In Part 1 we raised the question of why the Torah only forbids us to work a Jewish slave with avodas parech but not a non-Jewish slave. Part 2 explores one of three approaches.
Your observation about forcing children to "give their toys to random orphans, or send their candy to kids in Africa" struck a chord with me. Back in the early 1980's, I heard a coworker remarking to someone, "Of course I told my kids that their Chanukah money was going to children in Cambodia this year." A fine sentiment, but if followed to its logical extreme, her kids would never get any Chanukah gifts at all, because there would always be victims of some international crisis deserving of aid. Your approach (and arguably the Torah's) makes more sense.
Your observation about forcing children to "give their toys to random orphans, or send their candy to kids in Africa" struck a chord with me. Back in the early 1980's, I heard a coworker remarking to someone, "Of course I told my kids that their Chanukah money was going to children in Cambodia this year." A fine sentiment, but if followed to its logical extreme, her kids would never get any Chanukah gifts at all, because there would always be victims of some international crisis deserving of aid. Your approach (and arguably the Torah's) makes more sense.