General Discussion

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)

17. Historical Context..

Sat Dec 1, 2012, 08:56 AM

Dec 2012

I'm a big fan of not ripping people out of their historical context and judging them by contemporary standards. Jefferson's views were liberal and progressive for his time.

Ever wonder what future generations will say about us? Is it possible to be judged a good person by them if we eat meat and drive a car, say? Or will they be revolted by our ignorance and cruelty the way we have judged every previous generation?

I think the optimistic notion is that there's a tendency for values to become more progressive and humane over time despite short-term setbacks.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to drive to McDonald's for a Big Mac.

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The Monster of Monticello [View all] salvorhardin Dec 2012 OP

He had also included a clause in the DOI that stated that slavery should be abolished. The anti- sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #1

Jefferson was not the sole author of the Declaration of Independence salvorhardin Dec 2012 #3

The phrase "Life, Liberty and Le Taz Hot Dec 2012 #10

Life, liberty, and property was John Locke. Not Paine white_wolf Dec 2012 #31

Woops! Le Taz Hot Dec 2012 #35

Rather than a monster, I'd call him an amateur business man. SleeplessinSoCal Dec 2012 #2

That's what I keep saying about Nixon salvorhardin Dec 2012 #5

Given the science since Jefferson's time, wonder what he'd be saying today. SleeplessinSoCal Dec 2012 #23

Slavery Is All Wrong colsohlibgal Dec 2012 #4

He was a product of his times BernieO Dec 2012 #15

Jefferson's views on slavery are hypocritical to say the least. white_wolf Dec 2012 #6

Jefferson appears to have questioned whether African-Americans JDPriestly Dec 2012 #7

yet he found them human enough to arely staircase Dec 2012 #8

Yes, especially since there was no doubt about bestiality and pedophilia. KitSileya Dec 2012 #11

lots of compartmentalizing arely staircase Dec 2012 #18

He was utterly confused on this topic. JDPriestly Dec 2012 #22

He fathered children NOLALady Dec 2012 #27

after the revolution he specifically noted how profitable his slave operation was. HiPointDem Dec 2012 #12

....... when the love of money trumps all .... principles are just words .... MindMover Dec 2012 #26

Slavery was an evil that was a long standing aspect of Judeo-Christian religions and cultures. Zorra Dec 2012 #9

Washington was the only major planter among the seven Founding Fathers to emancipate his slaves. HiPointDem Dec 2012 #13

Wait, doesn't that mean that it was his wife, Martha, who freed his slaves after he died? Zorra Dec 2012 #44

They both had slaves which belonged to them personally. In his will GW directed that his be freed HiPointDem Dec 2012 #45

The best book on Jefferson was written by an African-American woman, Annette Gordon Reed. Peace Patriot Dec 2012 #14

"he did very poorly, financially, and died penniless" hedgehog Dec 2012 #21

living beyond his means was part of it, but he also had the misfortune to die during a long HiPointDem Dec 2012 #29

I read that book also. Sally Hemmings was a very interesting woman. jwirr Dec 2012 #24

according to jefferson, his nailery alone provided "completely for the maintenance" of his family. HiPointDem Dec 2012 #30

Sick systems make sick people Recursion Dec 2012 #16

Historical Context.. Ron Obvious Dec 2012 #17

Contemporary standards hedgehog Dec 2012 #19

John Adams was an exceptional man Ron Obvious Dec 2012 #37

Not the only one. Paine wanted to give women the right to vote as well. white_wolf Dec 2012 #38

Paine was another exceptional man... Ron Obvious Dec 2012 #41

Thomas Paine strongly oppossed slavery. white_wolf Dec 2012 #25

Others of his time knew it was wrong. NOLALady Dec 2012 #28

Exactly. That's why I can't buy that defense. Union Scribe Dec 2012 #39

From the Smithsonian Magazine hedgehog Dec 2012 #20

R#10 & K for, wow. n/t UTUSN Dec 2012 #32

John Adams did much of what Jefferson is given credit for melody Dec 2012 #33

Agreed Adams was a good President. He was honest and straight forward while Jefferson was devious. craigmatic Dec 2012 #36

Jefferson was a hypocrit along with most of the founding fathers which is why craigmatic Dec 2012 #34

Yep. Zinn forever changed my view of the revolutionary war Union Scribe Dec 2012 #40

I never read Zinn but it sounds like we agree on alot. The revolution was more of a coup than craigmatic Dec 2012 #42

LBJ slaughtered a million people in Southeast Asia AND passed the Civil Rights Act and... Peace Patriot Dec 2012 #43