Dear Source:
For more than 150 years these three islands, now called the U.S. Virgin Islands, contributed to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Kingdom of Denmark. For much of those years our capitol here in St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie was the largest city in Denmark. Denmark is now ranked as the 6th richest country in the world, and the people last year were ranked the #1 happiest people in the entire. This year, that ranking dropped a bit, they are now considered #2 in the entire world.
The kidnapping and the ensuing 175 years of enslavement of our people contributed to their current status. They then in 1917 sold a "free" people to another country. Among other things, I am sure the fact that these "free people" were no longer contributing to their GDP had something to do with the sale, but after 200 plus years of free labor, their financial foundation had been laid. Their lifestyle today is a direct result of all those years of free labor that my ancestors gave blood and sweat and subsequently died to provide. Are we owed? Were we damaged? Do we need Repair?
The Danes feel so, and are willing to talk, but our leader has another agenda, and repair is not on it.
Kendall "Seigo" Petersen
Freedom City, Frederiksted, St. Croix
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