Cruellest trade (How attitudes toward freedom evolved, irony often of tyranny intro after slavery)

The Economist ^ | Feb 3rd 2005 | Staff

[baseball_fan]

"snip...Why an ancient practice [of slavery], condemned neither by the New Testament nor by Christian tradition, was recognised as unacceptable by growing numbers of men and women in the second half of the 18th century has long puzzled historians."

"snip...It was not until 1833 that slavery was finally outlawed in the British empire, although that was 30 years before the United States and more than 50 before the Spanish colonies. Abolitionists were needed to the end."

[baseball_fan]

It appears to not be enough to just leave people alone once removing their chains of slavery if they are not to fall under ruthless tyranny. In addition to examples in the article, leaving Afghanistan prematurely after defeating the Soviets would seem to be another case. Or the South after the Civil War or the freed serfs in Russia falling under Communism or the fall of the Weimar Republic with then Europe's most liberal constitution in Germany followed by the eventual introduction of slave concentration camps.

Calls to mind the question, "How best to proceed and how long to stay in Iraq after their emancipation." Marshall Plan after WWII in Europe acted as a bulwark to further tyranny.

[Question_Assumptions]

Why an ancient practice, condemned neither by the New Testament nor by Christian tradition, was recognised as unacceptable by growing numbers of men and women in the second half of the 18th century has long puzzled historians.

Why? It's pretty simple, actually:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (NIV)

How can you enslave another being created in the image of God?

[baseball_fan]

"Marshall Plan after WWII in Europe acted as a bulwark to further tyranny."

Without the creation of a viable civil society and institutions (such as the Marshall Plan enabled) whereby those who are emancipated can find the independence to avoid the coertion of political extremists, there is the danger of going from one tyranny to another, of being able to vote - once.