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My Family’s Slave

theatlantic.com

221–230 of 645 posts

Re: My Family’s Slave

#222
post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry for your troubles. But being confronted, in person, with a situation that you think is domestic slavery and being asked on the internet for money by a stranger are two different things.

I'm sorry for your troubles. But being confronted, in person, with a situation that you think is domestic slavery and being asked on the internet for money by a stranger are two different things. I am not asking for money. And you are just proving my point.

I'm sorry. I must have misinterpreted "solve my financial problems." Typically that's a euphemism for giving money. Forgive me.

Re: My Family’s Slave

#223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Western cultures were the ones who decided slavery was a universal sin and had to be eradicated everywhere. Were they wrong?

No, they were not. Slavery is a universal wrong.

Right or wrong is relative. Including slavery.

Re: My Family’s Slave

#224
post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many such American slavery stories are just that- stories. There are plenty of real examples of American slave owners across the spectrum from evil cruelty to compassionate caring, even love.

you can't be compassionate if your compassion only extends to the point that it starts to have any negative effect on your life. Then you're just a dick that wants to pretend you are a better person than you are. The author is as compassionate as many of the Republicans in Congress. They care! They really do, just not enough to vote in anyway that would make a difference to the things they proclaim to care about. I r…

> you can't be compassionate if your compassion only extends to the point that it starts to have any negative effect on your life.

How much of your income do you donate?

Re: My Family’s Slave

#225
post #93

For those who think it can't happen here, there was a recent case in Silicon Valley where a group of small business owners was keeping slaves. I actually ate at their restaurant and had no idea what was going on. http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/11/20/plight-of-saratoga-hum...

It also happens in London, with many nail shops basically having slaves.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2491045/97-arrested-in-raids-o...

And there are also a lot of illegal cannabis growing locations which basically have slave boys from Vietnam tending them.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/uk-police-crit...

Re: My Family’s Slave

#226
post #93

For those who think it can't happen here, there was a recent case in Silicon Valley where a group of small business owners was keeping slaves. I actually ate at their restaurant and had no idea what was going on. http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/11/20/plight-of-saratoga-hum...

Isn't spain a reasonable high wage country? I wonder what made these people accept such lives in the US.

from the article:

Desperate to make a living after the global economic collapse in 2008 hit Spain particularly hard, at least three victims accepted the jobs without meeting the restaurant and salon owners, Estanislao said. In some cases, the group paid for their tickets and told them they could work off the debt.

Re: My Family’s Slave

#227

I'm curious how this story fits into today's US politics. For those that are unaware, the Atlantic is a politically left USA website, so typically there is some connection to modern politics in the life-story pieces.

The Atlantic is a 160 year old magazine that leans a lot more to the center than to the left.

Re: My Family’s Slave

#228
post #141

Truly remarkable story. One thing that struck me is that Lola did so much of the work of a traditional mother's role: raising the kids, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and even providing emotional support. The mother had to take on a traditional father's role in bringing home an income. And the actual father - well, he did neither role and seemed to just freeload, gamble, abuse, and finally disappear. All of the work in…

It's like ... slavery-lite. Fundamentally what's the difference between Lola's role and a common role of a wife a hundred years ago?* And second – a dangerous question – is it necessarily wrong? I ask not to lead one to believe to think that it isn't, certainly there are aspects which are unquestionable immoral, but is there room for such a social construct? More importantly, answering why not in a robust way could m…

The Fine Article mentions a number of times where Lola was not allowed freedom of movement. She had no freedom of movement, no pay (or ability to direct money), no personal life, no say in what she did, and was kept in place by fear. It certainly wasn't the common role of a wife a hundred years ago to be kept from a dying parent, for example.

The nature of her labour is not what made Lola a slave; it was the circumstances around that labour.

Re: My Family’s Slave

#229
post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry for your troubles. But being confronted, in person, with a situation that you think is domestic slavery and being asked on the internet for money by a stranger are two different things. I am not asking for money. And you are just proving my point.

I'm sorry. I must have misinterpreted "solve my financial problems." Typically that's a euphemism for giving money. Forgive me.

... the one thing I most need to get my life back is an online income adequate to support myself...

I stated it as clearly as I know how, yet people routinely assume I am "panhandling the internet." Because prejudice etc.

Re: My Family’s Slave

#230
post #5

A well written story. I'd be interested in hearing from any Filipino commentators how common this practice still is/is perceived to be in the Philippines today. It's ranked 33/167 by Global Slavery Index[0] as compared to the US at #52. [0] https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/country/philippines/

I don't know how common it is in the Philippines, but it's very common in rich parts of China and Taiwan [0]. Although they probably do get paid something and have freedom, the situations are very similar. Dropped into a location without the ability to speak the language or financial resources to escape. [0] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EHNSDKK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?...

A friend of mine has talked about the situation in other island nations nearby where some will have young staff; males as drivers, gardening, running errands, and females for cooking, cleaning and sex. I imagine there would be a serious power imbalance with that last item.
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