A number of people have asked my opinion regarding the recent flap over a comment offered by Colorado Board of Education member Pam Mazanec about slavery in the context of American history. So here it is. I should mention up front, in full disclosure, that Ms. Mazanec is a graduate of Colorado’s Leadership Program of the Rockies (or LPR), a program in which I have taught for the last decade. The controversy seems to revolve around a FB post in which Ms. Mazanec stated: “Yes, we practiced slavery. But we also ended it voluntarily, at great sacrifice, while the practice continues in many countries still today!” This comment became the centerpiece of an article authored by Susan Greene in the Colorado Independent. Two days after the article appeared, the Colorado Independent published a letter by Elliot Fladen -- a friend of mine who is also an alumni of LPR -- defending Ms. Mazanec’s original statement about slavery. I agree with Mr. Fladen’s assessment that Ms. Mazanec’s statement was “inartfully made.” I think I understand what Ms. Mazanec was attempting to communicate, but I cannot be certain. The words she chose to employ to describe such a nuanced, emotionally charged, and politically important subject seem to carry some ambiguity, at least enough ambiguity to cause others to question what she meant by them. Mr. Fladen goes to some length to interpret those words apologetically, and if his interpretation is correct, then I would conclude that Ms. Mazanec’s account of slavery within the context of American history and politics is not altogether wrong. But it’s also not exhaustive. I’ve written and published much on the subject of slavery in America. Below I have linked to a short piece that might help some place American slavery in a broader moral, political, and world historical framework. I also offer for anyone interested in thinking about such things these thoughts for consideration, knowing that each person is free to draw whatever conclusions they like from any study of the past: ✔ Slavery is among the oldest of human institutions, dating to the beginning of recorded human time itself, many millennia before the American Founding. ✔ Slavery has existed in many forms, some more brutal and violent than others, in many cultures and countries, but slavery is ugly wherever it exists. ✔ In 1776, slavery was a global business. England, to name just one example, was still three decades away from abolishing the slave trade, and almost six decades away from abolishing slavery itself throughout the British Empire. Some Africans, to name another example, were among the most vocal supporters of slavery and the international slave trade, as many Africans found slavery to be a greatly profitable business. ✔ Slavery is not some anachronistic institution from a distant past. Slavery still exists today in some sad parts of the world. If anyone is quick to ask why it took the Americans so long to end slavery, in an accusatory manner, perhaps they might first ask why slavery still exists today? ✔ In 1776, the Americans were the first ever to found a new regime on the beautiful and beautifully just idea of human equality -- an idea that Abraham Lincoln called the “the father of all moral principle.” This was a good thing. It was also unnecessary. Many regimes throughout history have been formed simply by force of victory in war without even a nod in the direction of moral right. But the Americans went to great length to argue that the cause of freedom they were attempting to advance -- with no historical model to follow and no guarantee of success -- was not merely their own cause, but a morally right cause. The moral logic that flows from the idea of human equality required that negro-chattel slavery be ended in America, it’s true. But so too that same moral logic required a government authorized by the consent of the governed, rather than some fraudulent claim to rule by “divine right” offered by some petty thug presenting himself as a “king.” So too that same moral logic required a government limited to protecting the natural freedoms of those who authorized it, rather than conquering neighboring nations and stealing their possessions. So too that same moral logic required a regime of religious liberty, rather than religious persecution. So too that same moral logic required the protection of personal property, rather than taking from some and giving it to government officials or some class from whom those officials wanted to buy favors. The Americans endeavored to achieve ALL these political goods, ALL these moral goods, at about the same time. Where else -- EVER? -- has anyone or any regime aimed so high morally? ✔ If anyone wants to complain that Americans took too long to end slavery, I say: Show me the model of who YOU prefer the Americans had followed. It took the English and the French centuries to get rid of slavery. Should the Americans have followed THEIR model? It took some in Asia millennia to get rid of slavery. Should the Americans have followed THEIR model? Hell, slavery still exists today in parts of Africa. Should the Americans have followed the AFRICAN model? It is perfectly fine for anyone to offer a stinging moral critique of America. Go right ahead. But if you want to be intellectual, morally, and politically respectable, show us at the same time the nation- models of moral perfection or moral excellence against which the United States seems to fall so far short. Go ahead, we are all holding our breath in anticipation. ✔ Lets be clear, and honest. The strongest rhetorical and intellectual defenses of slavery came from: Democrats, Christians, and academics enamored with the latest waves of European evolutionary philosophy and science. ✔ Every moral critique of every nation and every act of alleged moral injustice is measured by the good principles of the American Founding. Why is slavery and racism wrong? Because all men are created equal! Why is murder, rape, or theft wrong? Because all men are created equal! Why are unprovoked wars of aggression, conquest, and tyranny, wrong? Because all men are created equal! And WHO did more than anyone to help the world see for themselves the justice inherent in the idea of human equality? The Americans! In short, if equality is not true as a moral axiom -- if equality is not the father of all moral principle -- then NOTHING is morally wrong. And America has done more than anyone or anything in the world to help the people of Earth see the equality they all share. So before we discuss what America owes to the world or anyone in particular for any moral lapses or delays in justice, perhaps we should first ask what we today and the world owes to America? Before the academicians amongst us tell us in their history books or their standards for teaching students all the wrongs America has done, perhaps they first ought to offer some appreciation and context for the historically rare freedom of criticizing the very regime in which one lives, something every American critic of America enjoys so long as he or she lives under the protection of American law.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:13:00 +0000
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