I feel pretty good right now. As of right now I’m not that hungry. I spent most of my day yesterday updating this website and then visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and then the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I thought it was one big museum but it turns out the National Mall has a collection of several museums relatively close to all the famous monuments.
Coincidentally, both museums have displayed content related to slavery. I read about John Brown online and thought he was a really cool, righteous figure and was taken by surprise when I was him in the museum. He was probably considered insane at the time and the painting of him with his arms outstretched give off a fanatical vibe, but regardless of whether he came to the logical conclusion that slavery was wrong, or if it was implanted in his brain by God himself isn’t relevant. All things considered he seemed to be benefit from slavery as a white man but still dedicated his life to dismantling it. I think that’s extremely admirable. Too bad he didn’t do it peacefully.
I think spent approximately combined 4 hours at both museums but only one other moment at the African museum remains in my mind. There were quotes that justified chattel slavery from when it was in effect. They basically boiled down to “Yes slavery is atrocious, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks” and “I’ll keep mum because I need my cheap rice and rum.”
I’d wager that most of the people that held these views weren’t sadists eager to inflict pain, but instead more like passive observers who were certain that even if the system is horrific, they cannot do anything about it and figured they might as well keep their peace and focus on their own problems that more obviously affected them.
It’s kind of like how I know full well animals suffer tremendously from modern industrialized livestock agriculture (aka the meat industry, or factory farming) but I choose to purchase and consume meat anyway. It feels pleasant to eat meat, it’s convenient, and everyone has always done it so it seems so natural. Animal welfare activists who shout “Meat is murder” and tell others that they are wrong for eating meat are typically portrayed as obnoxious and unpleasant. I definitely don’t want to be associated with that crowd.
I think the meat industry is generally unethical and there is certainly more that can be done to make things more ethical. The modern state of affairs is definitely not the absolute best we can do. I’m sure centuries from now people will looks at factory farming the same way we look at chattel slavery today. They will be sick to their stomachs and question how such a barbaric system could go on for so long and so widely.
I need to eat to live, though. Some alternative examples of how I knowingly live unethically and am resistant to change would be how I know full well purchasing plastics that last hundreds of years and my gasoline powered car are bad for the environment but partake in them anyway. I could potentially boycott these things, but it seems too inconvenient and extreme when everyone I know behaves the same way I do.
I think I’m rambling a bit here. My point is that injustices can be justified easily enough when enough raindrops come together to create a flood.
If my protest gains enough attention, I will certainly come across some who will want to justify the status quo. I anticipate that they will tell me what I’m doing is foolish.
They’ll say that I am too focused on the exact words in our beloved constitution that has worked so well for so long, and that I am misinterpreting things.
They’ll say that the system is working as intended and working very well. Some people DESERVE to be enslaved. They will be disgusted that I show focused concern for criminals when there are poverty-stricken veterans or victimized children, unaware of how they and their loved ones can suddenly be labeled subhuman criminals in the blink of an eye. They’ll say that this is the best way of doing things, that it’s not possible to treat criminals like human beings. They will insist that completely abolishing slavery will cost the US taxpayer billions of dollars and go against centuries of convention. We are required to treat convicts like vermin to ensure they are punished and shown their behavior was unacceptable.
I will do my best to make sure any opponents of my protest have their voices heard. Maybe someone will convince me to quiet down, go back home, and forget about this anti-slavery matter. There will come a time very soon that their words will sound sweeter than the finest honey when heard alongside my belly screaming with hunger. My greatest weakness is my lack of discipline, time will tell if I decide the pain that comes with change will triumph over the misery of things staying the same.
They’ll tell me to be silent, but if I obey, I’m afraid that one day there will be no one left to speak out for me.
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