[Vision2020] To Hell Or Barbados

[Tom Trail]

Visionnaires:

Many comments have been made concerning the history of slavery and it's impact
during the past few months.  I've just finished an excellent book 
called To Hell
Or Barbados which outlines the transplantation of over 50,000 Irish men, women
and children by the British and transported to Barbados and Virginia. 
This took
place between 1652 to 1659.  The author, Sean O'Callaghan, focuses on 
the ethnic cleansing of Ireland.  He studiously documents the history 
these people:  their transportation, the conditions in which they 
lived on plantations as slaves or
servants, and their rebellions.

Most Americans have not heard about white slavery.   Mr. O'Callaghan documents
the conditions of both black and white slavery from 1620 in Virginia to the
early 1800's as well as in Barbados.  He also points out that in many cases
the treatment of white slaves was worse than that of the black slaves. For
example Henry Laureus, a Virginia planter, said, "I never saw an 
Instance of Cruelty in Ten or Twelve years experience in that branch 
(the African Slave trade) equal to the cruelty exercised upon these 
poor Irish."

The book is published by Brandon Paperbacks in 2000 ISBN O 86322 287 O.  It
is interesting to note that the cases of so called humane treatment of white
slaves in rarely mentioned but the many rebellions involving both black and
white slaves was widespread against the cruelty of their master's.  The author
also points out that there is no documented history of any of the 50,000
Irish returning to their country.  The book also provides an 
excellent background about the impact of the British efforts of 
ethnic cleansing of the
Irish and provides us with an understanding of the history of hatred of the
Irish for the British which touches us even today

Tom Trail
-- 
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail at moscow.com