[thejeff]

Slavery was also different from place to place and at different times. Historically the kind of racial, generational slavery we had in the US was rare. Usually it was war captives and there were often ways to earn freedom.

Not to defend slavery, but it was a way of life in much of the ancient world. To class societies as evil just because they had slaves is glossing over the differences. Greece, Rome, biblical Israel, Egypt, all the foundations of western civilization. All used slaves.