
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Yes, exactly. Race is a malleable, vague, and ill-defined social construct. One invented by white people specifically to put themselves on top, though the definition of “white” has changed throughout history for the convenience of whoever’s in power.
YOU are white. Therefore, the social construct of race, and whiteness, is tailored to favor you, and that is white privilege, something you benefit from TODAY.
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 6:19 pm
You are wrong. The social construct of children within marraige working hard at an education speaking intelligible English. Writing coherent sentences and showing up to work on time are not based on skin color. It’s just that white people just happen to be better at it.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 6:21 pm
African American Vernacular English is just as valid English as whatever backwater drawl comes out of your mouth. It has its own syntax and everything. They’re probably better at English than you, seeing as how they can understand both AAVE AND your “proper” linguistic prescriptivism bullshit.
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 8:32 pm
An empty bet that they are in general more fluent in proper English than me. First you would actually have to find me someone who is fluent in AAVE and knows the meaning of prescriptivism
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
By my metric, anyone who doesn’t subscribe to linguistic prescriptivism (as you must for your argument to hold any water) is already smarter than you.
Justin Volke V July 1st, 2014 at 12:24 am
And smarter than you as well by that same metric unless you can translate your last comment into AAVE for all the homies who think dats jus dope cummin frum da thought poe poe. Btw I consider myself an African American. My mitochondrial DNA proves it.
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 8:12 am
That claim only makes sense if you believe that race is NOT a social construct and is an immutable genetic characteristic.
Justin Volke V July 1st, 2014 at 12:49 am
Your logic is based on a series of false premises. For example your metric has not been established as being anything other than personal opinion. Metrics are objective in nature and can be applied without bias so that both sides of the argument would obtain the same value being measured.
Whatever plausible validity there is in thinking AAVE is a valid language it is not the language of business, of education, of the MSM including MSNBC,CNN, ABC CBS & NBC, and of the law including the Constitution. If all you are fluent in is AAVE your only hope to survive is to choose a carter in crime, or rap music, or a major sport. I hope they can guard Lebron James or hit a 100mph Strausberg fastball otherwise no reparations for you to paraphrase the soup nazi on Seinfeld.
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 8:07 am
What makes my metric any more or less arbitrary than yours? You’re slipping into argumentum ad populum with your self-serving justifications.
Anomaly 100 June 30th, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Try not to cross the line here. You’re very close to the edge. Thanks.
Frank Flannery July 1st, 2014 at 2:19 pm
The jews invented slavery and in Africa they enslaved each other..
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Awfully hung up on slavery in a conversation that is about the social construct of race, not slavery.
mea_mark July 1st, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Don’t expect a reply back from Frank.
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Yeah I’m just having some fun being irreverent with the overt racist.
mea_mark July 1st, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Yeah, he is pretty bad. I looked at his comment history and said no thanks. Banned.
Pistol-Packing June 30th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
There are many societies where Slaves were of the same race. Look at african tribes themselves. When one tribe conquered another, the remaining people were typically taken into slavery. The asians, same thing. Just look at the history of China..
It is your predication that whites created the social construct of race, when that statement itself, is just plain inaccurate.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
You could not get it less if you tried. This isn’t about fucking slavery. This is about race. Race is a social construct. White people invented it specifically to place themselves at the top. You, your great grandfather, me, and every other white person in existence is benefiting from this TODAY.
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
Explain president Obama if white privelege is still holding blacks down. The only thing holding down blacks today is thier own culture. 80% out of wedlock births zero father figures that aren’t in jail. Beating up any student in school that wants to learn something because they are acting white. ?
The chains have all been cut away. Blacks are free to leave this country if they feel only whites are welcome. The Asians and Hispanics will be most thankful they are making room for them.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 6:18 pm
You’re not even TRYING to be subtle with your racism anymore.
“I hate blacks, but I can’t say that directly, so I’ll just criticize their vague and nebulous “culture” and no one will ever see through this paper-thin veil! It’s foolproof!”
No one’s buying it, asshat.
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
You know you have the upper hand in an argument when the other party has to resort to name calling. They have no other play.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Name-calling actually doesn’t invalidate an argument. You’re thinking of ad hominem.
Ad hominem:
“You’re an asshat, and therefore wrong.”
NOT ad hominem:
“You’re an asshat and here’s why you’re wrong.”
In this example, you’re an asshat and wrong because your racism is unsubtle as you try to mask it with vague critiques of a nebulous “black culture” that can only really be defined as “culture I associate with black people as some sort of hegemonic group because I’m fucking racist.”
R.J. Carter June 30th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
So I need to change how I live, I guess? Good luck convincing me on that point.
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
You need to acknowledge that the playing field is not level and stop whining “BUT WHAT ABOUT MEEEEEE” when we talk about giving people of color a hand.
Frank Flannery July 1st, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Blacks are holding themselves down. I bet you never lived in a neighborhood when it goes bad.
