We’ve talked a great deal about slavery in the past few weeks. When the south closed ranks it began to justify slavery with a whole new fervor using especially the Biblical story of Noah and Ham. I’d like you to look at the story and contemplate why it was interpreted in this way. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2194/whats-up-with-the-biblical-story-of-drunken-noah-part-2
I’d also like you to look at two modern web sites on slavery today. What has changed and what remains the same? http://www.freetheslaves.net/Page.aspx?pid=348 (please spend at least twenty or so minutes watching some of the videos here and looking at the graphs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZTN0TbsRYA (please view this video).
What are your overall reactions? Thoughts? What can our own history teach us? Why does it seem we have not come very far? This Blog is due Friday December 18th.
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10,000 slaves solely in the United States.... ten thousand! This is nothing compared to the total amount of slaves in the world TODAY. Right now, at this very moment, some in this world is being tortured and bought... How is this possible?
ReplyDeleteHistory can teach us the roots of slavery, but nothing will every justify the cruelty of humans towards our own race. In the first website, we learn how the curse of Ham became the ultimate justification of slavery, ¨It explained why there were different races, and why the black races were slaves.¨Throughout history, people have beleived what they have been taught, without question, to their teacher or towards God. Religion is very prominent in the world, taking great important in peoples motives and decisions, and for many years, people have justified slavery with the Bible, "This wasn't the first time, and won't be the last, that the bible has been twisted to support beliefs that are completely incompatible with the original intent.¨No matter what the people claimed the Bible or sacred texts spoke of, the beliefs were accepted ¨because they supported society's beliefs and practices, and with God's approval.¨The Bible was interpreted that way because of peoples needs to convince themself tht what they were doing was acceptable.
Ive spent about an hour and a half reading and watching videos on slavery on the web... At first all i could think was of how utterly ignorant probabaly 80% of the people in the world are about issues like these. Then i read your question... ¨What has changed, and what remains the same?¨ I believe the intent of humans to end slavery is something that has changed, that we have begun to choose to inform the people being mistreated that they have a right to be free. What remains the same? Slavery still exists, and every day, while thousands of people are beign mistreated, millions of people are spending hundreds of dollars on completely unvaluable and material things... The human instinct is to be free, and those of us who arent... to set free, that is why there has been a change! But now, if people are reinformed and made AWARE of what is going on besides our tiny circle, we can make a change. Just like we can make war, we can make peace, its all about human insentive, and making their reality OUR reality. As one woman in a video said, ¨as long as one person isnt free, none of us is truly free.¨
Bibliography
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2194/whats-up-with-the-biblical-story-of-drunken-noah-part-2
Honestly, I was completely unaware that slavery was such a huge issue in the modern world. I know that slavery still exists in nations like Africa and Asia, but I was not aware of the magnitude at which it continues. 27 million people today are still slaves and it is the highest it has been in history. I was initially shocked by the mass number. Over 14,000 slaves are trafficked into the U.S. ANNUALLY.
ReplyDeleteThe biblical story of Noah and Ham is in no way justification for the terrible acts of slavery. I believe it was and is still used as an excuse for deeming slavery acceptable. It is in no ways acceptable. The actual story in the bible mentions no where that the color of one's skin is an indicator of an inferior being. It does not say that these people should be punished for their different appearance. As I said before, the story is used as a reason as to why slavery exists and continues. Also, it is important to understand that beliefs and religion are major components of the issue. If a person is raised being taught that slavery is acceptable, most likely, they will continue to follow these beliefs throughout their life. This is a huge problem because if people continue to grow up with those values of accepting slavery from past generations, slavery will continue and probably increase.
Now that I think about it, the only thing that has change is, unfortunately, the demand for more slaves. As the world population grows exponentially, the number of slavers will continue to grow just as fast, especially in undeveloped countries in Asia, Africa and South America where children are ultimately born into slavery. An to further worsen the problem, there are several countries that economically depend on slavery in Asia and Africa. What we fail to realize is the economic and political impact slavery has in the world; those corrupt governments who ignore slavery because all they want is money. Yes, people are more aware of human rights today than in the past. But realistically, that is a small percentage of world. And even if you do realize how bad slavery actually is today, what are you going to do about it? CAN you do anything to stop it? In order to significantly slow down slavery, it would take the cooperation of several developed governments aimed at the single goal of abolition of world slavery. And unfortunately, this is a huge stretch and extremely unlikely.
