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US To Pay War Reparations

BPSCG

Penultimate Amazing
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Working its way through Congress.

(a) Recognition of the Suffering of the Residents of Guam- The United States recognizes that, as described by the Guam War Claims Review Commission, the residents of Guam, on account of their United States nationality, suffered unspeakable harm as a result of the occupation of Guam by Imperial Japanese military forces during World War II, by being subjected to death, rape, severe personal injury, personal injury, forced labor, forced march, or internment.

(b) Recognition of the Loyalty of the Residents of Guam- The United States forever will be grateful to the residents of Guam for their steadfast loyalty to the United States of America, as demonstrated by the countless acts of courage they performed despite the threat of death or great bodily harm they faced at the hands of the Imperial Japanese military forces that occupied Guam during World War II.
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(a) Payments for Death, Personal Injury, Forced Labor, Forced March, and Internment- Subject to section 6(a), after receipt of certification pursuant to section 4(b)(8) and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make payments as follows:
(1) RESIDENTS INJURED- The Secretary shall pay compensable Guam victims who are not deceased before any payments are made to individuals described in paragraphs (2) and (3) as follows:​
(A) If the victim has suffered an injury described in subsection (c)(2)(A), $15,000.​



(B) If the victim is not described in subparagraph (A) but has suffered an injury described in subsection (c)(2)(B), $12,000.​


(C) If the victim is not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) but has suffered an injury described in subsection (c)(2)(C), $10,000.​

(2) SURVIVORS OF RESIDENTS WHO DIED IN WAR- In the case of a compensable Guam decedent, the Secretary shall pay $25,000 for distribution to eligible survivors of the decedent as specified in subsection (b). The Secretary shall make payments under this paragraph after payments are made under paragraph (1) and before payments are made under paragraph (3).

(3) SURVIVORS OF DECEASED INJURED RESIDENTS- In the case of a compensable Guam victim who is deceased, the Secretary shall pay $7,000 for distribution to eligible survivors of the victim as specified in subsection (b). The Secretary shall make payments under this paragraph after payments are made under paragraphs (1) and (2).


​
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That's right. Congress wants to pay reparations for atrocities committed by the Japanese during World War II.

:confused:
 
No they don't - they want to pay reparations to people that supported the USA that the Japanese committed atrocities on during WW2.
 
From, the legislation that set up the commission:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=summary&bill=h107-308

3/13/2001--Passed House, amended. (There is 1 other summary)
Guam War Claims Review Commission Act - Establishes the Guam War Claims Review Commission to: (1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding the implementation and administration of the Guam Meritorious Claims Act and its effectiveness in addressing the war claims of American nationals residing on Guam between December 8, 1941, and July 21, 1944; (2) determine after review of documents and oral testimony whether there was parity of war claims paid to Guam residents under such Act as compared with awards made to other similarly affected U.S. citizens or nationals in territory occupied by the Japanese during World War II; and (3) advise on any additional compensation that may be necessary to compensate the people of Guam for death, personal injury, forced labor, forced march, and internment.
Authorizes appropriations.
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Still, shouldn't that be payed by the Japanese?
 
Beerina said:
Still, shouldn't that be payed by the Japanese?
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Why? When a solider is pensioned out of the army as a result of being injured by an enemy do we expect the enemy to pay his pension? A society looks after its own - what this does is (as far as my understanding goes) help to rectify an inequality that really should have been addressed a long time ago.
 
Darat said:
Why? When a solider is pensioned out of the army as a result of being injured by an enemy do we expect the enemy to pay his pension?
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The bill would provide for reparations payments to civilians who suffered at the hands of the Japanese during the war.
 
BPSCG said:
The bill would provide for reparations payments to civilians who suffered at the hands of the Japanese during the war.
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Yes. Remember that we bent over backwards during Reconstruction to bring the American South into the 19th century because, frankly, they were stuck in something barely distinguishable from Russian feudalism. After a war, it's not uncommon for the winner to help out the civilians.
 