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 2:22 pm
The concept of “you’re oppressing yourselves” is honestly more hilarious than anything else. Most stupidly self-contradictory thing since “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
Frank Flannery July 1st, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Why don’t you just say you hate white people and get it over with.
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 2:21 pm
I can’t hate white people! Some of my best friends are white! And I’m dating a white person! And I am white!
Frank Flannery July 1st, 2014 at 2:16 pm
White privilege was made up by a jew.
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Aren’t they white now? It’s so hard to keep up with who is and isn’t white in racists’ books.
mmmjv June 30th, 2014 at 4:18 pm
There’s something missing in the article. Dinesh D’Souza blames America for 9/11. I know that’s not the topic but still I think we should beat that like a dead horse and never let people forgot that he blames America for 9/11. Especially since he’s a rightwing hero. Keep reminding people that the rightwing has gone so batcrap crazy that they make heroes out of people who blame America for 9/11.
He also doesn’t have the guts to tell you when you’ve been banned from posting on his website, your comments just don’t show up, and when you send a message asking why you don’t get a reply
Maxx44 June 30th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
I hate to insult Alfred, but isn’t the resemblance to D’Ranged uncanny?
Obewon June 30th, 2014 at 5:03 pm
D’Souza’s guilty plea is gonna be ‘Hard time’ in federal prison! In September he faces reparations of 14 to 18 months.
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
It won’t be the first time a producer or director of great films was indicted for a crime. Roman Polanski anyone? It doesn’t make his films less great.
Obewon June 30th, 2014 at 6:51 pm
Delusional D’Souza pleaded Guilty to election fraud via his ‘Straw Donations’ for a GOP senate loser dumped by 75% of the Electorate:) How dumb was that? Lol! He’ll finally receive the mental HC he so desperately cries out for by falsely claiming ‘I’m the targeted victim!’ In the joint he may commit more crimes, expanding his sentence beyond the point of no return…
R.J. Carter June 30th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
He should have followed protocol and kept all his illegal funds wrapped up in a freezer in his office.
R.J. Carter June 30th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Sorry, but any film made by a baby raper is going to go without any funding from me.
Progressive Republican July 1st, 2014 at 5:02 am
Didja see that cover of The Nation that morphed Alfred and da shrub? He had a button on his lapel that said, “Worry”.
Priceless
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
But aren’t blacks also benefitting from it also ? What benefit does a Irish coal miners grandchild enjoy from slavery that a black president of the United States does not ?
Rusty Shackleford June 30th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
This isn’t about fucking slavery, this is about the social construct of race.
He is WHITE, which is an advantage he will have over every person of color in his life.
He will never be a victim of racism. He will have virtually every piece of popular media in existence cater to him. The standards of beauty we ingrain in everyone’s brains will be white like him. He will never be specifically targeted by the police due to his race. If he gets in a car accident and seeks help, it is highly unlikely anyone will “stand their ground” and murder him. Do you want me to go on a fucking comprehensive list of all the advantages being white confers you in this country? I don’t have the fucking time.
Here’s a simple one: racists exist. There are people, many of them in positions of power, who he will ALWAYS be treated favorably by, especially over any competing people of color.
Frank Flannery July 1st, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Come to South Side of Chicago you can see diversity and you will be culturally enriched by your negro heroes.. Typical white liberal that you are..
Rusty Shackleford July 1st, 2014 at 2:23 pm
New York born and raised, never gonna leave.
Robert Cogan June 30th, 2014 at 8:32 pm
OK, Reparations would require an omniscient being to accomplish. But how about this. All white Americans today benefit from institutional racism against blacks, Hispanics and native Americans by unfair competition by whites for economic goods: adequate family support, early education and health care to obtain decent paying jobs, credit to borrow for higher education and for homes in neighborhoods with good municipal services, etc. Whites tend to get these things by accident of birth. There should be a class – based, remedy for unfair competition that arises out of this. (And you can add Appalachian white to the “underclass,” whose “pathologies” do not arise solely out of their own “destructive behavior.”
Justin Volke V June 30th, 2014 at 8:56 pm
I’m all for reparations. First you need to calculate the present day value of 40 acres and a mule.
Then you have to determine if you actually have any ancestor that you can prove was a slave. Then you have to decide how to divide it. For example if you are a descendant of Thomas Jeffersons slave do you only get 15/16ths of a share ? If your mommie was white do you only get 50%? N
Once you have decided how much of a share you are entitled to, we then get to subtract from that the cost of every white union soldier and their families sacrifices to end slavery. Then subtract to that all the money each black has already been paid in the form of affirmative action public housing government cheese and other race based benefits.
Once the final check is cut and paid to every single black or part black ancestor of slavery they must sign on the bottom line that they have been paid in full. No black child born after that date will be owed anything. Racial quotas will be banned forever. It has to be cheaper than continuing the failure that was the Great Society.
bobby1122 June 30th, 2014 at 11:47 pm
Get the reparations from the winners in the African tribal wars who sold the losers and Muslim slave traders still doing business today.