Slavery is abhorrent, but financially profitable

Opinion. The views expressed are the author’s own.

There is an old saying “Rome was not built in a Day”. In fact The Roman Empire was built over a thousand years+. Many other Empires were the same. These Empires were also built no so much by their citizens but by enslaved peoples.

During conquests the loser in a battle or conflict suffered at the hands of the conquers, often losing a good portion of their lower classes to the winners who enslaved these peoples and took them to their Empires Proper. The enslaved were often auctioned to the highest bidder, usually a citizen of that country and they became the citizens property. Men , women and children were all enslaved often in a generational fashion.

The Empires found great uses for those enslaved, sending them to the fields, mines, factories and even homes of citizens as care takers, nannies and servants. If those enslaved did not work, they often perished. So were the rules enacted long ago. The Roman Empire often had more slaves than they did citizens, so powerful armies were at hand to maintain security for their society.

Current Empires exist, like the super powers of old they have enacted the code of enslavement. Lets look at the American Empire, saying “America was not built in a day nor was it built by Americans”. That should piss off a few Americans eh? Bold but factual too. American history starts with explorers and settlers who were in search of religious and social freedom. Many of these unwanted in Europe came to America and their enterprising efforts built a rooted society. Then it happened, an event that helped shape America. Ships arrived from Britain, France and Spain containing kidnapped Africans taken from the African Continent and brought to the America’s to be sold.

Millions of Africans, Aboriginals and non whites were enslaved just as the Romans did long ago. The only difference was Rome never declared itself a democracy while America was loudly decaling it with pride. American democracy did not include the enslaved or even their women who could not vote for many years to come. This enslavement ended once the Confederacy fell, and millions of Blacks, Hispanics and non whites became unemployed and homeless. The Federal Governments solution to this problem was bold. Many Americans feared those formerly enslaved would revolt violently so many were sent to Western Us Territories where they were to deal with the hostile Aboriginals and try to survive Western racism and prejudice.

America’s Eastern Coast grew and prospered. At this time a new form of enslavement progressed. Migrants from Europe were brought to America. White foreigners who would fill the needed labor shortage being presently experienced. Many went to the fields, factories and mines too. Corporate Enslavement was established. A laborer needed work, to feed their families and house them as well. The corporation they worded for established credit for these laborers to buy what they needed. These low wage laborers went into debt basically owing their souls to the corporate store. The laborers family was brought in to work off the debt there by enacting the enslavement clause…if one does not work, they perish. A vicious cycle has been established where the laborer consumes, goes further into debt. Now I call that financial enslavement right?

This form of enslavement has persistent to this day. All the fruit and avocados grown and picked in California, Florida and the Southern US “employ” low wage labor, offering credit for their substance.

Enslavement exists everywhere. Human trafficking is managed by corrupt corporations, Drug and Criminal Cartels around the world. People are enslaved by individuals who use them as servants, nannies or even factory workers. Those enslaved have entered their situation in many ways. Perhaps kidnapped, enticed by others to go find their fortune or a better life elsewhere, these people are victimized, abused and their freedom taken from them. This happens in America daily.

Like any other empire, America has been built upon the work, efforts and sacrifice of the enslaved. A unmanaged credit card debt can become a tool of enslavement that follows someone for the rest of their lives.

America proclaims itself to be the greatest of democracies. a nation that achieves great things. But at what cost? Like an addict hooked on opioids, America has lost its ability to see beyond its own democratic mythology.

Frederick Douglas once proclaimed “what to an American Slave, is your 4th of July”? Remember to put a person down, to oppress that person also puts you down to that level. Are we not obliged to lift up our Brothers and sisters instead?

Steven Kaszab lives in Bradford, Ont.