How suitable to our crime is the punishment with which Providence threatens us?

Thomas Paine, March 8, 1775:

With what consistency, or decency [Americans] complain so loudly of attempts to enslave them, while they hold so many hundred thousands in slavery; and annually enslave many thousands more, without any pretence of authority, or claim upon them?

Before Lexington & Concord, the dude understood our nation's Original Sin in a way 1776 posers never will. Let us not lose sight of the fact that our nation has always been racist even before it was a nation, and it's long past time to atone in material ways.

This, BTW, is not a post about slavery...

Selah.