Slavery Is Not...

slavery is not about suffering . . .
. . . slavery is about service.
slavery is not about humiliation . . .
. . . slavery is about humility.
slavery is not about pain . . .
. . . slavery is about being present.
slavery is not about being used . . .
. . . slavery is about being of use.
slavery is not about control . . .
. . . slavery is about letting go.
slavery is not about what is done to you . . .
. . . slavery is about what you do for others.
slavery is not about abuse . . .
. . . slavery is about acceptance.
slavery is not about proving anything . . .
. . . slavery is about being real.
slavery is not about contempt . . .
. . . slavery is about respect.
slavery is not about how you look . . .
. . . slavery is about how much you care.
slavery is not about denying yourself . . .
. . . slavery is about being open.
slavery is not about bondage . . .
. . . slavery is about freeing your spirit.
slavery is not about punishment . . .
. . . slavery is about discipline.
slavery is not about being unable to escape . . .
. . . slavery is about being committed.
slavery is not about submission . . .
. . . slavery is about obedience.
slavery is not about fear . . .
:. . . slavery is about trust.
slavery is not about sex . . .
. . . slavery is about love.
slavery is not about pleasure . . .
. . . slavery is about happiness

gorgik@aol.com

Copyright 1998 by david stein. Permission is hereby freely granted for not-for-profit reprinting or reposting as long as the author's name and e-mail address are included at the end. The original version of this piece was written on Monday morning, October 26, 1998, shortly before i flew home to New York following a week of service with Master Steve in Palm Springs. i posted it to the gl-subs list that morning, and a few days later i posted a revised version to gl-asb, AOL's Leather onQ boards, the soc.subculture.bondage-bdsm newsgroup, and elsewhere. A still later version is posted on Master Steve’s site, SlaveMaster’s site, and other Web pages, and it has also been published in GMSMA's newsletter, Lolita’s P&P list, and elsewhere.