Reply #30: They were the best that their time produced [View All]

[northzax]

and the slavery decision was, in my opinion, a real politik decision to strengthen the country as a whole, taking a cut to bring the South in. In the long run, I think fewer people were enslaved and the institution was brought to an end in North America faster because of the decision to embrace the slave states. Slavery would have ended, but maybe not for another 50 years in the South.

Obviously, slavery is evil, and any person being held in bondage and slavery is one to many. But, even Oskar Schindler didn't save everyone he tried to from the Nazis, nor Raul Wallenberg, but they saved many. You have to look at history from a long wave perspective.

That said, on many social and political issues of the time, the Founding Fathers, especially Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton and some others were radicals. From different sides, perhaps, they didn't agree on the right path, but they embraced change, they were not static, their opinions and beliefs evolved, and frankly, I think a reincarnated TJ would be amused to learn we still use his writings as a sacred document, and that people think it's infalliable and static. Hold it, these are the same people who think that the Bible is literal, even in translation from Aramaic, of course they worship the words, not the meaning of a more recent document.

disclosure, I think the IDEAS in the Constitution are as close to holy as we can get on this earth, the concept is immense. the words are words.