-Jason Garfinkel
Ok, I'm just appalled at what I just saw on the sites and videos. 27 million? Really? That's so depressing to think about, it really is. That is possibly the most insane statistic I've ever heard in my life. What kind of people live in this world to think this is acceptable? You know, I really thought the world changed, that the world got smarter. But right now my doubts of this are as strong as ever. Think about it, one human having full unauthorized control over another, selling "it", treating it like an object of unimportance. I read Jason's first paragraph and find the fact that there are 14, 000 slaves trafficked through the U.S. annually has to be made up. There is no way that society today can still possibly think like the same society which imposed slavery on others many years ago.
ReplyDelete"Slavery is not a horror safely consigned to the past; it continues to exist throughout the world, even in developed countries like France and the United States. Across the world slaves work and sweat and build and suffer. Slaves in Pakistan may have made the shoes you are wearing and the carpet you stand on. Slaves in the Caribbean may have put sugar in your kitchen and toys in the hands of your children. In India they may have sewn the shirt on your back and polished the ring on your finger. They are paid nothing."
Actually take a minute to think about this quote (above). Try to realize that at least one your possessions are likely to be made be made by slaves. They aren't paid, they are given no home, no shelter. It's BS, these people are essentially worse off than any other living thing in the world. Really insane thought that 27 million people in this world are enslaved possessions of others. It's sad to think that greed, money, and lust is what drives society today. It's disgusting, and I hate that it seems as if this world hasn't changed at all. IT'S NOT EVEN BETTER THAN SLAVERY IN COLONIAL TIMES. RIGHT NOW, SLAVERY IS AS BAD AS EVER!!! Things were supposed to be different by now. THis isn't supposed to work like this. We were supposed to be better, have better morals, know more boundaries. Apparently, we've hardened and slavery is less important to us than it used to be. Wow, I'm in total shock. To realize that the current human race is colder than previous generations is very cynical and depressing.
The biblical story of Noah and Ham does not in the slightest make it acceptable for slavery to continue. A different color has no inferior connotation. That would essentially mean that I'd be slave today if I were currently living in these areas in the world where slavery occurs. I'm lucky to have been born into a non-enslaved family. I have those who care for me, and slaves have no one. This issue must be raised, it isn't nearly as trivial as I thought it would be. I agree with Jason that religious teachings are such a big influence on people in our society especially. To be brought up thinking slavery is acceptable and even beneficial is evil and malicious. So think about it, slavery is getting worse and worse as the years go on. Now if religion is also playing a part in future generations to teach that slavery is acceptable, where will that take us 10 years from now. I don't even want to think about it, but it's necessary to understand the world and to take action. I pray for slavery to end as soon as possible. This world doesn't need slavery, it needs peace and security; neither of which we have yet.
Not only will slavery increase with the passing of time, but the amount of slaves added each year will most likely increase due to economic and population issues. Economically, third world countries rely on slavery for their economic progress. AND NO ONE IS MAKING THIS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE, IN-FACT I'VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE GLOBALLY IN THE MEDIA. It almost seems as if we are trying to suppress the issue and just not deal with it.
- Noor Fateh, '11
The fact that there are twenty-seven million slaves world wide is almost to horrific to describe. I have to say, I was unaware that slavery still exists today, especially on such as large scale. It is unbelievable to me that there are more slaves today than at any other point in history! I really believed that the human race had realized how horrible their actions in the past were; it is obvious that i was wrong. I mean how can one person feel that they have the right to buy another. That they have the right to torture and force labor on another living breathing human being. This does not make any sense to me. I am not in any way justifying slavery, but I understand that in earlier times, man may not have fully realized the moral atrocity that slavery was. But how can any human still today justify enslaving another?
ReplyDeleteWhat really amazes and horrifies me is that there are ten thousand slaves right here in the United States! The fact that slavery is still in developing countries shocked me, but in the US! How can there still be slavery in a country where wars have been fought over the issue? I cannot believe that slavery is still an issue so close to home. It disgusts me.
On the topic of the biblical story of Noah and Ham, I do not feel that this in any way justifies slavery. Although some of the connections made between slavery and this story seem to make some sense, they do not in any way justify enslaving other humans. The bible was not written to classify certain people as less human or less important than others. And even if people believed that the bible encouraged slavery, how can a mere book give one person control and ownership over another person. It can't. I cannot even come close to understanding how the bible was used as a justification for slavery.
Although the human race has obviously not learned from it's past mistakes yet, I believe that it will eventually. There is no way that slavery can continue too far into the future. Deep down, I believe that every human knows that slavery is morally despicable. People try to justify it to themselves with the economic benefits that it has but they all know that it is wrong.
