Slavery tidbits -

[Baggage Handler #2]

...

How far removed is this from the ... slave, during the 1860's?

I just want their day in court. Not a criminal court, but a Civil Court, where they are seeking a redress of grievances from American history!

U. F. Below

Will restrict comments to the latter half of the first quoted sentence.

For starters, you can actually testify in said court.
There isn't one arbitrary person who can whip you at will.
Nor can that person, after beating you, rub salt in your wounds.
Neither can they force you from your wife, sleep with her, and take your children from you.
The record also indicates a number of instances of murder by overseer. But since the slave witnesses can't testify, there can't be a prosecution. Disgusting, isn't it.

Hmmm, what else... well it's legal for you to learn to read, to write, and unless you've totally balled it up to vote, move where you will, associate with whom you will, join the military, travel overseas - not to mention north of the Ohio or Mason-Dixon line.

In other words, you actually have some civil rights, puzzling as that must seem.

I think the arbitrary beatings, though, are one of the key differences. If you can't see that you are very much to be pitied.

Regards,
Banal Gag Hedger

 

[fl_below]

Will restrict comments to the latter half of the first quoted sentence.

For starters, you can actually testify in said court.
There isn't one arbitrary person who can whip you at will.
Nor can that person, after beating you, rub salt in your wounds.
Neither can they force you from your wife, sleep with her, and take your children from you.
The record also indicates a number of instances of murder by overseer. But since the slave witnesses can't testify, there can't be a prosecution. Disgusting, isn't it.

Hmmm, what else... well it's legal for you to learn to read, to write, and unless you've totally balled it up to vote, move where you will, associate with whom you will, join the military, travel overseas - not to mention north of the Ohio or Mason-Dixon line.

In other words, you actually have some civil rights, puzzling as that must seem.

I think the arbitrary beatings, though, are one of the key differences. If you can't see that you are very much to be pitied.

Regards,
Banal Gag Hedger

Dear Banal Gag Hedger;

The idea behind Senators, Citizens, and Slaves is not unique to the good old US of A.

The idea that we were somehow 'set apart' as a 'peculiar people' for our own democracy, and its righteousness...

Well, that absolutely gags credulity.

So, all of the shortcomings of this great nation were Southern, then, as UnionBlue posits, and all of our
ingenuity and fairnesses were from your people, as Lee called them.

I don't think I have ever taken the time to thank you, and your people for their wonderful caring, generosity, and
support of this great nation, sir.

I don't think I ever will.

Mr Mojo Risin

PS BOW_FUEL??!

 

[Baggage Handler #2]

Dear Banal Gag Hedger;

The idea behind Senators, Citizens, and Slaves is not unique to the good old US of A.

The idea that we were somehow 'set apart' as a 'peculiar people' for our own democracy, and its righteousness...

Well, that absolutely gags credulity.

So, all of the shortcomings of this great nation were Southern, then, as UnionBlue posits, and all of our
ingenuity and fairnesses were from your people, as Lee called them.

I don't think I have ever taken the time to thank you, and your people for their wonderful caring, generosity, and
support of this great nation, sir.

I don't think I ever will.

Mr Mojo Risin

PS BOW_FUEL??!

another anagram for beowulf, like fl_below.

"My People" are/have been mostly farmers, occasional veterans - always volunteers, never draftees. "My people" came to the US from various places during various centuries, and we say "you're welcome" because by exercising some basic freedoms, you are thanking "my people" whether or not that is your intent, and whether or not "my people" agree with your sentiments.

"My people" wouldn't view this experiment in democracy as a gift, but as equal parts opportunity and obligation.

 

[fl_below]

another anagram for beowulf, like fl_below.

"My People" are/have been mostly farmers, occasional veterans - always volunteers, never draftees. "My people" came to the US from various places during various centuries, and we say "you're welcome" because by exercising some basic freedoms, you are thanking "my people" whether or not that is your intent, and whether or not "my people" agree with your sentiments.

"My people" wouldn't view this experiment in democracy as a gift, but as equal parts opportunity and obligation.

Dear Garage Handle;

(How do you get Beowulf out of Fl_Below?)

My people have been mostly draftees, who could give a flame, one way or the other, about volunteers.

To us, all government is an excessive evil, and we do what we have to do, when we have to do it.

That is why we are Libertarians.

And have always been.

Unlike this celebrated and oft-mourned Beowulf, I don't see the Southern Confederacy as being any different, and no, not because of Beowulf's LIBERALS...

But because of human nature. Period.

We don't trust ANYBODY. Left, right, or center.

U.F. Below

 

[Baggage Handler #2]

I spell badly, but was looking at U.F. Below. "beflouw" being the constituent letters on both appellations.

The point you'd expressed earlier appeared to be saying that, paraphrased: "living under a government you don't like is equivalent to being a slave"

My response was that even absent the whippings, lack of civil rights, illiteracy, etc. it still is not.

For some reason this provoked you into talking about your family, my "people" (whatever on earth that's supposed to mean), and apparently the Roman Empire.

I presume there is some context wherein this progression makes sense, but anticipate I'll be proved wrong on that point.