May 07, 2007
The Democrats idiots in Congress have finally hit bottom
Take a look at House Resolution 1595, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. It would allocate $126 million dollars to compensate Guamanians -- or their surviving spouses or children -- who were the victims of war crimes.
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.
[...]
(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.
"Sounds like reparations," you say.
You are correct. The Democrats -- and some members of the Stupid (GOP) Party, too -- are asking you and me to pay reparations for war crimes committed by the Japanese.
Let me say it again, because it's so stupendously stupid that I still can't believe it.
U.S. taxpayers should foot the bill for war crimes committed by our enemies.
It takes self-loathing, America-hating to an all-time high (or low, depending on your point of view).
Red State lists all the American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were killed or wounded fighting the Japanese on Guam. It's a long list, written in the blood and sweat of our fighting men.
If one were moved to spend $126,000,000 compensating the victims of the Imperal Japanese military, then the right people to compensate would be the aging -- and rapidly vanishing -- members of the Greatest Generation, and their survivors.
This disgusting proposal, the handiwork of, among others, Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer, is a slap in the face to the surviving veterans and their families. But it perfectly captures the worldview of the Democrats: We are the enemy. It doesn't matter who actually committed the atrocities, because the United States is at fault, and we'll pay those slain, wounded, maimed or raped by our enemies from the bottomless well that resides in the pockets of the American taxpayers.
Why? To assuage our guilt.
Guilt for what? For being Americans.
My contempt for the politicians who dreamed up this garbage is limitless.
UPDATE
Well, here's the list of the idiots who co-sponsored the bill:
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1]
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1]
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5]
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1]
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI]
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14]
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53]
Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F.H. [AS]
Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR]
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24]
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7]
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15]
Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5]
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12]
Rep Miller, George [CA-7]
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1]
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38]
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3]
Rep Rehberg, Dennis R. [MT]
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23]
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47]
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9]
Rep Scott, Robert C. [VA-3]
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5]
Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4]
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2]
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12]
Rep Wu, David [OR-1]
Rep Young, Don [AK]
I noticed that Elton Gallegly, the Republican from my district, has added his name to this idiocy. I'm disappointed -- to say the least -- and can only wonder what kind of whoreshorsetrading went on behind closed doors to get him to join the party.
Trust me, I'm going to call his office to complain, and you should call your conrgresscritters too; we can kill this thing.
Posted by Mike Lief at May 7, 2007 10:30 PM
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Comments
Thank you for this story, Mike.
I have pulled into Guam many times and have visited the sites on the island commemorating the bravery and allegiance of the chomorros during WWII. They stepped up during a bad time in world history and they indeed suffered, however I do not think they should get any preferential monetary compensation for it.
What's next, giving reparations to a small island the Germans occupied?
Posted by: Trickish Knave at May 9, 2007 01:37 PM
Of course I could be wrong, but I think the reason the US is paying this is that our peace treaty with Japan (the one that ended the occupation, not the Unconditional Surrender) cut off such claims against the Japanese. It is either the US or no one who pays.
This is kind of similar to the situation regarding the claims in Europe against the Nazis.
That, of course, does not answer the question if whether the Guamanians should be compensated in the first place.
Posted by: andrewdb at May 11, 2007 09:19 AM