Well someday noone will own pets because that takes the freedom of animals away. The circus as we know it is already done for and the zoos are feeling the pressure too. I bring this up because slaves were similar to pets back in the day. They were expected to do what their owners wanted them to do, and were disciplined when they didn't. We have to remember that not everyone owned slaves. In the US it was only allowed in the south, the few that owned plantations had them, some wealthy families had some as servants, and a few farms that wouldn't be considered plantations had them. Like pet most were taken care of as such, it was to the owners advantage to take care of them. However like pets a few people choose to abuse them in an effort to get them to do as they wanted. The mostly white people of the north United States decided it was not right for people to own these people, thus the civil war which freed these people. The owners were upset because of their financial loss, and most of the slaves were now homeless and unemployed so they ended up going to work for the people that owned them. The Confederates (the south) was upset by losing their territory as they did not want to become part of the union, so the Confederate Flag isn't directly a "slave" thing, but more of a territory thing that has become to mean different things to different people. So in the end white people brought the slaves to the US. White people freed them from slavery. White people employed those of them that wanted to be employed. There for all white people are responsible for all bad things with the exception of those white people who also have at least some black in them (aka Barak Obama) who seem to ignore their "bad heritage" so they can go look at me, I'm a victim, oh poor me.

Unfortunately we have modern day slavery, you have it and we have it with the poor young girls trafficked from eastern Europe for sex.

that said alot and nothing, all at the same time....

again, who cares about the time? Its legacy and symbolism

like our constitution which was written 200 years ago
or confederate flags which were created long ago
or the pledge of allegiance ...

it does not matter how OLD something was when it comes to the historical significance or symbolism it holds for people,,, lets stop pretending we dont understand this,,,,

If you haven't noticed the last 200+ post have said a lot and nothing all at. the same time as do most mingle posts. Discrimination is a thing on many levels in this day and age, but "slavery"as in the context of this story has been over and done with for enough generations that should not have an affect on peoples life in this day and age and should not be used as a crutch. Many African Americans would not be living the life they are living if those slaves were never brought to the US but it still seems to be an issue for many that have gotten more good then bad

you yourself said symbolism was stupid and meaningless when talking about the American flag, so symbolic history suits your needs for symbolism? or is it others legacy and symbolism mean nothing to you?

Chattel slavery, also called traditional slavery, is so named because people are treated as the chattel (personal property) of the owner and are bought and sold as commodities. Typically, under the chattel slave system, slave status was imposed on children of the enslaved at birth

Some children in poor countries are born into it still or is it different because they are a different colour these days?

This is the problem with social media. an incident between a couple of people that can be offensive and sorted out turns into people getting offended the other side of the world. why,

I have dinner guests. I know that atmosphere and meals are planned based on a THEME based upon guests.

better choices could have been made on how to 'decorate'.

I dont expect people to hit the door just because they dont like EVERY SINGLE thing about me or my home. But that is just me. and this thread is not about any of us individually.

someone had 'guests' over, something in their choice to welcome these 'guests' made them feel a certain kind of way and they said so to which the host was dismissive and unwilling to aknowledge.

the guest posted about their experience on media.

FFS, social media is modern communication. They felt a way and posted it and it was addressed. End of story. and no big deal.

Some children in poor countries are born into it still or is it different because they are a different colour these days?

Wait someone should know that a cotton centerpiece (IT IS THE NEW FASHION!) predict what someone will be offended too? How about those offended work on their own personal issues and not project