- Drew Tuttle
I read Noor's comment and couldn't believe that one of my own possessions is likely to be made by a slave! This statistic is unbelievable. I mean to think that something that I own was most likely made by a modern day slave. I am appalled at the thought of this. I also agree with Noor in that slavery not at all made to be a big enough issue. The fact that this is the first I have heard of US slavery is amazing to me. How can such a widespread and horrible issue be kept so suppressed?
ReplyDelete- Drew Tuttle
I agree with Noor's comment about how the issue of modern slavery can remain so suppressed and be kept under the radar. Nobody wants to take responsibility today for what is happening and try to make a change. The problem is slavery is an issue that cannot be fixed, it can only be lessened to a certain extent. Slavery a matter that does not get enough attention even in today's aggressive media. Slavery is a bigger problem that we think.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it disgusting me that most clothes and things I own were produced by slaves. But, am I going to stop wearing clothes and using things that could have been made by slaves? Personally, I can't change how these mass companies produce their goods. If change is going to happen, it needs to come from someone or something bigger. Has the UN done anything significant?
-Jason Garfinkel
I too was in disbelief after reading these articles and learning more about these horrific industries. I was aware that human trafficking and slavery existed but was shocked to find how vast and unknown these major problems are.
ReplyDeleteOne of my good friends lived in Uganda until he was 9 or 10. You wouldn’t believe some of the stories; what thousands of children live through daily just an ocean away. Not having clean water, (if any), not knowing where your next meal is coming from, or when you might have it, having classmates or friends disappear or be kidnapped into slavery/army, living in constant fear.
Looking back into our own history, it is clear that these acts won’t just stop or fade away with time; and unless we do something, slavery and human trafficking will not only continue, but may grow.
It may seem that we have not come very far because even though more people are realizing that slavery is wrong, we aren’t necessarily doing what we could to help. Back when slavery was legal in the U.S. most people thought that African Americans were inferior, even some abolitionists argued against slavery for economic reasons. Now, we realize that slavery is a disgusting and immoral act; that all people are created equal and deserve natural rights, but hundreds of thousands of people are starving, living in poverty, and being massacred every year while millions of Americans stand idly by.
What bothers me is that in America, as well as other developed countries (especially at HW); some people take money for granted, spending so much money on luxuries and non essentials while people are starving and living in poverty. I’m not saying that we should stop buying clothes, phones etc. but maybe just take a small percentage of your birthday money/allowance and donate to people in need. (Sorry the last part was a little off topic)
-Josh
In response to the question of why we don’t do something about slavery overseas may not be as easy as it seems. Let’s use Asia as an example, yes we do buy a large amount of goods from Asia, and maybe some of these companies are buying from sweatshops or factories where slavery is used. We can’t just force our opinions militarily, for obvious reasons (who to attack?/could lead to unnecessary war). If we buy less of these goods or try to boycott them, a large part of Asia’s economy would collapse, which means that in order to sustain a profit these factories would pay/shelter/feed their slaves or workers even less. This would in turn lead to even more poverty which would mean that they would have to use slavery even more. Imagine the South (U.S) back in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Even if all of the north had the moral revelation that slavery was wrong what could they have done? Without slavery, the south’s economy would crumble. It took many years of informing the south of why slavery was morally wrong (many southerners were brought up thinking slavery was normal, even a greater good; like in many slave-oriented countries present day), through gradual industrialization and alternative economic sources, and even a civil war to finally end slavery in our own country.
ReplyDelete-Josh
27 million people and it’s something so rarely discussed? Something so large yet still seems so foreign and antique, a blemish in America’s past that we have overcome through a civil war. To come from where America was, a nation that condoned and legalized slavery to where slavery was illegal although still prevalent, took a civil war, civil rights movement and still in America, the land of the free we have slavery. Clearly something must be done, but what? I’m 16. I think it’s awful and sad and I think the government should take action and do something about this but me thinking about that isn’t doing very much. Not to quote John Mayer but I feel like he speaks for a lot of us… “Now we see everything that's going wrong, With the world and those who lead it, We just feel like we don't have the means, to rise above and beat it So we keep waiting, waiting on the world to change.” Isn’t there something that we, as teenagers can do? Because I know everyone who just watched those videos knows something needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of religion playing a part in modern day slavery, I understand that people who want to believe slavery is okay look for justification in the Bible, however I don’t think that religion as an institution or a belief is the source of modern day slavery. The fact that the story of Noah and Ham is used as justification for slavery, as farfetched as it is, is sad.
