What you might not know about slavery

Terin · Huzzah! Gender: Joined: 27 Oct 2003

I don't think this fits under political or religious views, so I'm gonna give it a go. We all know that slavery is wrong. However, society today seems to be misinformed, and for some odd reason the US seems to be the whipping boy (yowch, no pun intended!!) when it comes to who to blame. Well, after some digging around, I found an interesting article that I think deserves a read. If you're interested on the truth about slavery, read on. It helped me get over the whole "Black Injustice is Whitey's fault" that society seems to accept. I found it enlightening, and I can safely say that for the first time in my life, I'm proud to be white, and I find it in no way racist to have said pride.
Free your mind
Then discuss!
-T

Blackmage · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:47 am Post subject:

You know that doesn't suprise me.

Girkon · Chop Chop Fiend Gender: Joined: 29 Sep 2004

Kinda sheds light on the whole US=Worldwide Scapegoat issue as far as that is concerned. Just the same i'm sure if you started taking this to the streets you would find a lot of people who would honestly have not known that.

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

I note that the article's author continues to disclaim that knowing this doesn't absolve any moral claims about the evils of slavery, just that it's not strictly been a United States thing. As I recall, though, a large part of why people look down on slavery, then and now, was because they have a moral objection to the practice. Even if everyone is cheerily doing the trade, and willingly, that doesn't mean that it's somehow moral. I think that's where most of the outrage comes from - having participated in this makes us less than the pristine $RELIGIOUS that we're supposed to be.

ScrumYummy · bunnyhunches of scrums Gender: Joined: 29 Jun 2005

US History books often omit or misrepresent information, although it usually concerns Native Americans (Lies My Teacher Told Me ftw). I think that American schools focus so much on American history and not enough on world culture or history, so we grow up "knowing" that America was responsible for the slave trade.

Case-in-point, my world history teacher in high school honestly didn't think there was any cultural difference between China and Japan.

reaper · I miss you Shar Gender: Joined: 28 Dec 2002

The whole blame whitey thing never fased me..One becose both my great grandparents came from germany in the lat 19th early 20th century. Sooo nobody in my family was involved. Plus I already knew most of that stuff Hell the Germans were slaves to the Romans soooo I guess I should go hassle my Italian friends Rolling Eyes

Tobias · *explodes* Age: 38 Gender: Joined: 17 Jan 2003

Silver pretty much hit it for me.

Scrum - you're very right, USA history classes tend to not really touch well on the rest of the world. I learned this wehn i began seeing my Austrian girlfriend, who can run circles around most people when it comes to world-affairs and history.

FawkesFyre · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject:

That was a great read...

The biggest thing that really gets me now about slavery is how some ppl who are descendants from slaves are demanding financial retribution...it just goes to show how ppl think they can put a price on anything these days.

Graillik Tur · Renaissancetaku Gender: Joined: 09 Jul 2004

Before we go blaming the American Education system, lower levels of education are simply intended to give you the basics of the society. I can't think of any country that does indepth studies of other cultures in there grade school levels. But as America has a very robust college system, we kind of leave it up to those that want to educate themselves...to educate themselves.

Terin · Huzzah! Gender: Joined: 27 Oct 2003