Peterson and Schryver: Slavery Was a Blessing to Blacks

[_Chap]

So we can judge for ourselves:

Carl M. Franklin, PhD, my new friend from New Orleans, listened patiently to the patronizing arguments of his Yellow Dog Democrat friends, then breathed a sigh and commenced to deliver one of the most impressive and impassioned speeches I have heard in my entire life. His words were eloquent, articulate, and profoundly earnest. I recount them to the best of my recollection:

"My grandfather was born a slave. His fathers, going back five generations, had been slaves, brought to America from Africa in the late 18th century. My grandfather moved to the north after the Civil War and struggled to make a living. My father struggled, too. He left my mother and his children when I was very young, and I never saw him again. My mother struggled to raise us, but she never let us feel sorry for ourselves. She insisted that we go to church. She insisted that we go to school. I was the first in my family to go to college. I worked multiple jobs all through college until I achieved my doctorate. It wasn't easy. I was subjected to lots of prejudice. When I was in college, there were many students and professors who, quite sincerely, did not believe blacks could even do basic mathematics, let alone electrical engineering. But I stuck with it, and notwithstanding the discrimination I encountered from time to time, I overcame all the obstacles in my path and eventually got to where I am today, in an America that has, to a great extent, moved past the racism I faced when I was younger. Now I am an old man. I have lived a rewarding and satisfying life. I have enjoyed the love of a great woman for almost fifty years. Our children are educated and prosperous."

And then his voice softened in volume and intensified in tone as he looked straight at his "Yellow Dog Democrat" acquaintances who were, moments before, advocating that he be rewarded for the suffering of his ancestors in slavery.

"I thank God Almighty that he saw fit to snatch my forefathers from the darkness of their lives in Africa and plant them here in this land where, after not many generations, the majority of them are finally breaking free from the bondage of ignorance and dependence. Yes, slavery is inherently evil. Many suffered, not the least the slave traders and slave owners stained by its shame. But there was a divine purpose in these things, and I refuse to mock God by failing to see His hand in all things. And, most of all, I refuse to see my children returned to the slavery of dependence on those who condescendingly view themselves as our superiors."

The Yellow Dog Democrats sat silently as Dr. Franklin concluded his impressive oration, then summarily finished their drinks and excused themselves from our company.

I stood and extended my hand to Dr. Franklin, who then stood himself and embraced me warmly.

"You are a great man Dr. Franklin, and I count myself fortunate to have made your acquaintance."

"And I yours."

[_static]

So the idea is that although slavery was horrible, it saved the slaves' descendants from having to live in the impoverished, war-torn continent of Africa?

One of the several problems with that logic is that without the slave trade, Africa might not be in such a depressing state in the first place.

You can argue this point with Dr. Franklin. Neither DCP nor Schryver said it.

[_Sophocles]

Does this excuse slave ship captains or slave traders? Not even slightly. It does mean, though, that good can be manufactured from evil, that bad intentions can sometimes inadvertently lead to positive results. That, in other words, there is still hope, even amidst pain and evil.

This is the true alchemy, turning lead into gold.

If Peterson's true intent was to drive home this point, why not use the injustices committed against his own ancestors as an example? Surely something good came of Missouri Executive Order 44 or the Haun's Mill massacre. Can't he see that he's much better situated to make his point from that angle?

I'm guessing that wouldn't serve his actual purpose, which I can only imagine has something to do with reimagining the LDS church's racist past.

I wonder if he would see any problem with using the Holocaust to make the same point?

[_static]

So you think DCP and Schryver disagree with the quote Darth J put up?

They didn't say it. Why didn't Darth J attribute it to the correct source?

[_static]

So we can judge for ourselves:

You've shown on this thread that you are incapable of making correct, or even reasonable judgements. You've also shown that you are incapable of reading the full context of a written work about Mormonism or by a Mormon because of your strong negative bias. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[_Molok]

The economist Thomas Sowell is said to have made a point similar to that of Will Schryver's Mr. Franklin: On a national radio talk show, a caller accused him of denying that slavery had had any real impact on American blacks. "Oh, I don't deny that at all," Professor Sowell responded. "If it weren't for slavery, you and I would likely be living in some Third World African hell hole."

The reason Africa is a "Third world hell hole" has an awful lot to do with Imperialism, not through the fault of the people who lived in Africa. Those same imperialists are the ones who were selling Africans into slavery. In essence, Thomas Sowell is grateful that his ancestors were sold into slavery, because otherwise he would have grown up in the ruins that the slavers left Africa in. Bizarre.

[_Shulem]

You can argue this point with Dr. Franklin. Neither DCP nor Schryver said it.

But look what the translator Joseph Smith said:

Figure 6
Olimlah, a slave belonging to the prince.



Paul O

[_Molok]

So you think DCP and Schryver disagree with the quote Darth J put up?

They didn't say it. Why didn't Darth J attribute it to the correct source?

Answer my question, and I'll answer yours Simon.

[_Shulem]

Answer my question, and I'll answer yours Simon.

First, I want to see if he can spell the name of the church correctly!

Do it, now.

Paul O

[_huckelberry]

What he said in this article is:" enforced servitued of blacks in the United States was a horrific injustice, even at its best an inexcusable offense agianst God, humanity, and fundamental principals of the American founding."

Why didn't you quote the next part where he talks about the good that can come from evil? The evil, in this case, being slavery.

Because it does not change the meaning or importance of the first statement. The idea of God and human invention, being able to bring good in the future out of past evil does not justify the past evil.