Cheat to Win

I watched the movie "Amazing Grace" this weekend and found it surprisingly applicable to today. I'll summarize for anyone who hasn't seen it.

It takes place during the late 1700's in Great Brittan and slavery is a common everyday reality. William Wilberforce is a member of the British parliament, basically their congress. Growing up, he was influenced by his pastor who happened to be a reformed slave ship captain and the author of the hymn "amazing grace". His pastor said he lived with 20,000 ghosts, a ghost for every slave he had on his ship.

William takes this issue of slavery to heart and does all he can while in parliament, he first starts out as a lone minority with only a very few supporters, a small group of pastors, former slaves, and former slavers who campaign for several years for the cause. These campaigns are extremely effective with people all over GB supportive, but, the support does not seep into parliament.

5 years William brings "the abolition of slavery" bill to the British House of Commons but never wins a majority vote. There is money and power in slavery, this time is the height of the British Empire and nobody wants to give up power to the French or the Americans who both have a strong presence in slaving.

William and his group decide to attack from a different direction, basically cheating. Slave ships fly an American flag regardless which country they originate from. GB and France are at war during this time. France will fly the American flag on its ships to avoid British aggression. At this time American ships have protection from Pirates and the like from the British. So the cheat was to simply remove the British protection to hurt the French.

Slave ships no longer under British protection would then lose the revenue from the slave trade, making it harder and harder to make any money for anyone involved in slaving. So the "Abolition of Slavery" act passed easily when it was brought up for the final time 2 years after.

The thing that struck me was William had never been against the others inside his parliament. Anyone educated in the matter found no reason to continue slavery, but the true opposition was outside the parliament the super-powerful few who made fortunes from slaving. Those who were above feeling anything for slaves, those who were in power and wanted to stay in power by any means necessary.

William just made it un-profitable for slaving, I doubt he actually changed any minds of the super-elite to a greater moral state'.

How does this tie in today?

I love politics and try to keep up with it as much as I can. I have learned that politics are not merely philosophically or ideologically opposing viewpoints but mainly of power and control.