Comments on: A Crime So Monstrous http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aaron http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-17588 Aaron Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:56:59 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-17588 Mind how you go with that, Roy. Ever see one of those old Iranian hostage videos, with somebody who looks like they just went five rounds with Tyson in an ear-chewing mood, saying "I am being *twitch* well treated, and have...have come to *twitch* understand that American imperialism is *twitch* at fault for my captivity..." If you can get a performance like that out of somebody after just a few weeks or even days of working on them, imagine how natural you could make it if you had somebody's whole life, or most of it, to work with. Mind how you go with that, Roy. Ever see one of those old Iranian hostage videos, with somebody who looks like they just went five rounds with Tyson in an ear-chewing mood, saying “I am being *twitch* well treated, and have…have come to *twitch* understand that American imperialism is *twitch* at fault for my captivity…” If you can get a performance like that out of somebody after just a few weeks or even days of working on them, imagine how natural you could make it if you had somebody’s whole life, or most of it, to work with.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-17587 Aaron Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:50:13 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-17587 Five bucks says this was heading for "and now you've just said the Union shouldn't have invaded the Confederacy!" Five bucks says this was heading for “and now you’ve just said the Union shouldn’t have invaded the Confederacy!”

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8499 Roy Edmunds Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:24:46 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8499 Cripes, Linda!! you were sold by two Chileans for two ponchos!! I can see the Judges face when the defence counsel offers the excuse that Chile is overcrowded and has scarce resources so you were sold out of necessity. His reply might go something like, "I care not about the circumstances it was your amoral choices which caused you to trade someone elses freedom and dignity for a couple of ponchos". The fact is that freedom is not free. Usually there has been a price paid. Often it is with human beings making a choice to lay down their lives in a cause which results in greater freedom for individuals. Sometimes it is through the courts if the rule of law exists. But it starts with a deliberate choice to be free which you made when you escaped. Cripes, Linda!! you were sold by two Chileans for two ponchos!!
I can see the Judges face when the defence counsel offers the excuse that Chile is overcrowded and has scarce resources so you were sold out of necessity.
His reply might go something like, “I care not about the circumstances it was your amoral choices which caused you to trade someone elses freedom and dignity for a couple of ponchos”.
The fact is that freedom is not free. Usually there has been a price paid. Often it is with human beings making a choice to lay down their lives in a cause which results in greater freedom for individuals.
Sometimes it is through the courts if the rule of law exists.
But it starts with a deliberate choice to be free which you made when you escaped.

]]> By: Linda Rosa http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8371 Linda Rosa Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:14:49 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8371 Dr. Sanford suggested the problem in her statement. I suspect slavery today is, to a large degree, an effect of over-population. Population pressures and scarce resources. By the way, I was once sold by two Chileans in Cusco to a cacique. The price was two ponchos. (The Chileans were cold.) I got away the first day. Dr. Sanford suggested the problem in her statement. I suspect slavery today is, to a large degree, an effect of over-population. Population pressures and scarce resources.

By the way, I was once sold by two Chileans in Cusco to a cacique. The price was two ponchos. (The Chileans were cold.) I got away the first day.

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8344 Roy Edmunds Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:49:04 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8344 If you Google "Stop The Traffic" you will learn much more about human trafficking in the world. There are more slaves trafficked now than ever before!!! For sexual exploitation, women, children, for the manufacture of clothing, gathering crops, tilling the soil, cleaning and etc. People who are 'bonded' by trickery, by force, or taken advantage of because of their dire circumstances or mental condition. We live in a sick world while we take advantage of slave labour. And we are all guilty of doing this. Every cheap garment we buy, may have been produced by people working in inhuman circumstances. It may be that the canned fish, or some other item, is produced by people who are simply coerced, or are less than free to bargain for the circumstances of their employment. It is time to re introduce tarriffs to stop the exploitation of slave labour by taking advantage of cheap products. We are guilty be default. If you Google “Stop The Traffic” you will learn much more about human trafficking in the world. There are more slaves trafficked now than ever before!!! For sexual exploitation, women, children, for the manufacture of clothing, gathering crops, tilling the soil, cleaning and etc. People who are ‘bonded’ by trickery, by force, or taken advantage of because of their dire circumstances or mental condition. We live in a sick world while we take advantage of slave labour. And we are all guilty of doing this. Every cheap garment we buy, may have been produced by people working in inhuman circumstances. It may be that the canned fish, or some other item, is produced by people who are simply coerced, or are less than free to bargain for the circumstances of their employment. It is time to re introduce tarriffs to stop the exploitation of slave labour by taking advantage of cheap products. We are guilty be default.

