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(This is essentially a rip-off from a concept started by a friend of mine named Mickey. Check out Mickey's post here.)
Slavery. Why is it bad? "Coz a slave has no freedom", you say. Ah! But what is freedom?
If one did whatever one wanted to, one would soon be dead. That's because, when one does whatever one wants to, one tends to get in other people's way. And when other similarly free people do what they want to (i.e. get you out of their way) there is a likely chance that they will endeavor to make a permanent job of it.
So freedom is either:-
Doing whatever you like, unless other people object. (Which is not freedom at all)
Or
Doing whatever you like, provided it benefits you. (And since you would like to do something that benefits you… and you wouldn't like to do something that brought harm to you, it's essentially doing what you like.)
But there's a twist… who decides what's best for you?
When you're young, and haven't seen the beauties life has to offer, and are merely depressed about your acne, your weight, and that you don't have any real friends, you might be tempted to kill yourself.
Clearly not the way to go. You might think you would like to die… but that's not what you'll say 10 yrs later.
So who decides?
I'll get to that in a later post.
Here's something not so black and white…
What if it isn't a matter of life and death? What if you merely get to improve your standard of living?
Would that qualify as a benefit to you?
Say you're a beggar. Nothing wrong with you physically, you were just born poor, never received an education, never got a decent job coz of the population, never got hit by the green revolution (this is turning into a rap song)… and you make a decent 'wage' by begging, all of which goes for two square meals, but its more than many around you get. You don't have any possessions, decent clothes, or shelter, but you make do.
Say I came along, said I owned a piece of land, and was looking for some laborers to cultivate it for me. I would provide the seed and the machinery… I just needed you - and others like you - to run it for me. I would provide you with food, clothing and shelter. I would also give you one day a week off. You would work for no salary, aside from the food clothing and shelter I provided, but as you brought me wealth, I would be generous in my gifts to you. I would also create opportunities for you to grow in rank among your peers. After seven years, you would be released from your lease with some money to start a new life. If you had children, I would get them educated, provided they did chores around the house, like children in any normal family. They would also have to work, once their education was over, but once their schooling was paid for, they would be free.
Right now, you're a free beggar trying to do what's best for you… get money to buy food to eat.
I'm suggesting we cut out the middle man… no money… I provide food, clothing shelter, the works… which is what you would buy with your money anyway, were I to give it to you.
Going by the definition of 'Freedom is doing what's best for you', your best chance of being free is to become a slave.
And if you get past the stigma of 'Gasp! Slavery!' You'll realize this ideal (yes, I admit, ideal) life of a slave is a lot better than what most people in India get today. It's also Biblical. (The releasing after seven years bit, I mean.)
In fact many slaves refused to get released because the life their masters provided for them was better than that they could make for themselves. (It's like choosing to stay in an MNC, vs. starting your own business. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone…) The master would then pierce the slaves ear with an awl, signifying his permanent slave-hood. Permanent slaves had greater responsibilities, and thus greater perks. Israel's son, Joseph, you would remember, was in charge of Potiphar's entire household.
Thus I propose… slavery is not bad. Slavery is only as bad as the master who practices it.
