After listening to Sen. Barack Obama's recent speech regarding his former pastor, I couldn't help but to think about his remarks regarding the divisiveness between blacks and whites and the issue of slavery.
The senator stated that his wife could trace her bloodline all the way back to slaves, as if it were a badge of honor to be a descendant of slaves.
If anyone cared to check world history, the black race might be considered a Johnny-come-lately to the issue of slavery.
To put it into context, the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, English, Vikings, Aztecs and the like all made slaves out of those whom they conquered, which means that at one time or another most human beings on the face of this Earth can trace their roots back to ancestors who were enslaved.
The modern black race doesn't have a corner on the market of being descendants of slaves. People white, black, red, yellow and brown have been subjected to the atrocities committed by ignorant and abhorrent men who would enslave humanity.
In my humble opinion, I think Obama, as well as his pastor, should understand that their race isn't alone when you look at the historical world picture as a whole.
Gregory J. Topliff, Warrenville, S.C.
Comments
It's not the slavery issue, it's the victimology. Only the American black was treated so bad after being freed. They weren't given enough. And, some feel, still aren't given enough. So anyway, the "my ancestors as slaves are just like your ancestors as slaves" doesn't hold water.
justus4, u shur do bees dum. Black slaves were more slavier, or treated more slavely, then other slaves? Is this really sound reasoning?
justice---I would say that perhaps you are the one who should study the facts-blacks slaves were not purchased on the basis of color or race, but were bought because they were expedient. You have to go back to the beginning to get to the present, not jump & skip to the years where you continue to dwell.
Well said Gregory well said but I do not believe too many blacks in this country will agree with you. To do so would mean they are just like everyone else and thus they can no longer whine or complain about their situations being the white man's fault. Slaves have been around since the beginning of time. They have been mistreated since ...uh..always. Frankly there are still slaves in all parts of the world. One major slave market would be white slavery in all parts of the Middle East and other areas across the world. I for one am sick to death of the ever disgusting swill that comes out of the "typical black" whenever they feel they can't have it all or because anything white doesn't roll over and play dead. Get up off your behinds, start to work and support your families instead of living off the government, live modestly or richly(I don't care which) but just live morally and leave the rest of us alone. Your "Set us Free Cry" has gone the way of the dinosaurs. You have been set free now stop moaning and just become productive citizens.......
Ah Pat thanks, I can leave this one alone, however I can't believe the chronicle allowed this to reach the streets.
Why owensjef, because it's the truth and when it comes to blacks, we shouldn 't speak the truth because to do so will have somecaterogize you as racist?
Christian I hope you are better than that. I know you are trying start the race war, that occurs on this site everyday, eary, but take a day off guy. Remember this it took a hundred years to receive the right to vote after slavery, so foget slavery. The fact that the federal Government had to step in and make so called christians treat black folk better than cattle was a disgrace, so take a day off with the race crap, lets disappoint the chronicle today.
No one ever mentions the fact that there were white slaves, Edgefield county had more white slaves that any other county in SC. Also A Sharecropper before WW II was the lowest form od soiciety in the South and it didn't matter if you wee Balck , white, or purple.
Another part History that we have to research ourselves is that blacks owned slaves. The largest slave owner in Sumter County, SC was a Black man. the Plantation he owned is now apart of Shaw Air Force Base.
AGR354 and your point is ?
His point is that all races have been slaves and all races owned slaves.
So blacks weren't treated more slavely then other slaves? Won't that mess up a lot of the victimology preaching and beliefs?
Owens...It is going to take much more than I to start a race war. It has been simmering for years and years and it now at the verge of overflowing. As for Christians, true blood-washed born again Christ followers, treat all other believers the same...We are human and therefore have problems but as I spoke to someone years ago who questioned me concerning a race issue and where I stood....My answer was and still remains....I love my Jesus and my God and if your views are based squarely on Christ truths of living and spreading the Good News then skin has no color...But to all who use the phrase "It's God's will" to fight against racism---racism being the nasty white man against the poor underdog black.....then I respond 'Go Away'.... That isn't God's will but mankinds will in the form of the "Revs"leading the masses for power and greed and I will do everything in my power to speak out against them....
owensief, I can's wait until I hear AGR's reply, but, I believe you're much too dense and predujideced to understand it.
the largest slave owners in the south were black! They didn't buy the slaves to free them. They didn't even buy all of them as they rans slave farms!!! Further more, slaves were not captured by their their northern ship owner sellers who brought them to this country. They were first enslaved by their own people and sold or traded for a profit. It was wrong but it happened!!! Slavery still goes on in parts of the world INCLUDING BLACK SLAVERY IN AFRICA. iF you're really interested in the problem go somewhere where it REALLY is and fight it....until they eliminate you!!!!! One more thing AGR is totally correct, some of my ancestors were sharecroppers and I knew some growing up!! All they could do was get by, but, just like the blacks who work for what they get (maybe unlike you) they do a little better as generations go by and just ordinary people making a living, trying to get along and make iti through life.
