My Great-Great Grandfather and my Great-Grandfather came to the U.S. from Poland in 1920. If I figure correctly, that's about 60 or so odd years after the Civil War. So, my family obviously didn't own any slaves (they were DIRT POOR when they came here, I guarantee you they didn't own slaves in Poland). So, does that exempt me from paying reparations or do I just have to do that because I'm white?

Seriously, slavery was an awful, horrible, despicable part of our history. I wish it had never happened. No one deserves to be put into slavery. However, it is in the PAST. Why am I responsible for things that happened 150 years ago? Nobody alive today was a slave in the 1800's. Reparations do not extend to generations born 150 years after the crime was committed!

I don't think we should forget that slavery happened in this country--we need to learn from our mistakes, but it IS time to stop pointing fingers at "victims" and "perpetrators" after all these years--none of US was personally involved after all.

The reason I think he didn't win, however, has nothing to do with homophobia. Danny Gokey's fan were more likely to prefer Kris Allen's style to Adam Lambert's. I'd say Kris won due to picking up the Gokey fans' votes. I agree with this statement. I said the same thing this morning. I don't even watch AI, but it's hard to not hear about it (esp. because I'm in WI~Gokey's home state)~Kris and Danny are both Music Ministers at their churches and had the same basic style of singing. Kris picked up Gokey's fanbase and that is what put him over the top.

I know it seems weird to the men, but women do notice these things. I mention it to my hubby all the time. All the women cops on the CSI type shows wear stiletto heals and run around chasing the bad guys in those. I'm sure all women cops dress like that! LOL