Slavery In A New Form

A

Angelo

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WE ARE big on symbols but small on substance.

In remembrance of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade 200 years ago, some among us have recycled the tired phrase – should the West apologise for slavery?

I do not see what an apology will achieve. Forgiveness, without repentance and atonement, is meaningless. But we’re graduates of the Agape type of forgiveness school of Bishop Desmond Tutu.

In any event, it is not the victim that has to beg his tormentor, offering him forgiveness. It is vice versa. Worse still, trying to force the West to apologise for slavery is to commit an unpardonable error. It is to imply that slavery has been abolished. It has not.

The savage character of the slave trade from Africa to Europe and America is over. There has been a change of form. If we accept that slavery’s fundamental objective was the exploitation of humans for economic gain, then we can say that slavery has just been modernised.

Its face has been made acceptable. In fact, victims of modern-day slavery volunteer to be enslaved.

The slave trader does not have to hunt slaves and chain them. Africans smuggle themselves into his territory – on small and dangerous boats and any other means of transport.

Once in the Western countries, the modern-day slave will do all kinds of work for very little pay – the slave wage.

At the height of the transatlantic slave trade, the motivating force was the search for labour. The often-peddled myth is that during this period, labour was free. The truth is that the slave master bought labour in advance and he would actually own the slave for the rest of his life.

Today things have changed. Labour is not bought in advance. It is paid after work has been done. Without work, there is no pay. So, in a sense, the job for life guaranteed by the old form of slavery is now history.

It is the owner of the capital who benefits from the new deal. He no longer has to look after the slave that can no longer work and have the responsibility of burying him.

With the crude form of slavery, slave masters had to train their slaves after acquisition. Today, Western industrialists have a perfect deal, they recruit highly trained professionals such as doctors, engineers, nurses and accountants from Africa.

They do not compensate African countries for taking these qualified professionals who were trained at huge cost.

So, instead of posing the question: should the West apologise for slavery? we ought to call for an end to modern-day slavery – the exploitation of the human and material resources of Africa by the West.

The export of raw material to the developed countries can only serve to stunt growth and job creation on the African continent.

Africa is the continent with the biggest trade deficit.

Slaves, whose freedom is dependent on the benevolence of the slave master, can kiss freedom goodbye. Equally, Africans should take their destiny into their hands.

It may be psychologically rewarding to continue to castigate the West, but unless Africans act to change their situation, they are likely to remain what they have been for the better part of modern history – beggars whose existence largely depends on Western generosity and paternalism.

As was the case during the raw form of slavery, some of our leaders play for the other team. Their actions and despotic tendencies advance the interests of those bent on keeping the continent underdeveloped.

These leaders may not be selling Africans to slave traders of old but they certainly continue to create conditions that force many Africans to migrate to Europe and America.

And, perhaps, instead of speaking to the deaf – begging the unrepentant West to ask for forgiveness – we ought to talk more amongst ourselves and act to end the suffering of Africans across the continent.
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Perhaps if they sorted out their stuff at home, they wouldnt need to get on small boats. People get on small boats to get away from Africans killing Africans. But on the same note a lot of what the author said was true. Africa needs to sort out its house before complaining about others.
 
Angelo I agree with your thinking.

Angelo said:
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But we can only talk amongst ourselves if people are prepared to discuss issues with us. Whilst the new slaveowners have the power to ignore a slave when a slave raise an issue with them them, it becomes difficult to challenge the slavery.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=971228&postcount=87

Slaves must come together for us to be able to challenge the slavery. We need worker leaders that do not only understand the principles of the new slavery, but worker leaders whom are also comitted to plight of the working class and also being prepared to lead the workers out of this new slavery.

Only then will workers be able to challenge the new slavery.
 
Johan... wanting to peddle your vitamins to the new slaves?
 
The poor cannot afford to buy and eat nutritious food

w1z4rd said:
Johan... wanting to peddle your vitamins to the new slaves?
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Did the government not make arrangements for the vitamins to be included into the bread and maize that poor people usually eat?
 
Johan Beaurain said:
Did the government not make arrangements for the vitamins to be included into the bread and maize that poor people usually eat?
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How much did that cost the vitamin people you represent? Must have been a great contract for them. A couple of well greased palms... and all of a sudden, its "Vitamins for the people!"
 
