Quote:
Originally Posted by ALadysMom
Isn’t it stunning that Europe also had African slaves yet there is rarely any mention of the pervasiveness of it internationally. Their shared history is the basis for the recent solidarity protests abroad. Slavery was not exclusively a white Colonial American phenomenon yet white Americans believe we alone carry the guilt. Oppression and prejudice is real but it is not only dealt to blacks. The strife will only end when we all have respect for the sanctity and dignity of all human life. No one is more valuable than another. The violent destruction of statues and looting of commercial enterprises certainly won’t cause LESS prejudice.
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I agree with your assessment when you point out the need for us to respect all human lives. You point out that slavery was not exclusive to white Colonial America. When you point to Europe and only include Africans I don't think it goes far enough. Over thousands of years slavery was (although wrong imo.) common in many if not most cultures. And all slaves did not come from Africa. There were slaves from all parts of the world being sold and sent to all parts of the world. I'm not trying to justify it for, imo it can never be justified.
The phrase that prompted me to respond was "carry the guilt". Since my family, like millions of others, emigrated from various parts of Europe, Scandinavia to Canada and the US to avoid oppression and poverty long after slavery had ended, having never approved of or supported it, why is there this intense and insistent attempt to lay blame and guilt for it on all whites? We all know wrongs have been done,. We now need to quit the shouting and finger pointing, for that behavior only slows our progress toward a country and a world where all are welcome, respected and appreciated.