Buy a Slave?

[Larry Ancil]

A friend and I were talking the other day about movies. I mentioned "Schindler's List." There is a great scene at the end (don't watch the film if you are not prepared for graphic horror and disregard for life) where Schindler is upset that he did not give up enough to "buy" another Jew. He keeps saying "I could have bought one more..."
We were talking about what we do or do not sacrifice and why. I brought up that for the cost of having a dog, I could buy a Sudanese child out of slavery. (Some of my friends were there and there are folks who buy slaves to save their lives, so its not just and academic question of ethics) He countered that that would support slavery and increase the demand, thus driving up the number of slaves taken.
What would you do? If you were there, and saw an 8 year old girl, gruffly treated at best, for sale at the cost of $200. If you had cash in hand and were planning on buying some souveniers (some real good deals) and maybe some gear. I'm not going to lay it on too thick, I don't want to press for a guilt trip. But I am wondering what you are thinking.

[A Cup of No]

I'm not sure I understand the OP. If I bought the slave, would she be saved from some subsequent torment? And if I bought the slave, it would also increase slave trade, perhaps allowing someone with less than generous intentions to buy the slave?

[commonman]

A friend and I were talking the other day about movies. I mentioned "Schindler's List." There is a great scene at the end (don't watch the film if you are not prepared for graphic horror and disregard for life) where Schindler is upset that he did not give up enough to "buy" another Jew. He keeps saying "I could have bought one more..."
We were talking about what we do or do not sacrifice and why. I brought up that for the cost of having a dog, I could buy a Sudanese child out of slavery. (Some of my friends were there and there are folks who buy slaves to save their lives, so its not just and academic question of ethics) He countered that that would support slavery and increase the demand, thus driving up the number of slaves taken.
What would you do? If you were there, and saw an 8 year old girl, gruffly treated at best, for sale at the cost of $200. If you had cash in hand and were planning on buying some souveniers (some real good deals) and maybe some gear. I'm not going to lay it on too thick, I don't want to press for a guilt trip. But I am wondering what you are thinking.

You left out one option:

Buy a machete from the vendor down the way. Return to the slave trader, offer him his life in exchange for the little slave girl. If the slave trader refuses, gently suggest that the little girl will be freed whether the slave trader lives or dies. Make certain the slave trader can see white all around your iris as you make that suggestion while flailing the machete from side to side.

This option would solve the conundrum of freeing the little girl at the risk of supporting the slave trade. In fact, it would deter the slave trade.

[Leonhard]

Hmm, I don't know.

I don't think I would buy her, instead I would donate my money to organisations which are helping people with education and improvement of their economy and such. That way maybe I could help bring about a world where she didn't have too be sold.

Alas my heart might just break when I see the child and then I would buy her and place her under some good people (perhaps a good owner) and donate money to help her with education and stuff.