It is probably only a few individuals whom are benefitting.

w1z4rd said:
How much did that cost the vitamin people you represent? Must have been a great contract for them. A couple of well greased palms... and all of a sudden, its "Vitamins for the people!"
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It is probably only a few individuals whom are benefitting out of the vitamin enriched bread and maize for the poor. But the poor are also benefiting and that is what is most important at this stage. The poor should be given a fair change to overcome their poverty. We should be given a chance to overcome the slavery.
 
Johan Beaurain said:
It is probably only a few individuals whom are benefitting out of the vitamin enriched bread and maize for the poor. But the poor are also benefiting and that is what is most important at this stage. The poor should be given a fair change to overcome their poverty. We should be given a chance to overcome the slavery.
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Cool, I have these super umbrellas for sale. They keep you dry. The poor people need to be dry... so who do you bribe to punt your product? Or do I need to start a roof-denialist theory first?... that roofs dont really keep you dry (You cant actually see the atoms of the roof touching the water atoms)...so therefore umbrellas are better.
 
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You can bring a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink

w1z4rd said:
Cool, I have these super umbrellas for sale. They keep you dry. The poor people need to be dry... so who do you bribe to punt your product? Or do I need to start a roof-denialist theory (corrected spelling) first?... that roofs dont really keep you dry...so therefore umbrellas are better.
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Whilst there is some worker leaders whom are prepared to enrich themselves out of the sale of harmfull drugs, the slavery will continue. They will camouflage their activities whilst they pretend that they are actualy supplying some useful medicines to their people.

My suspicion is that it will be easy for you to find somebody within the new elite to punt your umbrellas. The new slavery has little to do about whether it is food or poisons that keep us healthy and strong. Both food and poisons can deliver a profit once you manage to sell large quantities of your product.

Umbrellas can also deliver a kind profit. And the new slaveowners like the sound of the word profit.
 
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Johan Beaurain said:
Whilst there is some worker leaders whom are prepared to enrich themselves out of the sale of harmfull drugs, the slavery will continue. They will camouflage their activities whilst they pretend that they are actualy supplying some useful medicines to their people.

My suspicion is that it will be easy for you to find somebody within the new elite to punt your umbrellas. The new slavery has little to do about whether it is food or poisons that keep us healthy and strong. Both food and posions can deliver a profit once you manage to sell large quantities of your product.

Umbrellas can also deliver a kind profit. And the new slaveowners like the sound of the word profit.
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Dont let your slave master Rath hear you say those words. I am sure he is in it for the people of africa *cough bullsh!t*cough*
 
I don't know the man.

w1z4rd said:
Dont let your slave master Rath hear you say those words. I am sure he is in it for the people of africa *cough bullsh!t*cough*
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I don't know Rath. I have never met him. And I am not employed by him either. Neither do I earn any income from any kind of activity related to the ideas that he is trying to propagate.

What are you talking about. Or are you just in the habbit of constantly trying to sow confusion, so that you can prepare the ground for your slavemasters poisons.
 
Johan Beaurain said:
I don't know Rath. I have never met him. And I am not employed by him either. Neither do I earn any income from any kind of activity related to the ideas that he is trying to propagate.

What are you talking about. Or are you just in the habbit of constantly trying to sow confusion, so that you can prepare the ground for your slavemasters poisons.
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Firstly, I am not a capitalist, profit and money are not goals in my life. Infact my perfect society is something along the lines of Star Trek`s Star Fleet (a dream), which does not have a monitory system per say.

I dont have a "slave masters" I am not the one punting vitamins over real cures. You are the one here with a siff agenda, not me.

Accusing me of working for a slave master... is that a method of agitation you fall back to when the truth comes out?
 
I have a degree in Bcom IT. I'm leaving for a number of reasons the government is aware of, when those issues are solved I might return. I don't have a voice in how this country is run, as we have an effective one party system, to affect change. I will rather enjoy life in the new South-Africa, New Zealand.

I wonder if the African Americans, would rather have not had their grandparents be slaves, instead of enjoying living in the America of today.

I'm aware of the warning, about being negative about South-Africa and so forth. We are reiterating the same message that we are becoming increasingly angry as a group of people. I answer with this, if the ANC did not stand up fervently for their ideals, there would not have been a change in 1994. I encourage everyone else to make a stand, even by leaving the country with your degree, if that is the only means to get the attention of the government. This forum is not for political discussions, can we open such a discussion for those who chose not to take part in it? This discussion should not be censored.
 
