People want statues taken down, buildings renamed and all reference to certain individuals removed from any public view. All in the name of slavery. Truth is, that slavery is wrong when it was popular and it’s still wrong today. Yes, slavery still exists today around the world. It always will so long as humans by reason of war, debt, sex trafficking, or any other reason can have absolute control over another human being.
Today we hear about historic figures being singled out for posthumous disgrace for something that was done in another time. Yes, the time was wrong, but it was another time.
Some people seem focused on the Confederate flag. Facts are that there was more slavery under the American flag, in this country, than under the southern states banner. And, one might look at the flags of other countries that were much more involved in slavery, England was at one time, the worst. Don’t forget the African flags, because it was there that a majority of slaves were captured by Africans and sold to European slave traders.
If we are to remove all symbols, lets start with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Both owned slaves.
I grew up believing that slavery and racism was wrong. It is wrong on all sides and all races.
It is wrong for politicians to enslave people and stir them with racial strife. But, that is what has happened and will continue to happen so long as people allow it to happen. When someone or some government has absolute control over a person, - food, shelter, clothing, - then that makes them the master.
It is time for this country to focus on today and forget the actions of the past. We have a history like no other nation in the world. We must build on what we do best and what is right.
If we don’t, everything will end terribly wrong.
PMO
©2015
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