How racist are you?

[Thracian]

... and that's your justification for the slave trade?

Do you know who the white slavers got their black slaves from most of the time. As Webbo says black opportunists who captured people from rival tribes and sold them on for profit. Even today some of their ancestors are still butchering one another as tribal ethnic cleansing continues.

You love to pile the ills of ancient history on white shoulders but you want to read more and get the real picture. Dominant people of all colours have enslaved people since time began. Even now vulnerable girls are being pimped by people of all colours in every major City of this land.

And that's not the only form of slavery that still flourishes. Powerful or ruthless people prey on desperation the world over and they always have. Some have notably had the courage to fight it, including white people.

It is an evil that has more to do with wealth and/or power than race. Wealthy/powerful people have taken slaves since the dawn of time - Spartacus was a slave back in Roman times - and this will give you the broader picture if you take the trouble to read it all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery

[davieG]

I think the Royal Family and their ilk should all abdicate as their ancestors were part of a ruling class that treated the population of this country abominably yet they are still here, still enjoying a luxurious life style and treated as if they are some super humans when all their riches were won/stolen off the backs of the ordinary working people of this country.

[Thracian]

When are we going to be allowed to forget that?There was slavery in Africa (and still is in places) while we were still living in caves.

When people with vested interests have bled it for all its worth, however much else they choose to ignore.

[Finnegan]

I'm not saying that white people were exclusively responsible for all acts of slavery worldwide. Or that we should all walk the streets publically apologizing to everyon we see of a darker skin hue than ourselves.

I'm simply saying that being dismissive and asking when they're going to "get over it" or when we're going to be "allowed to forget it" is a little bit thoughtless. You probably still expect the foundations of the Empire to be in our children's history lessons and the likes of victories in the 100 years war, World Wars and Napoleonic wars.

Why shouldn't the bad be remembered as much as the good? It's all history.

[Edmund]

Do you know who the white slavers got their black slaves from most of the time. As Webbo says black opportunists who captured people from rival tribes and sold them on for profit. Even today some of their ancestors are still butchering one another as tribal ethnic cleansing continues.

Oh yeah look at South Africa, it was all down to the tribes.

You have just contradicted yourself there also. If the butchery is still going on today then the blame should be on the Europeans coming there and getting tribes to sell them slaves and causing the mess in the first place and disrupting harmony.

You love to pile the ills of ancient history on white shoulders but you want to read more and get the real picture.

[Daggers]

The only person you have to worry about on here is Daggers, and his sexy protest threat.

Sexy protests are SO last year - it's Fairy Celebrations this season

[Finnegan]

Sexy protests are SO last year - it's Fairy Celebrations this season

You get the wings, I'll bring the glitter.

[Floating Fox]

I'll bring the glitter.

Thought he was banged up?

[Daggers]

You get the wings, I'll bring the glitter.

You think I'm joking?

I'm not joking.

I've never been more serious about anything in my life.

I'm more serious about this than I am about anything else.

Oh yes.

[Thracian]

a) Oh yeah look at South Africa, it was all down to the tribes.

b) You have just contradicted yourself there also. If the butchery is still going on today then the blame should be on the Europeans coming there and getting tribes to sell them slaves and causing the mess in the first place and disrupting harmony.

a) Have I made any excuse for apartheid? But don't try ramming it down my throat. There is enough hatredand discouragement of whites in countries and areas too.

b) Rubbish. The current slaughter has sod-all to do with Europeans it is ethnic tribal slaughter. As for slaves they were sold to all sorts of people before the Europeans ever arrived. Where do you think the Egyptian pharoahs got so many of their slaves? Then there were the Turks of the Ottoman empire and doubtless the Indians.

[Guest]

Where do you think the Egyptian pharoahs got so many of their slaves?

There's growing archaeological evidence to suggest that the Pharaohs did not use a mass of slave labour. They had a system whereby citizens would do some kind of "service" to the leader.

[Corky]

I blame Phube. Making sensible comments isn't normal behaviour, Phube

[Thracian]

There's growing archaeological evidence to suggest that the Pharaohs did not use a mass of slave labour. They had a system whereby citizens would do some kind of "service" to the leader.

http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timeli...ics/slavery.htm

Seems conclusive to me that slavery of one kind or another existed in Egypt from the dawn of time.

[Edmund]

a) Have I made any excuse for apartheid? But don't try ramming it down my throat. There is enough hatredand discouragement of whites in countries and areas too.

b) As for slaves they were sold to all sorts of people before the Europeans ever arrived. Where do you think the Egyptian pharoahs got so many of their slaves? Then there were the Turks of the Ottoman empire and doubtless the Indians.

(a) Im not bringing the apatheid into it, im just proving a point by saying that it's not as if the blacks had any sort of justice when the Europeans arrived. They just came and raped the land of all its riches and enslaved the black population. There was no tribes selling people to the Europeans as you so lovingly put it in South Africa.

(b) But that wasn't the argument in the first place. You are trying to bring other bits of history up to justify slavery in Africa to America and Europe which is utter rubbish. The argument was about slavery in Africa no where else.

From what I gather in your posts you seem to think slavery was ok and was still ok at the time as it has been done for years. History is history and what happened happened, but to try and argue and defend the whole African slave trade industry BY THE EUROPEANS and try and get a positive perspective is just ignorant and stupid.

Next you will be defending Hitler and his actions because there were previous wars and battles in history. Fook it lets start gassing all the greeks in the country. Saddam did similar things so you can't blame us, it's been happening for years.

