As I pointed out, GG, I had no intention of suggesting a parallel with that kind of slavery - and I can understand why you would object to the notion.

All kinds of slavery are deplorable, but the American system of chattel slavery founded on "race" was probably in some ways the nastiest that has ever existed, at the time and particularly in its legacy.

My parallel was with the type of slavery which existed in other places and times, as I pointed out, where it was not uncommon for important and well rewarded posts to be held by slaves. Privileged, but un-free and subject to the whims of their masters.