Owens, you nor any other black are victims of slavery. I would also be willing to bet that all our ancestors had something totally unpleasant happen to them at some point in the past. With that said, why don't the likes of you, Shivas, justus, rcr, hippo and the rest, give it up. No-one is making you a victim. Do and say what you can to make things BETTER and they will be better!
PMA, what a concept. I wonder if it'd work.
justus4,would you then please explain to me,why some of the richest slave owners in the south were black
Who cares what happened in the 1700's and 1800's. That is history and cannot be changed. Worry about the future and quit beating that drum.
Typical comments from the blacks....Always feel they are being put down. Obama's so called reverend defines what it is to be a racist!!!
slavery exists now; it just has a different name (welfare) and legal status.
Weird isn't it. Blacks justifying their racism much like whites did 150 years ago. Both used the "church" to validate their crime. History does repeat itself. In both cases still wrong. I guess it's the "I was a slave now you be my slave " philosophy. Quit living in the past. Christianity precipitated the abolitionist movement and Christ inspired MLKjr to "stand for the truth" so eventually religion played a positive role. We live in a country that all races, genders, and ages have an "opportunity" to make what they want out "their" lives-nobody is going to make it for you, nor would I want them too (because I can do it better hee,hee,hee.). Just think in India you would know your occupation at birth (it's your father's) and your marriage would be arranged. Slavery has been outlawed in most cultures, but it is still practiced and the number are believed to be higher than any time in history according to Anti-Slavery International.
People....give it a rest! We have kids killing kids, kids having kids, gas prices is causing everything else to go up. We need to start educating and disciplining our youth before they kill off our future as a nation. The children of this nation have all they need to get an education, yet they still don't. WHY? Teachers can't teach because students have been taught, they don't have to listen. It's not a "black thing" or a "white thing" its "OUR THING". We must learn from our history, but we can't live in the past. For our children s future, we need to put the past in the past.
How about the concept of "we all work together for today and tomorrow"? continuing to bring up the problems of the past won't help to make things better for the present and future. everyone has been wronged at some time in their life but most of us have learned that holding onto the bad, doesn't help us to get on with our lives.
Don't EVER expect to get sympathy from the poor whites when you mention discrimination. The poor whites were treated just as badly and today are treated even worse. >
SCOB, you are right but good luck with that. This is the South where discrimination is expected and used as a tool to further a "cause"..
i'd like to propose a solution: reparations for anyone who can definitively trace their ancestry to a former slave. these reparations should include access to free housing; free or reduced cost medical care; free, reduced cost, or quota-based education assistance; and race-based business advantages. also, maybe the ability to restrict speech by claiming sensitivity as a means to effectively muzzle criticism will help. we'll have to be careful with this last concept, though: it is very easy to come across as hypocritical if we allow one race to say a set of words but punish anyone else who says the exact same words.
jaschild..Excuse me, but don't they have access to all of those things now. What is it that they don't already get through one program or another. I like your thinking. :}
You all have been enslaved by your own mentalities. Blacks hate that slavery happened, and whites are always quick to point out that blacks sold each other and were slave owners. Slavery is history that will surely not be repeated. Blacks are in a position where we need to make improvements. It is impossible to improve without economic empowerment. Whites are correct to a certain extent. The problem with the public assistance argument, though, is that, just as some blacks gained from slavery, many whites benefit from the handouts that are thought to only go to blacks. That trend will continue until all people are properly educated. But which would be considered more palatable to whites; a self sufficent, outspoken, polictially, socially, and economically empowered black race; or one that is dependent upon the government for support? Unfortunately for some, miseducation ocurrs more often than true comprehension. Toplif fails to see that the slavery spoken of by Obama is relative to the American experience. Maybe he should interview the decendants of former other-than-African slaves in other parts of the world so he can write about that. PT, good post at 6:14.
WoW...why do I keep remembering the King of the Swamp Castle in Monty Python "Theres no use bickering about who killed who."
The sad fact is that there is NO ONE left who was a slave, or owned slaves. We start today and start to make it better. Racial payback is a sophmoric idea, since the self appointed leaders cannot give us a "target" for ending it it MUST not be a problem.
jaschild, Very good!! "Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind reception it meets with in the world, and that so very few are offended with it. " Jonathan Swift. King James is wrong because at present between 27 million and as high as 200 million people are currently enslaved, so it never stopped.
KingJames, If you can stop the bitterness, you will have my gratitude. Yes, PT is right. Too many have become "victims" in their own mind.
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