Slavery and "slaveowners" are such a loaded terms that it is almost impossible to have rational discussions about them. Many instantly equate "slave" to recent

Slavery and "slaveowners" are such a loaded terms that it is almost impossible to have rational discussions about them. Many instantly equate "slave" to recent versions of slavery in US history. But the definitions used throughout history are remarkably varied. A Roman household slave was not the same as an African slave in a US cottonfield. One very interesting line of thought is whether modern soldiers are enslaved. US caselaw has two exceptions for the 13th amendment: Prison labor and military service. Why are they not slaves? There is no logical reason beyond the courts says they aren't. The concept of forced labor by people who are not "free" remains a cornerstone of modern society. We are not as far away from the past as we sometimes like to think.