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Reparations and Asian Elephants
By Bob Davidson, Canton
It was reported in a Reuters newswire story on February 26 [Tourist Lust for Ivory Wiping Out Asian Elephants] that "Asia's wild elephants are being wiped out by the demand for ivory trinkets from wealthy tourists." The article goes on to say a charity group called "Save the Elephants" blamed the ivory purchases on "French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese and Chinese tourists."
Fixing the blame is reasonable, especially when laws are broken. Yet, the article made no reference to the breaking of laws. I wonder: if no laws were actually broken, why blame the tourists? Were not those who killed the elephants and sold the ivory at least as guilty? In truth, the tourists don't appear to be as much to blame as those who sold the ivory. It is similar to the legal slave trade when the African tribes sold slaves. It was immoral but legal, and both parties were at least equally to blame for the results.
When a sale is illegal, such as with drugs or stolen goods, the law is clear—both parties are guilty. So if the transaction is not illegal—but is, by most standards, morally wrong—should not both parties be held responsible? If so, will African Americans seek reparations from the African tribes who sold their ancestors as slaves? Many nations were involved, but none more than the African tribes.
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