Cockburn on Slavery

[Henry C.K. Liu]

The situation in South Africa was not that simple.
Although Apartheid was a major focus in certain progressive circles, other
issues, such as the SA-Isreal connection re Mid-East politics, SA's
anti-Communist role in Cold War geopolitics, the sourcing of strategic exotic
materials and control of navigation  around the Cape, were also significant
factors.
America did not need to invade South Africa - She had South Africa.  America was
not willing to push the Apartheid issue because of others factors (including the
above mentioned). In a similar way, the Vietnam War was not fought to oppose
religious oppression of Buddhists by the Catholic regime.

Without the Civil War, slavery would have continued to be constitutional
legitimate and operationally legal in many states, although certain blatant human
abuses might have been moderated to appease changing social behavioral norms to
make slavery a structural part of the economy and a more benign institution.
It one compares social attitude and debate on black slavery with those on the
legalization of white slavery,
a reasonable scenario might been constructed on what would have happen without
the Civil War.
Paul Henry Rosenberg wrote:


> Brett Knowlton wrote:
> >
> > Paul Rosenberg wrote (in regard to Apartheid in South Africa):
> > >We should have simply invaded and overthrown the government.
> >
> > This is a frighteningly cavalier attitude, assuming you were being serious.
>
> It was a cavalier expression, perhaps.  In keeping with the context in
> this forum.  The underlying attitude is quite another thing.  We were
> willing to make ourselves military allies WITH South Africa, why
> shouldn't we have been making ourselves military allies AGAINST South
> Africa?
>
> Of course, we all know that wouldn't have been necessary.  A really
> serious economic blockade could have brought them to their knees quite
> swiftly.
>
> >  Do you think we should go around the globe, toppling all the bad guys?
>
> I didn't say we should do it alone, old chap.  But, yes, I think that
> sounds like a capital idea.  South Africa's gone, so let's begin with
> Alan Greenspan!
>
> But, seriously, you must realize that South Africa was at the time a
> unique case, incomparable to any other.
>
> --
> Paul Rosenberg
> Reason and Democracy
> rad at gte.net
>
> "Let's put the information BACK into the information age!"