Comments on: Long Live Western Imperialism!

By: Back of the Envelope

Back of the Envelope — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 14:35:22 +0000

Slavery and Christianity, Part 1
La Shawn Barber drew my attention to this article by Thomas Sowell:
To me the most staggering thing …

By: Dave Turson

Dave Turson — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:31:09 +0000

Thomas Sowell’s column refers to a book that ” traces the history of the world’s first anti-slavery movement, which began with a meeting of 12 ‘deeply religious’ men in London in 1787.” This side-steps our War of Independence: A larger group was meeting in the U.S. in 1787, known now as the Continental Congress, which passed the Northwest Territory Ordinance Act.
This act was the first to influence the world on this issue. ART. 6, of the Ordinance Act states: ” There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory.” The war with a “shot heard around the world” was also heard in Britain.

By: George G.

George G. — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 21:42:17 +0000

Excellent post!

My understanding is that, in America, the Society of Friends — aka the Quakers — were very strong supporters of the abolitionist movement. Anti-slavery sermons, letters and other writings began as early as the mid-1600s, over a century before the broader cultural movement took hold (which happened after the Evangelicals joined the Quakers on this issue in 1787).

It’s amazing how these attitudes live through the generations. My earliest American ancestors were 17th century Quakers, abolitionists, and eventually pro-secession (a combination of views that you rarely see together — the very existence of people who were both abolitionist and pro-secession is something the Left would like to obliterate from history altogether). To this day, my family is all pro-liberty, anti-aggression, etc. Today we are called conservative, but then, it was considered radical.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:30:37 +0000

If you haven’t read Thomas Sowell’s books, you should. He is a real treat. Love Sowell.

By: Shayne White

Shayne White — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 23:33:52 +0000

As Ann Coulter once said, “The beauty of being a liberal is that history always begins this morning.” How true!

By: Darleen

Darleen — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 16:29:20 +0000

Thomas Sowell is a particularly gifted writer and thinker. Like Dennis Prager (one of my other faves) he cuts to the meat of an issue and lays it out so clearly one is apt to slap one’s forehead and say “well, DOAH, why didn’t I see this before?”

What is little covered in the examination of slavery in America (pre 1776 as well as post) is that two kinds of slavery were present — chattel and bond, and they were both treated about the same by their owners. Indeed, its interesting to view some of the ads in newspapers of the era advertising rewards for the return of escaped slave and bond servants.

My family was brought here in 1697 as bond servants … sold to work on a plantation in Virginia. Took ‘em about 60 years to pay off the bond. After that, some family members stayed in VA, most migrated to Kentucky where they remain to this day.

By: Strange Women Lying in Ponds

Strange Women Lying in Ponds — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 05:37:15 +0000

Why the reparations argument collapses on itself
As this is Black History Month, pundits, scholars, and journalists will no doubt be visiting a number of issues that repeatedly come up during this month with regard to the progress of black Americans, or the lack thereof.

By: David Ross

David Ross — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 03:29:41 +0000

I’d recommend of the American College Dictionary that they mention polygamy as the “twin relic of barbarism” to slavery. The Republicans wanted to keep Utah out of the Senate and Electoral College as long as they insisted on treating their womenfolk like… well, like slaves. But that is off-topic nitpicking; AFAIK you haven’t posted yet on “the law of Abraham” and you may be saving that up for a new thread :^)

The Republicans of 1856 could also be called left-wingers; in that they wanted a government that would enforce social change against the plantation South and mountain West.

Perhaps “right” and “left” are also anachronistic to the *modern* stage in history. The Radical Republicans then are the neo-conservative movement now.

By: Pluto's Dad

Pluto's Dad — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 18:52:29 +0000

I just read at Powerline that Stephen Douglas used “diversity” to defend slavery. The old deconstructionist attitude existed even then:

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/009540.php

I try to tell my “liberal” friends that everyone wants liberty and freedom but they don’t think so. If I tell them their exact words about people in Iraq were used to defend slavery they get really angry, but it’s true. Today’s “liberal” would defend slavery 150 years ago. Maybe they should change their name.

By: Jeff Moore

Jeff Moore — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 15:23:21 +0000

Thanks for the interesting post! Indeed, it’s interesting where and how the abolition of slavery became a potent force in our political and cultural history.
You might be interested in this related post of mine on Granville Sharp, British abolitionist and Christian, and associate of William Wilberforce.
http://rebelgarden.blogspot.com/2005/01/granville-sharp-abolition-and-grammar.html

By: Amber

Amber — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 02:53:34 +0000

Thanks.

By: La Shawn

La Shawn — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 02:44:51 +0000

That’s OK. I usually correct typos in comments. I think Dr. Freud had a word for that…

By: Amber

Amber — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 02:41:02 +0000

Oops I meant interesting. I guess I should proof read my comments.

By: Amber

Amber — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 02:38:50 +0000

“Long Live Western Imperialism” is a very interesting article. I am not black, I am Native American and I feel the exact same way. I am proud of my opinion but sometimes it can be difficult because no one else seems to see things my way. Then again who am I to have my own opinion. Many people call me a traitor because I do not feel sorry for my own people.

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 01:03:31 +0000

I recently read Uncle Tom’s Cabin for the first time (at age 44) because of something Avery Tooley said about it. What a powerful book. Apparently it helped strengthen and solidify the abolitionist movement in the USA, and having read it I can certainly understand that. It’s the success of the abolitionist movement that makes me think that we pro-lifers will win out. I think the day will come that people look back at legalized abortion with the same horror and disbelief that we look back at slavery with.

(I had to skip ahead to make sure Eliza was going to make it, otherwise the book would have gone in the garbage.)