I like your counter-argument Lebell. However, here's where things get tricky (in my opinion at least). The challenges in interpreting history and divining meaning is mutable and variable, especially relative to the present.
QUOTE:
I, on the other hand, try to look at the whole of any individual. Did they in
general do more "good" than "bad" for our world? What were their motives?
What were their tools?
This is why I can look at Jefferson, who owned slaves, and still admire him,
while I can look at Hitler, who unified a people and salvaged a nation, and
revile him.
It's a bit subjective. Part of the problem is tring to stay objective and unemotional in evaluating history. I really like this:
QUOTE:
I am advocating acknowledging his weakness while admiring his
greatness.
But with the caveat that it is subject to interpretation and open to spirited debate.
Sometimes I feel like there's a deconstructionist angle to history which I'm sure Roachboy can appreciate.
Will, I think we should recognize the "abhorrence of slavery" in balance to the good works of men's deeds. Jefferson (to me) was a great Founding Father but I definitely acknowledge he owned slaves etc. There's more to it in my opinion. It was transitional.
Similarly, although the Founding Father's presumably wrote the Constitution for the benefit of "white, property-owning, male over the age of forty", it is still the most amazing document produced by men. Even though it may not have been intended to include people like me, I still have greatly benefited from as have countless others. I agree, that what Jefferson wrote paved the way for evolvement such as the 13th Amendment. That's exactly what make Jefferson (et al) and the Constitution so great (to me).
I also believe, that the 13 colonies weren't very unified. Jefferson and others had to compromise on many issues such as slavery for a common goal (at the time). The US was very fragile back then and vulnerable to breaking apart. I am not justifying slavery, rather, trying to illustrate the process and difficulties of our history (as I know).
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