They do not compensate African countries for taking these qualified professionals who were trained at huge cost.
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Western industrialist do take accountants, I'm one. They do however compensate Africa. Africa would starve without all the aid it receives from those generous rich people. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

people bent on keeping the continent underdeveloped.
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No, I don't think you can find one business man in the developed world, and if you do his influence would be effectively naught, who would argue that as his goal. Africa is the black hole of the world, sucking resources from the western world. America has starving people in their own country, instead of helping them they help Africa. Africa demands the West help them, they criticize the West while demanding money. If I was a Western leader I would refuse any form of aid till Africa gets over their entitlement complex.

So much aid has been given to Africa. Still it is a black hole, nothing good comes out of it. A few educated people with degrees, some resources, but the returns are so little. As an example, $50 billion in Norway gets turned to say, $200 billion. In Africa it gets turned to $1 million. The West deserves the few educated people.
 
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What is your "real cures"?

w1z4rd said:
Firstly, I am not a capitalist, profit and money are not goals in my life. Infact my perfect society is something along the lines of Star Trek`s Star Fleet (a dream), which does not have a monitory system per say.

I dont have a "slave masters" I am not the one punting vitamins over real cures. You are the one here with a siff agenda, not me.

Accusing me of working for a slave master... is that a method of agitation you fall back to when the truth comes out?
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What is your "real cures"? Is it highly toxic anti-retroviral drugs? And all poor people must be given this drug to take every day untill they die? It is only a slavemaster that can design such a scheme. What worries me is that you think that you can pretend to me that you really believe in such nonsense.

I have always propagated food to keep your body strong. It is only when we are unable to get sufficient food of highly nutritious quality that I will reconmend to you to supplement your diet to stay healthy.
 
So many highly skilled people from the West focus their time, money and energy on solving the problems Africa. Just take malaria medicine. Thank you for saving the lives of millions of people, western scientist.
 
What a bunch of bullsh$i$t. Africa wouldn't have doctors and engineers if it weren't for the west.
 
Johan Beaurain said:
What is your "real cures"? Is it highly toxic anti-retroviral drugs? And all poor people must be given this drug to take every day untill they die? It is only a slavemaster that can design such a scheme. What worries me is that you think that you can pretend to me that you really believe in such nonsense.

I have always propagated food to keep your body strong. It is only when we are unable to get sufficient food of highly nutritious quality that I will recommend to you to supplement your diet to stay healthy.
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Go to a hospital, and take away the medicine which does save lives and cures diseases, created by the West. You will see thousands die. There is almost no contribution by Africans to medicine. You would not have even survived childhood if not for the vaccines you had.

Anti-retroviral drugs extend the life and increase the quality of those with AIDS. People would not take it otherwise, it costs money.
 
So, instead of posing the question: should the West apologise for slavery? we ought to call for an end to modern-day slavery – the exploitation of the human and material resources of Africa by the West.
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I wish black people would get over this slavery issue (everyone else has.) And no, it was not only black people that suffered slavery (although they did suffer the mechanised version.) ALL people suffered slavery, white, yellow, and green. Slavery was common for battlefield captives or even the paying of debt and goes right back to the beginning of time. So get over it already (the only people you are holding back is yourselves.)

And if you want the west to stop 'exploiting' the resources then DO something about it (ie, produce the local goods for export) instead of constantly complaining and bitching about it.

And notably: the worst forms of existing slavery are still in Africa (and a few other places like India: child labour.)

Fix it instead of complaining about it (only you have the power.) (Which you give to other people by the constant complaining and whining.)

//and yes, people leave africa because of the conditions created by African people: these are YOUR governments after all.
 
Johan Beaurain said:
What is your "real cures"? Is it highly toxic anti-retroviral drugs? And all poor people must be given this drug to take every day untill they die? It is only a slavemaster that can design such a scheme. What worries me is that you think that you can pretend to me that you really believe in such nonsense.

I have always propagated food to keep your body strong. It is only when we are unable to get sufficient food of highly nutritious quality that I will reconmend to you to supplement your diet to stay healthy.
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out of interests sake what do you say about these new reports that vitamin pills can cause cancer?

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/vitamin_supplements.html

secondly vitamins in their raw state do not get absorbed by the body and are literally shat out and in most cases completely useless and/or harmful to us.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/Vitamin_E_Womens_Health_Vitamin_supplements.htm

how does it feel to know you are peddling crap? or should i say a profitable farce? you aint doing anyone good except your pocket.
 
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