[Julie]

In history, there is *perhaps* not a single civilization which did not experience some type of slavery.
Even European Christians experienced slavery by Muslim Masters and during the Roman Empire - Or so, that is what history (tainted or not) tell us.

I come from a long history of slavery. My people have been enslaved for close to 6,000 years and most recently ending when Hitler lost his reign. Does this make me the oldest descendant of slaves? Perhaps -- BUT, we certainly do not know this to be true. We do not know the history of the other lands during this time and certainly not thousands of years before.

What about the enslavement of the Maya and Inca tribes (and the other indigenous tribes of nations)? How do we look through time and not imagine the civilizations being built hundreds and thousands of years ago - even notably in Egypt? Do we dare say, these great structures were built by the hands of willing men and women? I would be foolish to think not.

And today, while The United States and many other countries are fighting the war on Human Trafficking - this is still happening today. Not only in the USA, but in a bountiful of other nations. Women and Children are sold as sex slaves, workers and traffickers of drugs. Not by their own choice - but by the hand of masters who enslave and own them. Legal or NOT - you cannot dissect the word "Slavery," and make it work for one people and not another.

In some form or another - Most of us did not originate from the America's - Some of us were forced here as slaves and some of us came to escape slavery in our homelands. There are VERY FEW pure white people on this land, except perhaps the White Christian Europeans who landed here, only to take the land from the Indigenous people of this land.

I am Julie and I am the direct descendant of a very strong people. My people have survived thousands of years of slavery and slaughter - As have many of the people here. African and Latin Descent and Many others -- Even as stated above, those European White Christians, who later enslaved many of us.

Can we be ANGRY at the United States for even allowing the African slave trade? Damn right. It shames me beyond belief that this country in which I was born was so self-righteous and entitled. I am sure those in other countries feel the same shame as I do.

Julie