[saquin]

Some of my ancestors owned slaves in the South. I don't think they were monsters or evil people.

Of course you don't.

And perhaps they weren't. But the system was. And to deny that a system that enslaved human beings was not monstrous or evil is, in my mind, as reprehensible as those who deny the holocaust.

[ladylib]

Here is a statement from the school:

http://www.carychristianschool.org/NewsAndEvents/default.cfm

[Nowhere Man]

And perhaps they weren't. But the system was. And to deny that a system that enslaved human beings was not monstrous or evil is, in my mind, as reprehensible as those who deny the holocaust.

This reminds me of a little bit from David Gerrold's 1973 book, "The Making of Star Trek" where he made the point where "Star Trek" was bascially "1966 men" in a 23rd Century world meaning thatm any of the episodes were mirrors of what were were dealing with at the time such as "A Private Little War" was a critique on Vietnam. He went on where "Bonanza," which was running at the same time "Star Trek" was is much the same thing, albeit in reverse, a 1966 viewpoint in the world of the 1870's. I do agree that in the Grand Scheme of Things, slavery is evil, let's face it, I doubt anyone would want to be one although I'm sure there are a few who might trade freedom for goodies. Still though, if we judge the slaveholders with a 2004 mind or even a 1966 mind, they would be evil but if we were part of the culture of 1850, we might not see it as such unless we were Abolitionists. In 1850 and before, it was seen as normal, today we know better and have progressed beyond it, I hope, but we have to see that we are judging 1850 people by the values of the latter half of the 20th Century and/or early 21st.