What can history teach us? It has taught us a lot. We know slavery is wrong, which is more than some people 200 years ago thought. The majority of the world sees the immorality; clearly the majority of the world isn’t doing anything. I am part of that majority, but I’d like that to change. I happen to think we have come a long way, slavery is something that has been practiced longer than it hasn’t, it takes time, but the illegalization was a big step… more steps need to be taken but on the grand scheme of things, people have come a long way… but we’re still not there….
--Kathryn
I honestly never had a clue slavery still existed until I watched the video. 27 million is an outrageous number that I would have never suspected. After watching this history has moved backwards. We have focused so much on learning about the issues with slavery in Trans Atlantic slave trade, when we should be focusing on the current amount of slaves now.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Ham and Noah can only teach us that white people were trying to fish for an excuse to be racially inferior to Blacks. They had no legitimate excuse and it upsets me how people have revolved around this idea that slavery is okay. In what way is forcing people and holding captive okay? We haven't moved forward as a society, clearly if there were 14,000 slaves trafficked into the US back then and 27 million now.
I went to Thailand two years ago and remember seeing little girls as young as 5 in the back alleys of prositute homes forced to have sex with random older men. She was sold into the sex slave business and it amazes me how it's the number one business out in our world today.
I agree with Jason that if people keep believing slavery is okay we will never progress as a society. It is hard to think of what we can do to stop this outrage and my only guess is for governments to start taking slavery into legal matters and banning slavery throughout the entire world.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Fredel and how shocking it is that there are 10,000 slaves just in the US. I also had this perfect picture that the US has progressed as a society and knows best that slavery is not okay, but clearly the past has not taught us anything. It makes me mad because isn't the point of learning history to learn from past mistakes so they wouldn't be repeated again? What's the point of emphasizing slavery's sins and having more slavery in the future?
ReplyDeleteThe story of Noah and Ham is a horrible excuse for people to accept slavery and justify saying that it is okay to exist in not only the United States, but the world. I’m really glad that I learned the story of Noah and Ham (not being religious) because it showed me how many people really believe and follow the teachings of the Bible and how inhumane our own ancestors were. I think it is really stubborn of people to take the bible so literal and interpret it with such a negative outlook on the Africans. I think that the reason people took this story and put than pressure on the black people were because it justified and gave people a reason to be superior and put down a race of people and our ancestors took the opportunity really quickly for the joy of having sole power over a group of people who couldn’t rebel because of their fear of dying. I think that even if the story was not in the Bible there still would have been slaves because it is the nature of people to put others down, but I think slavery would have been a lot let popular and would not have lasted as long for sure. Modern slavery is disgusting. I can’t believe that 27 million people are being enslaved right now while I’m typing this blog! I don’t understand how slavery is “illegal” yet still is going on un-monitored around the world, especially in developing countries. Watching this video right before bed was probably the worst thing I could have ever done, but it definitely opened my eyes. The story of Rose was the saddest thing ever. Who would ever have the heart (or lack there of) to trick at 14 year-old girl into leaving home with the promises of freedom and a good education? A loser. I also had no idea that slaves are cheaper now than they were during the American Revolution. Although I am ecstatic that there are organizations such as FreetheSlaves, education to everyone about modern slavery is needed. Seeing as I truthfully had no idea this type of slavery still existed, I’m sure less fortunate and educated people around the world have never heard of such a thing. This is not only a disgrace, but it can be stopped! Education leads to advancement, and with the help of many people can finally be free and feel good about themselves. The ignorance of the people of not only the United States but of developed countries is really pitiful and just shows how such a horrible thing can be ignored and looked past, or even worse, not discussed at all.
ReplyDeleteThe story that Sade shared about going to Thailand was so sad and I can semi- relate to her. I went to Thailand when I was little and although I can not really remember the country itself, when I brought up this blog my parents told me about the sex trafficking that was going on while we were there! Apparently it was not only inhumane (obviously), but just depressing. I also agree with Jason and his argument that states that with the presence of slavery, people cannot fully come together as a nation and “progress as a society” as Sade said. I also believe with everyone who said that nobody wants to take responsibility for what is going on with most of the world not knowing anything about modern slavery. Slavery is a huge issue, as my peers believe, and we have to do something about it. Who knows, in a few decades it could become a lot worse. People like us who are lucky enough to have a voice need to do something to represent and stand up for those who don’t.
ReplyDeletethank you all for sharing your honest and heartfelt emotions on such a difficult topic. I appreciate hearing how you feel and so value your thoughts.
ReplyDelete