bradygirl_12 | (Reply)

From:

Funny, but if they were talking about objects-like a valuable work of art, or an expensive antique-and Caldwell was guilty of breaking it, everyone would be on Bruce's side. His possession was damaged, he's got the right to pursue legal action to punish the perpetrator.

*nods*

He certainly would get more support.

But put a slave in that same situation, and suddenly, there's no value to the owned "object" at all. Which is screwy, even in this setting, you know?

I think it's a psychological defense for freemen: they can't even put a value on slaves in the abstract in this particular case, because Kathy and the N.A.S. are challenging the way of things. The Gentleman's Code of Honor is something prized and respected, and Bruce is breaking that. For whatever reason, society will back his play if Clark was a valuable statue or painting, but not because he's a living, breathing being. Too close to home.

Prejudice goes through hoops to keep up some kind of psychological facade. While slaves are valued on the books as property and treated as such, in this particular instance, the Code comes first. Gentlemen settle such things among themselves, out of the public eye. Crazy, but what can you expect from a society that buys and sells people like furniture?