Intergalactic Summit

Hello, everyone. I’ve been asked to post my story on the IGS by Seraphim, so I am honoring that request.

I was born 02.24 YC95, to Alavitus and Serena Black, slaves. My mother died during childbirth and my father a month later due to a heart condition. Since I was orphaned, my holder and his lady took me in and raised me, very much as their daughter. I ate at their table, slept in their manor. When I was sick, my lady would take care of me, bring me soup for a change. The only difference was that I was a slave. They made no pretense, nor did I. Their house crest was ever-present on my clothes, above my left breast. When I was scolded as a child, I was called slave, where other parents would just say their child’s name sharply. Once when I was thirteen, I drank a bottle of my lord’s wine. My lady helped me to recover bringing me water as I threw up and was miserable. They watched over my every move for a month, no free time what so ever, everything was timed.

I do not mean to sound like it was all bad. To the contrary, I would say that I was extremely well treated. Had I been free it would have been a life that I would have enjoyed. Once the war is over I would like to go to my lord and lady and thank them for raising me as they did. I was never hungry; I had a warm bed and a roof over my head.

However, what the Amarrians fail to realize is that a gilded cage is still a cage. The best treated slave is still a slave. Freedom is the universal constant, the freedom to chose one’s destiny is what gives life meaning.

I was in bondage, but had no chains.
I was forced to work, but felt no whip.
I was made to worship, but felt no god.
My Holder cared for me when I was sick,
comforted me when I was sad,
I do not hate him.
But what they fail to understand is that without freedom,
color becomes pallor,
man becomes carcass,
home becomes catacomb.
And life becomes a mockery.

I'm very glad you were so fortunate to have kind holders. Most aren't so lucky. It makes me happier that you chose to join the war on the righteous side.

And once you join the "war for freedom" I hope for you that it won't happen that someone like you takes a fancy in killing those you would wish to see again after the war.

For they are loved by you but hated by many like you. And remember that many you kill might be as loved by others who came from the same place like you.

What evidence do you have to back this statement up?

I'm not the one making a claim, so it's not really necessary for me to provide evidence.

But the fact that mistreatment of slaves goes against Imperial edicts, is counter-productive and is morally suspect should be enough for most people to accept that the majority of slaves are not mistreated despite what Shakorite propaganda would have them believe.

It really is simple. If it is the case only a minority of slaves were abused, there would have been no Rebellion. People who are generally happy or at least content with their station in life simply do not rebel. It thus follows there must have been a great deal of abuse, or else no Rebellion would have happened.

I'm sure that you don't need reminding that Archbishop is the chair of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Slaves.

Not at all Rodj. Let me lay this down simply.

If people have rebelled, they must have been unhappy.

If P, then Q.

Not-P does not imply not-Q.


Denying the antecedent, are we Blake? To be more verbose, there are cases where rebellions are put down or the people brainwashed. These would be cases where there is slave abuse without rebellion.

And yet I'm still waiting for actual evidence that the majority of slaves are badly treated.

Rodj, I just presented evidence. It's called history. Furthermore, if the Empire is so merciful and great, why are there more Matari coming to the Republic willingly than the reverse (Matari willingly leaving the Republic to go to the Empire)?