[derektank]

Just because something is forced, doesn’t make it slavery. I’m forced to pay taxes; that doesn’t make me a slave. Nor was a tenant farmer in the Middle Ages when required to provide corvée. I think the primary objection in this thread is to the use of the word slavery, which is simply not the same thing.

[bloomingeek]

I agree with your account, the problem is how many perceive slavery. Here in the south (USA) many still think the slaves before the Civil War were "happy". They obviously weren't slaves. Until ALL mankind looks slavery fully in the eye for understanding, we will continue to undervalue those other then ourselves.

[cwmoore]

I don’t think there can be a bright line between acceptable and unacceptable coercion of liberties.

[p-e-w]

> Nor was a tenant farmer in the Middle Ages when required to provide corvée.

Many historians now concede that there is little to no meaningful difference between various forms of feudal servitude and slavery.

Slaves in the later Roman Empire also had certain rights, including the right to buy their own freedom in many cases. That doesn’t mean they weren’t slaves.