Were Americans dissuaded from slavery by mere talking? Historically (during the time of the expansion of Islam) Muslims had been pretty fair with Christians and Jews. They'd let them worship and pray as they would where the Christian crusaders SOP was to slaughter every inhabitant of Muslim cities, probably because the Catholic church promised them bogus glory, riches and such.

The Muslims probably saw it as you do, that they had been doing this for centuries and thats just how they were.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

There is a bumper sticker that says: Except for Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, War Never Solved Anything

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Don't forget colonial rule.

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That's not even closet to accurate. During the Islamic expansion they often killed anybody who did not convert to Islam, other than Christians or Jews, who merely had to pay a heavy tax and who lad less civil rights than Muslims. If anybody once converted, reverted to their former religion they were killed.

During later years when the caliphate was up for grabs the various factions would often persecute minority religions in pursuit of consolidating political power.

Remember that before the Islamic expansion into the Levant and eastward across north Africa, many religions lived in relative peace with each other. Due to the complete upset of the previous balance, one faction, Christians, raised armies to re-establish the status quo anti -- military-political-religious ventures that became known as crusades. Eventually the crusades devolved into the same savagery that the Islamic expansion became, resulting in periodic slaughter from one side or the other for several centuries.

Curiously, the people of those areas, especially the levant, if left alone, tended to get along rather well despite religious, ethnic, political, social, and economic differences.

As a matter of fact, Americans WERE dissuaded from slavery bt mere talking.
Much like in England, where "mere" preaching from pulpits across the country dissuaded people from slavery. People's hearts and minds were changed--one could say that people "repented". ( Very difficult for modern people to comprehend as they continue to say this was never, in any respect,a "Christian Country").
People tend to forget that if the white majority opposed freedom for blacks, then blacks would never have been freed. It was only with the assent of the majority of whites that blacks gained their rightful freedom.
Although I disagree with most that freedom for former slaves was the principle casue for the American Civil War, it did become a major rationale. Many whites took up arms to resolve the issues of the American Civil War, many died in that pursuit. They were principally convinced by talking that slavery was wrong, and then acted to bring about correction.

There are hate-filled people of every race and creed that use inflamatory rhetoric to spread their hatred. Do we accept, and even defend that sort of behavior from some while attcking others? Obviously, the man ( Rev Wright) has the right to his speech;its guaranteed. But that doesn't mean it is acceptable.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

And the US Civil War?

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99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
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03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
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Was when people who were convinced by "mere talking" took action.
"Mere talking" without the action of men volunteering to carry arms would not have been effective. But it was the "mere talking" that changed hearts and minds so that men took action.

Have you seen "Amazing Grace"?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags