Centuries later, slaves are honored for erecting the Capitol

[Sofiyya 1,687]

American Indians have a museum on the mall. White guilt or not, it's about damn time slave labor in DC as recognized and honored.

[ValerieA 350]

It's just amazing that so many focus on the slavery aspect but ignore the overall picture. Ignore how these people where treated in their mother country, prior to being sold off and shipped here.

So, they were lucky to be sold into slavery?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's nothing wrong with recognising injustices of the past - just so long as everyone has a sense of perspective and understands where these things begin and end.

So, they were lucky to be sold into slavery?

Oh don't get him started - he'll tell you how some slaves were treated quite well; as if this somehow excuses the slave status.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

American Indians have a museum on the mall. White guilt or not, it's about damn time slave labor in DC as recognized and honored.

[Heracles 417]

So, they were lucky to be sold into slavery?

Starving to death or being killed by tribal wars versus being a slave. I'd take the latter, but that is just me.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Starving to death or being killed by tribal wars versus being a slave. I'd take the latter, but that is just me.

Killed in tribal warfare, vs being worked to death on a plantation. What an enviable choice.

[Heracles 417]

Killed in tribal warfare, vs being worked to death on a plantation. What an enviable choice.

Evidently they were not worked to death, hence the 40 million population here. Perhaps you can tell me of the last Oprah that came out of a third world country? Better yet, why so many would give a limb to get to a first world country.

Some act as if slavery was akin to the holocaust or the Armenian genocide.

Your fist waving on this over the years is laughable considering your country's history. Then again watching BP's CEO, you guys do seem to have a knack for weaseling out of things.

Edited June 17, 2010 by Booyah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why on earth would you want to defend something as shameless as slavery?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Why on earth would you want to defend something as shameless as slavery?

because just as with anything in history/things going on today, there were still many 'good' aspects of every situation.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oh sure

[Nina~ 431]

because just as with anything in history/things going on today, there were still many 'good' aspects of every situation.

Did you just say that there are good aspects for slavery? There are no "good aspects" for dehumanizing people to make a buck!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess there are if you are the one who benefits.

[Heracles 417]

Why on earth would you want to defend something as shameless as slavery?

Who is defending it? I just don't fall for the insinuation that it was the worst thing in the world. AA ancestors were, yet so were mine. Mine were actually slaves for a few hundred years under a brutal barbaric Islamic empire - the Ottoman Empire. Same period as AA, just for a longer time frame. They would have wished they could pick cotton in plantations.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Did you just say that there are good aspects for slavery? There are no "good aspects" for dehumanizing people to make a buck!

I did.

Not all slaves were completely dehumanized.

And despite what the "white man" did, the "black man" is the one who sold his brother to the "white man."

Either way, many plantation owners had it in their best interests to make sure slaves were fed well, kept healthy, etc.

Of course, let's also ignore the fact there were black plantation owners with slaves as well.

[Heracles 417]

Did you just say that there are good aspects for slavery? There are no "good aspects" for dehumanizing people to make a buck!

There is a silver lining to everything. Had there not been slavery and African slaves never been brought here, your likes of Will Smiths, Oprah, Snoop Dog, athletes and so forth would very likely be living in poverty in third world countries. That doesn't mean slavery was a good thing but these people have directly benefited from their ancestors tribulations. Furthermore, the fact that so many stayed with their plantation owners after the end of slavery, illustrates that not all slaves were treated poorly or inhumanely. Common sense in 2010 that everyone prefers freedom over slavery but lets not pretend slavery is the worst thing that could happen to someone.

Perhaps if you guys were more fluent in the ways of the world and world history, you would recognize this.