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8209 Roy Edmunds Fri, 29 May 2009 11:56:33 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8209 Ah, yes, Patrick Henry, Virginia convention,Mar.23.1775. Ah, yes, Patrick Henry, Virginia convention,Mar.23.1775.

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8208 Roy Edmunds Fri, 29 May 2009 11:44:20 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8208 Where a worker pays taxation without political representation they are a slave. Of sorts. But can one be a little bit free? Where a worker has not the right to form association to represent them in their quest for better wages and working conditions they are a slave, of sorts. A little bit free? Where a worker has no right to strike, they could be a slave. Granted some tasks are so sensitive , of such consequence, that not even the worker would consider strike, but if that is a choice to do that task in a community where generally ordinary workers have the right to strike then you do have a choice. Its where you have no choice to strike whatever you do that you are a slave.Of sorts. Where a worker has no recourse to appeal to some independent authority as arbiter of disputes and has no hope of strike because of debt or poverty, they are a slave, of sorts. Where the press is not free, and people are fed lies and distortions of the outside world, and even their own world,they are slaves, of a sort. Where a worker lives under the threat of jail if they speak their mind in opposition to the government or authorities, they are a slave, of sorts. Where a worker can be punished by a death penalty for crimes not against a person, and they are not afforded adequate counsel for their defence, they are enslaved. Where a worker is considered guilty of a misdemeanour unless they can purchase their innocence, they are a slave, of sorts. Bribery and corruption is a way of life in some countries. Where a female whether working or not, is restricted in their movements within a country, or from obtaining education, or work at all, or from exercising their choice of dress, purely because they are female, they are a slave, most definitely. Where there is a class system subtle or otherwise which perpetuates the leadership of the priviledged and people cannot rise on the basis of their merits, there is slavery, of sorts. Can then, a slave be happy? Of sorts,for "where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise". But then who was it said,"give me liberty or give me death". The latter has more appeal I think. Where a worker pays taxation without political representation they are a slave. Of sorts. But can one be a little bit free?
Where a worker has not the right to form association to represent them in their quest for better wages and working conditions they are a slave, of sorts. A little bit free?
Where a worker has no right to strike, they could be a slave. Granted some tasks are so sensitive , of such consequence, that not even the worker would consider strike, but if that is a choice to do that task in a community where generally ordinary workers have the right to strike then you do have a choice. Its where you have no choice to strike whatever you do that you are a slave.Of sorts.
Where a worker has no recourse to appeal to some independent authority as arbiter of disputes and has no hope of strike because of debt or poverty, they are a slave, of sorts.
Where the press is not free, and people are fed lies and distortions of the outside world, and even their own world,they are slaves, of a sort.
Where a worker lives under the threat of jail if they speak their mind in opposition to the government or authorities, they are a slave, of sorts.
Where a worker can be punished by a death penalty for crimes not against a person, and they are not afforded adequate counsel for their defence, they are enslaved.
Where a worker is considered guilty of a misdemeanour unless they can purchase their innocence, they are a slave, of sorts. Bribery and corruption is a way of life in some countries.
Where a female whether working or not, is restricted in their movements within a country, or from obtaining education, or work at all, or from exercising their choice of dress, purely because they are female, they are a slave, most definitely.
Where there is a class system subtle or otherwise which perpetuates the leadership of the priviledged and people cannot rise on the basis of their merits, there is slavery, of sorts.
Can then, a slave be happy? Of sorts,for “where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise”.
But then who was it said,”give me liberty or give me death”. The latter has more appeal I think.

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8206 Roy Edmunds Fri, 29 May 2009 10:42:27 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8206 Yep.Happens everywhere. Yep.Happens everywhere.

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8205 Roy Edmunds Fri, 29 May 2009 10:39:11 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8205 well it was the free market and a whole lot killing. well it was the free market and a whole lot killing.

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/04/17/a-crime-so-monstrous/#comment-8204 Roy Edmunds Fri, 29 May 2009 10:30:39 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2134#comment-8204 Are you skeptical about slavery? Are you skeptical about slavery?

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