race is a *social* construct (was OT libertarian demographics)

[Guest guest]

> ---->that is my understanding as well. as i mentioned in my other post,

> slavery in other times and places and the fact that africans sold other

> africans into slavery doesn't in any way diminish american slavery, nor

> justify it.

No, but it does give it and us (or at least should) a different

perspective and a much broader and informed context in which to deal

with and understand the problem of slavery.

----->agreed.

>>>>There is nothing unique about the institution of slavery, and a failure

to recognize such, IMO, can lead one far astray in understanding and

dealing with the whole issue on many many levels.

----->also agreed.

to be clear, i'm not in any way referring to anything

> *you*wrote. but it seems common that whenever american slavery is

discussed,

> someone inevitably pipes in about slavery throughout history in other

parts

> of the world and the fact that africans sold africans during american

> slavery seeming to suggest that this fact somehow lessens the atrocity of

> american slavery. that's why i made a pre-emptive strike in my other post

> and mentioned it first. LOL

>>>Hmmmm...well we are obviously running in different circles. My

experience is that it is not common knowledge and usually when brought

to someone's attention gets a rather unpleasant reaction. What? You mean

the locus of evil is not centered only in the white power structure? God

forbid!

------>oh, i agree that it's probably not common knowledge to the average

american. and you are absolutely right that it points out that " evil doing "

is certainly not unique to the white power structure. and i think things

*must* be viewed in *context* in order to understand them fully, and

american slavery is no different.

>>>>I haven't heard it used to justify American slavery, but only to point

out that no race has a monopoly on sin (are you listening Louis

Farrahkan, lol!)

----->LOL! i am no fan of farrakahn, although i knew one of his youth

leaders (or something like that - don't recall his title) in college, who i

think was being groomed for a leadership position (although i wouldn't swear

on it). we were both politically active on some matters of similar nature

(s. african divestiture, i think) , but there was no love lost. i, being

hopelessly naive at that point, didn't understand why he seemed so agitated

when i went to his dorm room one time to discuss a something and sat on his

bed (closest piece of furniture) while talking. i'm pretty sure he was

horrified at the idea that someone might see me leaving his room. LOL! in

any case, he apparently was kicked out of the nation of islam, and i was

actually surprised to see him profiled in " vibe " some months ago, regarding

his local political action, or something of that nature. but i digress.

>>>>But given human nature I don't doubt people do that and have done that.

----->that's the only reason i brought it up. but i share your perspective

on why it's important to view american slavery in context.

>>>>But, back to the topic at hand. Most black americans consider their

experience

unique *period*, and that parochial view is highly detrimental.

------>i agree that a parochial view is detrimental.

When these issues are looked at from an international and historical

perspective,

then much more light (and hope) can be shed on the subject. When black

americans understand that their experience is not historically unique,

that others in as grave or graver situations have overcome, that will go

a long way toward resolving some of the tougher problems that exist in

*some* (but by no means all) segments of the black community.

------>agree 100%! (did i say that? LOL)

There is no finer reading on this topic than the material by

Sowell, and African American economist: http://www.tsowell.com/

----->will check it out.

>>>>>and while you are at it, you might want to check out his book on

education. Quite eye opening

Black Education: Myths and Tragedies (1972)

------->if you say so :-)

Suze Fisher

Lapdog Design, Inc.

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg

Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine

http://www.westonaprice.org

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" The diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause

heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times. " --

Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt

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The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

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