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The Forum > Article Comments > Britain did more to abolish slavery than any other nation > Comments

Britain did more to abolish slavery than any other nation : Comments

By Graham Young, published 4/8/2023

The surprising thing is not that the British were originally involved in the slave trade - everyone was - but that they unilaterally decided to end it.

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God fearing Christians used the Bible to justify slavery. the Bible is full of quotes condoning slavery;

Ephesians 6:5–8 Paul states, "Servants, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ" which is Paul instructing slaves to obey their master. Similar statements regarding obedient slaves can be found in Colossians 3:22–24, 1 Timothy 6:1–2, and Titus 2:9–10.

American slave owners, Christian to a man, would refer to their favourite biblical text to justify their slave owning. What is called “The Curse of Ham”, in their interpretation they had Ham son of Noah, a "black" man with his decedents being "African", strange as that sounds, cursed by Noah and placed into slavery. I suppose the Bible can be used with the "proper" interpretation, to justify anything you like.
Posted by Paul1405, Sunday, 6 August 2023 5:16:48 AM
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Our system of government has made us slaves to the economy, instead the economy should be our slave!

The parliament is focused on things like the voice, when every household is feeling the economic pinch that will destroy families, the economy and national unity.

And in the process making the no campaign a virtual certainty!

And all because of the ever-souring cost of energy and all that is tied to it.

The labor party is diametrically opposed to nuclear energy for reasons that are surely about selfish self-interest and jumping when their political masters, the unions pull their strings.

Were this not so, surely, we would surrender to logics rites and transition ASAP to nuclear energy and make that our slave.

As MSR thorium and with-it, usher power prices as low or lower than 3 cents PKWH. And with that create a turbocharged economy on steroids!

And usher a period of unprecedented prosperity this country has never seen, as a manufacturing economy that will be the premier manufacturing economy in the Pacific.

And a completely self-reliant one at that. There are no downsides here, just win, win all round!
Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Sunday, 6 August 2023 10:32:21 AM
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The title of the thread is "Britain did more to abolish slavery than any other nation". I notice no one is disputing that and for that reason, the efforts of the Anglosphere ought to be celebrated.
Posted by mhaze, Sunday, 6 August 2023 12:22:41 PM
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I watched Kamala Harris talking briefly about slavery.
Her lack of understanding was almost breath taking.
Does she not realise that we are all slaves?
In the sense that our lives are dictated by others.
We must follow just one narrow path through life.
In a democracy, we can also use the by-ways and side roads.
So we have more freedom, and a greater variety of experience.
But laws still ensure we stay within relatively narrow limits.

In a strict dictatorship, it is just the one road.
Leave the main trail and you will be made to suffer; abominably.
The 'slavery' Kamala talked about was something applied to just one section of a past community.
As it did not apply equally to all, it is now seen as grossly unfair and inequitable.
But there are no happenings which should be seen as all good or all bad.
Everything is just something which happens.
And there will be benefits and disadvantages when they do.
And these can change with time.
So what is beneficial right now might be distinctly not so down the track.

And what Kamala fails to appreciate is that there will always be advantages of some sort.
Following just one path can mean certainty and stability for example.
And I am quite sure that not all 'slaves' were treated badly.
I think Kamala over-reacts because she has been taught to do so.
Her lack of logicality leads one to question the choice of the Biden Camp.
Were they as wise as they should be?
Oh for some firm, decisive, and highly logical leaders.
Those who have a broad understanding of life and people, and a statesmanlike approach to the way they lead.
But we will be waiting a longish time methinks?

And I also think Albo has taken a detour through a murky swamp.
I wonder if he will make it out again?
Posted by Ipso Fatso, Sunday, 6 August 2023 5:04:35 PM
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What is there to celebrate when slavery is still rampant?

Some of my predecessors already described some forms of existing slavery, which I therefore need not repeat: indeed they are now illegal, but how does that technicality help the victims?

And while it is now illegal for individuals to hold slaves, the state can still do so legally in the forms of imprisonment and conscription. Different names do not different facts make.

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«The societies we most admire from antiquity, the Romans and Greeks, were both slave societies»

May the author speak for himself - I never admired those societies but always looked at them with contempt.

«But my dog is a chattel, whereas the apprentice regains all of his rights after a defined term.»

So were Hebrew slaves, once in 7 years, but that does not mean that they were not slaves. As for dogs, let us wait and see how 23rd-century people will talk about us today keeping them on a leash!
Posted by Yuyutsu, Sunday, 6 August 2023 9:50:02 PM
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There were many in Britain and America who opposed slavery, in the early days, including William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson in Britain and in America Harriet Tubman and John Brown being two of the best known. There were many black and white abolitionists, these people were strongly opposed and hated by those in favour of slavery, and those profiting from slavery. It took many years for slaves to gain their physical freedom, and many more years to obtain some degree of economic and social freedom, particularly in America, where black disadvantage is still prevalent today.
Posted by Paul1405, Monday, 7 August 2023 5:53:39 AM
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