[lbo-talk] Genocide, Holocaust

Mike Ballard swillsqueal at yahoo.com.au
Sat Jun 7 19:29:52 PDT 2003



>My take on what Grant was saying was that act of
>genocide should be reserved for the systematic,
>physical extermination of a people. Chattel slavery
>would usually be considered genocide otherwise under
>the definition you're giving above. It's not a
>question of Grant wishing to minimize the serious
>damage done to the Aboriginal people.

Well perhaps, although it is true Grant doesn't want to call it "genocide" and he admits this will require a re-definition of "genocide".

But I'm surprised by your assertion that chattel slavery would be considered genocide under Thiago's definition (which as I read it is merely the UN definition.) Chattel slavery *might* be part of a strategy to eliminate a distinct culture. But unless it is somehow the purpose of enslaving people, it wouldn't be genocide.

So I don't see how you could arrive at that conclusion. Please explain?

Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas *******************************************************

Hi Bill,

I can't think of instances (ignorance probably) where chattel slavery wasn't accompanied by the destruction of the slaves' cultures, once they had been transported to their owners. I was thinking of the African American experience in particular. Obviously, it was not in the interest of a slaveocracy to physically destroy their wealth producers. But in order better to dominate them, it was useful to demonize and destroy their culture and perhaps replace it with nice Christian ideology.

My understanding is that even the Nazis used their concentration camp captives to produce wealth for employers. Physical extermination though was to be the final stop of this process.

And you were right, I meant the broad, UN definition of genocide which Thiago was using.

Wobbly greetings, Mike B)

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