lordbyron, Being a seemingly learned and enlightened individual as you appear to be, I am astonished that you would believe that I or anyone else would feel that any monetary transaction could ever compensate one human for the loss or otherwise dispicable treatment of another. I find it amusing that you immediately thought of monetary compensation when the real meaning of compensation is "to make up for, offset, or counterbalance". Nowhere in my post or my question did I slightly hint at any form of monetary compensation. It was your own interpretation of the post that gave you that impression. Likewise, the mention of the compensation / retribution was not meant to be an analogy of the problem; hence the reason it was so poorly one. As I stated, and has seemingly been ignored, I am past the "what's the problem?" stage and well into the "what's the solution?" stage. To answer your counter-points: 1) Apparently, regardless of how much anyone tries to comprehend the resentment that any nationality would feel against the Americans, it never proves to be enough or it is idly deemed "half-hearted lip service" or other derogatory sentiments. Since I am positive neither of us knows each other in person, I question the basis for your presumptions that I do not understand the residual resentment any more or less than the direct descendants of the atrocities? Are you certain that those responding have not, at one point in our lifetime or ancestry been persecuted and prosecuted far more aggressively than the nationality of which you represent? There are a myriad of forms of oppression, and not all of them were initiated by one race and targeted at another. 2) This is utter nonsense in the fact that it is a purely subjective view from the "oppressed" as to how the "aggressor" is acting or not. Here again, speaking of personal experience, how do you know that all of us do not "act consistently over time with contrition" about what we, as individuals of this day an age, feel about how someone has treated other nationalities in a past day and age? I, for one, never owned another human being, nor did I ever force anyone to perform acts outside of their own volition, nor have I caused any physical or psychological harm to anyone. I will not accept the burden of my forefathers simply because the descendants of those who actually suffered believe that the only way we can feel remorse is to suffer the same forms of oppression at their hands. That is simply ludicrous. As much as you claim we do not understand you, it appears that you do not fully understand us. It is this lack of understanding that is getting in the way of finding a real solution so we can live in peace. 3) No man, woman, nor child has the power to correct the wrongdoings of the past. Nor, as stated above, should someone who has never participated in the wrongdoings be required to bear the burden of those who have. If you have a viable solution as to how anyone can "correct the whole history of wrongs and evil actions" that anyone has done, I am sure that we are ready and willing to listen. 5) This part of the "West", as you so call it, has not been in existence for 400 years. Up until the formation of the United States, this entire area was colonized by many nations. Likewise, the entire world over has been involved in "acts of terror and genocide". I highly encourage you to research history and get the facts correct. Although this does not make it right depending upon the side of the fence you stand on, but you are, essentially, blaming the entire human race for the events of the past. Being a learned and scholarly individual, you must realize that the majority of these four requests are for "compensation" that is beyond the means of any mortal to provide. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that there can never be any compensation for the wrongdoings of the past and we will be eternally damned for it. I do not accept that as a viable solution. The art of compromise is that each side must make a serious and concerted effort to appease the other for the mutual benefit of both parties. Asking for compensation in forms that no one can possibly fulfill is not, IMHO, actively seeking a solution; but causing further injustice and indignity by allowing the past to continually haunt the present and the future. If you, in all your wisdom, can come up with a viable solution that does not require one side to become submissive to or dominated by the other, then I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so.