Im annoyed that I dragged myself into this after I refused to do so but when I see some tripe written on here with no response, it has to be done.

[Guest]

http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timeli...ics/slavery.htm

Seems conclusive to me that slavery of one kind or another existed in Egypt from the dawn of time.

Ever thought that there is an element of semantics. Besides, I never said there was no slavery, just that this image that people have of the culture being based on the foundations of slavery is somewhat exaggerated.

Here

And here

for a start.

[Thracian]

(a) Im not bringing the apatheid into it, im just proving a point by saying that it's not as if the blacks had any sort of justice when the Europeans arrived. They just came and raped the land of all its riches and enslaved the black population. There was no tribes selling people to the Europeans as you so lovingly put it in South Africa.

(b) But that wasn't the argument in the first place. You are trying to bring other bits of history up to justify slavery in Africa to America and Europe which is utter rubbish. The argument was about slavery in Africa no where else.

c) From what I gather in your posts you seem to think slavery was ok and was still ok at the time as it has been done for years. History is history and what happened happened, but to try and argue and defend the whole African slave trade industry BY THE EUROPEANS and try and get a positive perspective is just ignorant and stupid.

d) Next you will be defending Hitler and his actions because there were previous wars and battles in history. Fook it lets start gassing all the greeks in the country. Saddam did similar things so you can't blame us, it's been happening for years.

Im annoyed that I dragged myself into this after I refused to do so but when I see some tripe written on here with no response, it has to be done.

a) Who mentioned South Africa specifically. It certainly wasn't in my mind.

b) I have never in any way, shape or form written a single word in defence of slavery. All I have said is that the practice of having slaves was widespread in many countries and cultures long before the Europeans of films like Roots got involved.

c) Don't ever get a job as an analyst. I presume you also believe in fairies.

d) Had a bad day or something?

[lcfc_jme]

I'm not racist. I hate everyone the same.

[Thracian]

Ever thought that there is an element of semantics. Besides, I never said there was no slavery, just that this image that people have of the culture being based on the foundations of slavery is somewhat exaggerated.

Here

And here

for a start.

I have no doubt you're right about semantics.

And I'm quite sure the number of slaves in Egypt varied according to heirarchy of the day and that the lot of the slaves varied accordingly too.

But slavery there was and there's ample evidence that it was widespread for thousands of years before "Roots" and right across the world.

[Guest]

I have no doubt you're right about semantics.

And I'm quite sure the number of slaves in Egypt varied according to heirarchy of the day and that the lot of the slaves varied accordingly too.

But slavery there was and there's ample evidence that it was widespread for thousands of years before "Roots" and right across the world.

But nobody has a real idea as to how widespread it was. This is the point that I am trying to make.

[Zingari]

slavery is mentioned many times in the bible ( and justified ) , so europeans are hardly likely to been the first to use it

[Edmund]

a) Who mentioned South Africa specifically. It certainly wasn't in my mind.

b) I have never in any way, shape or form written a single word in defence of slavery. All I have said is that the practice of having slaves was widespread in many countries and cultures long before the Europeans of films like Roots got involved.

c) Don't ever get a job as an analyst. I presume you also believe in fairies.

d) Had a bad day or something?

a) No you didn't mention it but I used it in relation to your point that slavery was part in parcel with the tribes. Im just trying to prove that your point is wrong.

b) Which was completly irrelevant to the debate that tribes in Africa had a hand in the slave industry

c) are you telling me the tooth fairy doesn't exist?

d) No just having a lively debate

Im not getting at you personally im just debating points raised in this thread. If I believe in fairies for defending something I believe in strongly so be it and it just shows me the calibre of intelect im debating with when they can't back there arguments by beating around the bush and have to result to silly insults.

I think we should just leave it as that. You have your beliefs, i have mine.

Awaits links to wikipedia

slavery is mentioned many times in the bible ( and justified ) , so europeans are hardly likely to been the first to use it

But that was never the argument?

[Phube]

I blame Phube. Making sensible comments isn't normal behaviour, Phube

It's true, it's all my fault...

[Zingari]

a) No you didn't mention it but I used it in relation to your point that slavery was part in parcel with the tribes. Im just trying to prove that your point is wrong.

b) Which was completly irrelevant to the debate that tribes in Africa had a hand in the slave industry

c) are you telling me the tooth fairy doesn't exist?

d) No just having a lively debate

Im not getting at you personally im just debating points raised in this article. If I believe in fairies for defending something I believe in strongly so be it and it just shows me the calibre of intelect im debating with when they can't back there arguments by beating around the bush and have to result to silly insults.

I think we should just leave it as that. You have your beliefs, i have mine.

Awaits links to wikipedia

But that was never the argument?

i know i just like to chip in that's all

[Edmund]

i know i just like to chip in that's all

Fairplay

[Koke]

I always judge people on who they are as people rather than what they are in terms of ethnicity or religion. If I like you, I will share with a drink with you. If I don't, I won't. End of story, why bring other factors into it? There are good people and tossers in every community.

I agree and most people are generally like that. A lot of people, however, claim that everyone is prejudiced to a greater or lesser degree. The real issue is how we let our views of other races affect our judgements and how we treat them. I disagree with that, I don't think everyone is like that. But for arguments sake, would you or anyone else hesitate in the slightest in employing a Nigerian bloke as a chief executive in one your financial institutes? And if so, does that make one slightly racist?