Greatest American on Discovery???

[NCC-1701]

First, let me say that slavery was wrong. But slavery had to start when some African tribes enslaved other African tribes. When some cash was waved at the stronger tribe leaders, the tribe leaders saw that there was big bucks to be made from this practice. That's probably one way it started. So, what I would say to those that bring up the subject is some black ancestors probably enslaved others ancestors. So it's up to them to hash out the problem. The United States involvement was relatively short compared to the rest of the world's involvement in the slave trade. Again slavery was wrong but to blame our ancestors for that without looking at their ancestors role(s) in it is also wrong.

[Savage Beast]

"Your mind, like my bed, is already made up."

No, it's not. If you know who your ancestors were before 12 generations ago, I'd like to know all about it, and I'd like to know how you know.

We've got roughly 195,000 years of homo sapiens ancestors that predate all history. (Egyptian history starts about 3,000 B.C.)

Maybe you know something that I don't know. I would definitely not exclude that possibility; in fact, it's a certainty.

According to Vedic scriptures, enlightened beings remember all their past lives. Maybe they also know all their ancestors. And maybe you are such a being.

Perhaps saints and angels can do the same.

Perhaps you know a lot that I don't know. My mind is definitely not already made up about that. I am open to new discoveries...

My mind is made up about some things though, and one is this: I accept full responsibility for my actions but no responsibility for the actions of my ancestors--or anyone else for that matter; they are responsible for their actions.

[Savage Beast]

I wish it were so too.

Instead of demands for Dostoyevsky and Mozart, ample leisure and resources have produced the fish channel, The Greatest American, and network news.

Whatever made me think it might be otherwise???

[WIladyconservative]

Whatever made me think it might be otherwise???

When all else is gone, there remains HOPE . . . .that's what made you think otherwise.

[Savage Beast]

Nobody knows when slavery started because, when history dawned, there were already slaves.

There were slaves in Egypt; evidently enslaved prisoners of war scooped the pharoh's toombs out of solid rock.

When history dawned in Europe with Minoan and Greek civilizations, slavery existed. Greek civilization, which we love to admire, was based on slavery. A father could sell his daughter into slavery if she fornicated before marriage. Unwanted children were left outside to die of exposure, and some were captured by slavers; some of the girls were raised to be prostitutes, and some of these were daughters of the citizen class. Prisoners of war--including women, children, and male noncombatants--were routinely enslaved.

Roman slavery was especially brutal.

Yes, black African slavery began with the enslavement of black Africans by other black Africans, and only later were some sold to Europeans and transported to America and Europe. However, this is a relatively recent development in the history of this hideous institution.

Many white Americans and Europeans are no doubt descendants of slaves and don't know it.

Queen Elizabeth is a descendant of the black African mistress of a Portuguese nobleman. Whether or not she was a slave I do not know.

As a matter of fact, before World War I--in the 20th century--you could have bought an enslaved man, woman, or child in eastern Europe--a white, European man, woman, or child.

And, of course, we all know that slavery exists in the world today.

The American Anti-Slavey Group is trying to end it. You may want to give them your support.

And, no, I do not believe in reparations.

[Kenny Bunk]

Beast, like don't take all so personnally, dyude.

The phenomenon you noticed was documented by Adam Smith who said "Bad money drives out good." We could have straightened him out by pointing out that his observation is not limited to Economics. In fact, it's not limited at all.

Nowadays, Adam Smith is a an online university that hands out degrees based on your life experience as evaluated by a peer review group of your own choosing. Gotta go now, drinking Bud Lite and watching "Survivor."

[Savage Beast]

Y'right, Ken. I do get wound up. It's just that I try to spread myself around as much as possible so everybody'll benefit. You know how it is.

BTW, think you could squirt one of those Buds thru cyberspace?

[mak5]

They are down to the top 5 now, and you can vote 3 times a week. The finalists are Ben Franklin, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, Abe Lincoln and George Washington.