[Savage Beast]

There is NO excuse for slavery.

We are all no doubt descendants of slaves and enslavers.

Slavery is one of the most hideous evils ever to disgrace the earth, and it has been present constantly since before the dawn of history--including today.

I do not mean to imply that you believe otherwise, Bob. I think you agree with me.

I dislike the way these TV programs and so many aspects of popular culture follow the same old, tired, worn out Party Lines. Whether it's called "political correctness" or "conventional wisdom" or what, it reveals a contemptable shallowness and the fact that those who create and present them are functioning on a very stupid intellectual level.

Whenever I hear the phrase "conventional wisdom", I brace myself for a weary, trendy echo. It's basically the same as "Everybody says..."

It's so refreshing--on the other hand--to receive information that is intelligent, truthful, and well analysed--not to mention an original idea or point of view. Unfortunately, the TV program you mentioned doesn't fall into this category.

[fatnotlazy]

We are all no doubt descendants of slaves and enslavers.

***

Perhaps...but my family members didn't come to this country until well after slavery was abolished here. Those who would seek reparations for descendants of former slaves ignore the fact that many of those around today had nothing to do with the slavery that existed in this country in the day through the Emancipation.

[bobd400]

You are correct. I completely agree with you in that slavery is terrible, and there is/was no excuse for it. Even despite the fact that at the time it may have been "accepted". (as a side note, do we forget that MANY cultures held slaves? Is slavery the overriding theme when we watch a documentary about the Pharoes of Egypt, or Roman Empire? Again, this is not an excuse for slavery, rather to show that there is an effort being made to discredit our forefathers where others are not held to the same standard.)
Additionally, this program (and others) will go out of their way to ensure that they spend as much time (or more) declaring the evils of our founding fathers, while giving a pass to more contemporary people.

[silverleaf]

My ancestors were Irish serfs who came to America to escape England's policies of planned mass starvation in Ireland. When is the "serf reparation" movement going to get up and running?

[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.