In which the author makes a Poll bound to offend somebody, on a topic no one wants to discuss

[jonathankaplan]

I first saw the miniseries Roots when it originally aired.
I next saw the miniseries Roots last week.
I have always thought the End does NOT justify the means.

Comments

[anonymous]

The problem with the quiz is in question 4.

Question 4 should be: In this year, I am happier living where I am than anywhere in western Africa had slavery and western pillaging of Africa never occurred.

Currently, most would prefer living in the US vs. western Africa, but if slavery and western pillaging of Africa had not occurred, the overall standard of living for blacks worldwide may be higher than it is today.

It is similarly crass as to asking a person conceived during a rape if the rape was a good thing because without it, they would not exist.

[anonymous]

and I would say that my answer to my question 4 is basically unknowable, or "Don't Know."

[slowjoe]

You could equally argue that if the west African slave traders hadn't sold slaves to North America, then they'd have sold them to the middle east, where slavery still apparently continues.

Only this month, west africa sees serious ethnic/religious pogroms. Machetes, nets, burning fugitives out of trees, which I imagine bears uncanny similarity to the slave raids, except more barbaric. (See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article7076486.ece and note that the story is dated today.)

What mechanism are you suggesting that allows that eliminating the most prosperous group of blacks in the world would raise the average level of prosperity?

Foolishness. And the straw man of the rape comparison doesn't help.

[jonathankaplan]

Thanks for responding. This is a difficult question, never discussed, and you make some relevant points.
Thanks again.

[jonathankaplan]

I agree. I am crass and boorish. Rude, even