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To begin, let's ask a rather strange question: What is a slave? Our guess is you have a picture in your mind of a bleeding, chain-bound wretch regularly beaten with whips and tortured in any manner of ways. However, Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary describes a slave as:
History shows that slaves have been treated in all manner of ways, some more cruel than others, some with surprising tenderness and generosity. Many slaves were difficult to recognize as being in bondage because of the fine clothes they were given to wear. In some cases, such as the Medieval Serfs, religious beliefs bound slaves to their rulers, and none of them considered themselves as slaves, even though they were treated as such. The favored slaves of Asian potentates wore more jewels than you can possibly imagine, yet were still slaves for all their finery and comfort. So, what is a slave? How do we define a slave? What test do we use to tell if someone is a slave. What makes them different from free people? Free people can say “no”. Free people can refuse demands for their money, time, and children. Slaves cannot. There is no freedom without the freedom to say “no”. If someone demands that you do something and you can say “no” and refuse to do it, then you are a free human being. If you can be forced to do something or surrender something that you do not wish to, then you are a slave. No other test need be applied. Now here's another strange question. Please think carefully about your answer. Are you a slave? "Of course not!", you exclaim. "I live in my own home, am free to choose the job I have, the company I keep, the books I read and where I send my children to school. I drive a luxury car and eat at expensive restaurants whenever I choose. What slave could live the life of comfort I lead?" Your rather predictable response is based on today's society's polarized image of slaves bound in chains and tortured into submission. With this image firmly entrenched, you believe you can confidently say, “I am not like that, therefore I am not a slave.” Just for fun, let's try a little experiment. It will take less than 5 minutes, and the results may surprise you. Here's a short quiz with only Yes or No answers. Skim through the questions and answer them honestly. Then click on the Submit link to discover whether you're a slave or not.
Slavery Quiz
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© Copyright Freedom Technology 2006 and beyond This page last updated on October 10, 2006
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