'IDS' right to print Horowitz ad

I would like to express my support for the IDS' decision of printing the "Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery is a Bad Idea -- and Racist Too." It is a real showing of respect for our Constitutional First Amendment and even though the public might hold differing views on the issue, it is morally correct to permit these views to be expressed publicly through our media. The fact that they were presented to the public is a statement of support for civil rights. \nI agree with the author's opinion, even though Mr. Horowitz could have accomplished his goal in less agitating ways. The fact that he chose to use the public media in college campuses to express his views makes this a victory for the student newspapers all over the nation, including the IDS, because it shows the influence that these papers have on public opinion.\nAs a minority student, I usually agree that many of us have been (and sometimes still are) subject to unfair treatment because of our race. However, in this case the perpetrators of these acts of slavery are dead, and so are the slaves. It must not be allowed to establish a legal precedent of making people pay, generations later, for the misdoings of their forefathers. We are not punished for the crimes of our parents. Our government is the same government that as an institution formed by the people, for the purpose of serving the people, fought the Civil War to defend the equal rights of African Americans. \nShould we also give reparations to the descendants of the dead soldiers? What about reparations to the Native Americans for taking their land and their lives? Slavery was wrong; there is no denying that, but emancipation is almost 140 years old and reparations were paid with the blood of our ancestors that died in that war to maintain our great nation. No one alive can be held accountable for events that happened so long ago and no reparations should be paid. I am glad that we at IU have been mature enough to discuss this publicly in our newspaper.