ImaginalDisc said:
Yes. Remember that we bent over backwards during Reconstruction to bring the American South into the 19th century because, frankly, they were stuck in something barely distinguishable from Russian feudalism. After a war, it's not uncommon for the winner to help out the civilians.
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Except that, in the Civil War, the winners and losers were all part of the same country.
 
Darth Rotor said:
You seem very generous with American tax dollars. May I suggest you consider sticking to your own knitting?

As to the principle, it is laudable, but it seems to be rather late to take care of our own. I wonder at it taking 60+ years to do so.

DR
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Well, the war didn't end in Guam until 1972, so only 35 years there ;)

From what has been posted, it appears it's an attempt to give those in Guam compensation that is equal to compensation given to other US citizens for suffering and what have you from the war. Without looking any deeper (because I'm not that concerned) it sounds like an attempt to either correct short changing those in Guam earlier, or to finally pay them what others in their situation were paid. Sounds like a good idea to me.
 
This Guy said:
Well, the war didn't end in Guam until 1972, so only 35 years there ;)

From what has been posted, it appears it's an attempt to give those in Guam compensation that is equal to compensation given to other US citizens for suffering and what have you from the war. Without looking any deeper (because I'm not that concerned) it sounds like an attempt to either correct short changing those in Guam earlier, or to finally pay them what others in their situation were paid. Sounds like a good idea to me.
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I agree. This is a reward, not a reparation payment. You pay reparations to someone you have wronged. It would be absurd for the U.S. to pay reparations to the people of Guam. But when someone helps you tremendously at great personal risk, you might give them some sort of reward.
 
BPSCG said:
Working its way through Congress.



That's right. Congress wants to pay reparations for atrocities committed by the Japanese during World War II.

:confused:
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I read through all four versions of the bills under review, and I did not see anything about "reparations".

What I did see, however, was that the payments are being used as a way for the government of the USA to officially recognize and alleviate the tremendous suffering that the people of Guam endured when it was occupied by the Japanese in World War II.

Doing something like this sounds quite reasonable to me!
 
Crossbow said:
I read through all four versions of the bills under review, and I did not see anything about "reparations".
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Well, of course not. If it did, even the brain-deadest congressman in DC (mine, FWIW) would decide it was stupid.

What I did see, however, was that the payments are being used as a way for the government of the USA to officially recognize and alleviate the tremendous suffering that the people of Guam endured when it was occupied by the Japanese in World War II.

Doing something like this sounds quite reasonable to me!
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It would be even more reasonable if Japan would pay it. After all, they were the ones who inflicted the suffering in the first place.
 
BPSCG said:
Well, of course not. If it did, even the brain-deadest congressman in DC (mine, FWIW) would decide it was stupid.
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Well then, how very fortunate for the rest of us that your congressman knows the terms of bills under consideration are not reparations.

It would be even more reasonable if Japan would pay it. After all, they were the ones who inflicted the suffering in the first place.
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Quite right!

Japan should pay reparations to the people of Guam. However, if Japan fails to do so (or does so inadequately), then it is up to the USA to make the difference since Guam is part of the USA.
 
Just because we don't slap the term reparations onto it doesn't mean that's not what we're dealing with. As for the "Reward for helping" arguement: It doesn't look like you get anything unless you or someone in your family was injured or killed. Why not those who managed to get by unscathed?
 
If the U.S. cared so much about Guam, why'd they wait until most of these loyal Americans are in their 80s to thank them?
 
Crossbow said:
I read through all four versions of the bills under review, and I did not see anything about "reparations".

What I did see, however, was that the payments are being used as a way for the government of the USA to officially recognize and alleviate the tremendous suffering that the people of Guam endured when it was occupied by the Japanese in World War II.

Doing something like this sounds quite reasonable to me!
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Yeah, esp the timing :rolleyes:

Maybe this is almost as stupid as "slave reparations" after all.
 
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