Posted on 02/08/2016 2:36:19 PM PST by pgyanke
I am in a discussion with a secular humanist who wants to know why, if our Founding Fathers believed in the inalienable rights of man, they allowed slavery. Can anyone recommend a good, honest book on the subject to share with him?
Federalist Papers. They are all online.
Actually, I think the Dutch played a bigger role in starting slavery in the new world via the Dutch East India Co.
Ben Franklin was indentured to his own brother! I forget why.
Thank you! Bought them all... You made my day!
meh
I have tried to be kind to you because you have obviously not studied American history.
Your understanding of the US and its creation is completely lacking. So to attribute things the way that you do is just silliness.
I talked to an indian once and he said the indians had one tribal name - called “The People” - the Cherokee, Navahoo, etc. are white man names.
“But you had different tribes - right?”
“Of course - we weren’t going to raid and take slaves from our own tribes! We just didn’t give them names.”
Actually I have studied American history (particularly the Civil War) in great detail, but in this case I havent even mentioned American history, the US, or its creation. I'm talking large philosophical concepts. Yes I know Slavery in the US is all about economics, and immigration, and the needs of industrial versus agrarian societies, and where the line is drawn between federal power and state rights. What I am saying is that underlying all that is basic Human nature, most effectively illustrated in the Bible. I'm pretty sure that the overwhelming majority of southerners knew that the whole institution of slavery was immoral, and certainly contrary to the faith most of them professed, yet they continued with it anyway because of the incredible ability Humans have of simultaneously justifying contrary views if they think both are to their advantage.
You do not understand the American south.
Those who held slaves often justified it based on their faulty interpretation of the Bible. Most southerners were not slave holders. Some went to churches where they were told that the Africans were less than human.
Not understanding the founding of the US (which is no where covered in studying the civil war) leaves you at a disadvantage.
Your argument is overly simplistic
At the same time they wanted to be religious and right with God. Therefore they interpreted the Bible in a way to reconcile these conflicting demands. It's a very Human thing to do. Of course it isn't true - early abolitionists like Wilberforce based their opposition to slavery very much on biblical interpretation. The point is that the south needed to believe slaves were less than human, and that their status as slaves was divinely ordained. It's that process of denial and compartmentalisation that I'm getting at. It's very dangerous because it enables people to justify almost anything. Its why modern American "progressives" are advocating segregation in Universities by claiming it protects minorities from racism. It's why they think that only men can be sexist and only white people can be racist.
Because you don’t
Look I know you think you are all knowing abut America....you are not. You comments have much length to them but no depth.
You can go ahead and argue that all of history is just a lesson of how fallen mankind is. That’s your gig have at it.
Intellectual honesty usual requires more of an individual than that
Dint bother to reply. You do not have anything to add
Ah...Ok...I didnt realise you were just trolling.
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