Tom's forgiveness, far from being a show of weakness, is an expression of powerful moral fiber that firmly establishes him on a moral plane far above his oppressor, defines him as a man of more noble character, and proves that, although his body was broken, his moral principles remained unscathed and uncompromised. He would not compromise his moral character to slander his oppressor, to wish evil upon him, nor to permit another to do so. He thus died outwardly vanquished, but inwardly -- where God sees -- utterly victorious. For his goal was not to die a glorious death in the eyes of men, but to live a life worthy of the blood which had bought his salvation. THAT is what counts.
One may know the true measure of a man by observing the measure of that which brings him to anger.
That's putting a happy face on what's an illustration of how oppressors use one's own values to keep them in bondage. Just like those who want us to use our Constitution as a suicide note, to use the old saying.
If someone were choking me, if I just let him do that instead of striking out, I'd be dead, but someone could argue that I showed such high moral fibre by not using violence.
Same thing. An "Uncle Tom" is not someone who uses his moral values; it's someone who is USED and hamstrung by his OWN high moral values by those who don't share them. And his knowing he was a good guy doesn't make him any less of a fool.
Slaves who didn't violate their "morals" stayed in bondage when they should have violated them and got their freedom.
If you're going to tell me that if we were taken over by Islamofascists tomorrow and enslaved you still would not let me insult the moral fibre of our captors, or violate the commandment against killing, then I respectfully say I won't believe you. :)