Humans are lazy. This simple, three word statement should be obvious, as most of what surrounds us are tools created by humans to make life in some way easier. The human propensity for tool-making has allowed the species to elevate itself above the natural environment it came from, creating a world apart from the world which is full of luxuries and things that seem to make life easier, but which actually cause more suffering, especially for the unfortunate myriad of animal species sacrificed with nary a shrug in this undertaking called civilization, but also for humans themselves, as the nature of suffering is such that when it is constantly deferred, avoided, and repressed, it creates new forms of suffering which are often even greater than the initial suffering which was cast aside.
Let us consider a very real problem that presents itself: how to get work done. In 1501, the first African slaves arrived at Hispanola, and this importation of humans was an attempt by Europeans to get work done without actually doing any work themselves. I’m sure this was justified as not being a form of laziness, that slavery was necessary because there was too much work to get done and not enough workers to do it, but this illustrates only the fact that humans also, in addition to being lazy, have a tendency to bite off more than they can chew when they do decide to do actual work, which causes problems to overwhelm them, and sets in motion solution after solution that doesn’t actually solve anything and just makes things worse.
In slavery, the slaves themselves suffer incredibly, which is a matter which was cast aside with much hand-waving by European slave-owners. But in the end, Europeans suffered a lot because of slavery too, as they brought into being a racist social system which ultimately would turn on Europeans (who would eventually be known most notoriously as “white people”). Slavery brought into being the need to keep slaves, to constantly repress them, be on guard against any attempt they might make to flee, gain power, or turn on their masters. This was completely poisonous to the dispositions of Europeans, creating a streak of sadism, fear, and paranoia in them, and a constant need to treat other human beings in a way they themselves would not like to be treated. In a way, slavery helped destroy the soul of Europeans in America, and created a culture lacking in empathy, locked in an invisible power struggle with itself.
The civil war was no redemption, as afterward former Black slaves were still treated as sub-human by society in the South and repressed, mostly for fear they would gain too much power, which in the minds of now-soulless European-Americans would lead to the downfall of civilization, as it was feared that Black people would exact revenge on their oppressors. White people are now the diaspora of various European countries, divided against themselves, locked in a cultural war based on race, which is now erupting in chaos and violence, with everyone with a sense of compassion chastising the culture of Whiteness, with all of the suffering white people avoided paying them back.
All because people didn’t want to do work.
