on 8/17/03 8:46 PM, Michael Atherton at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > N.I. Krasnov: > >> The Irish had a choice: either leave Ireland, or perish in >> the potato famine. Don't forget those who arrived as indentured >> servants. The Jews left Europe after centuries of Anti-Semitic >> savagery, expulsions, forced conversions, blood libels, pogroms, >> revolution, typhus, and cholera. >> >> Some choice. > > I think you're missing the point here: the cultures and > heritages of Jews and the Irish remained intact, whereas > those of Africans did not. And, it was a choice. If you > study psychology and brain washing you'll find that it's not > the quality of the choice that's important it's the fact that > you have one.
The Africans who were impressed into chattel slavery certainly did have a choice: they chose to remain as slaves. Some did not and rebelled. I can even imagine others on the continent who do not go quietly and did some damage to the tribal chiefs that caught them, the Arab traders who sold them, and the European buyers who transported and sold them to the colonies. The fact that African culture did not remain intact reflects more on the animist beliefs held in Africa. The slaves adopted Christianity for it's message of freedom, redemption, and rescue from evil. Part of the African culture of the slaves did remain intact - the musical and vocal influences which are reflected in our culture to this day. The African slaves had as much choice as the Jews of medieval Europe. Some history for you: on May 18th in Worms, Germany, the First Crusaders entered the city. Eight hundred Jews sought and found refuge in the episcopal palace. Those who did not were murdered. The following Sunday, May 25th, the Crusaders lay siege to the palace. After resisting the siege for two days, those who had not committed suicide were murdered or saved themselves by submitting to baptism. Being ambushed then immediately put to the sword is having no choice. Not to be envied, both Africans and Jews had choices. N.I. Krasnov Loring Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
