Panel of scholars reviews facts, says Jefferson did NOT father Sally Hemings’ children. But bureaucrats at Monticello insist that a “consensus” of historians feels otherwise. There’s that word again. “Consensus” is starting to be a synonym for “stupid.”
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Jefferson was a high profile American leader who believed blacks were inferiors and publicly supported miscengeny laws. Jefferson lived with his daughter, son-in-law, and numerous grandchildren at Monticello. Jefferson was also host to his neighbors and persons of distinction who visited him in his Virginia home. Ditto Jefferson had innumerable vocal critics and political enemies out to destroy him. What is unfathomable is that Jefferson had a decades long intimate relationship under his Monticello roof with a household slave (half white) and produced numerous children (3/4 white) and thought he could get away with it. And did.
Okay, so the panel of scholars investigated the matter, spent years examining the evidence, and concluded that Jefferson did NOT father Sally Hemings' children. But YOU, swollen with the superiority of knowing what you know no matter what, because you heard it in a chat room somewhere, emphatically insist otherwise.
THIS is why there is no intelligent dialogue in America anymore.
Well, her oldest child was not a Jefferson. He other children do have DNA markers similar to Jefferson's, however those genetic markers also match T. Jefferson's brother and nephews who were also living there at the time. Fruther there is some circumstancial evidence that it was indeed one of the nephews who fathered at least one of her children (youngest son I think but don't quote me) because at the time of conception, He was the only Jefferson male on the property. T. Jefferson was out of the State at the time.
Do you have references for me to look at? Especially that whole part of him believing that Black people were inferior? Did he say or write that? Can you place reference please?
Also where are you from? I think it is OBVIOUS that he was an American leader *duh*, so are from outside the US?
Oh, he did Kimmy. He felt that blacks were inferior to whites, a scientifically accepted view at the time (theire is science angain, screwing up!) That is why Blacks are counted as only 3/5 of a oerson. The Founding Fathers were all wealthy land owners. THe set up the government as a repubilc because they did not feel the uneducated masses were capable of making appropriate decisions. That is why we have the electoral college. Only landowners could vote, initially, and of course no one of color, or women could vote.
And because the Washington Times claims that the alleged paternity is now being disputed by "eminent scholars" (without detailing why these alleged scholars should be considered more "eminent" or better informed than those who disagree), the far right hastens to get behind them.
SO typical.
I am not for or against them. I frankly don't care. COnsensual sex and rapoe occurred between races then and still does. Other than the criminal offense of rape (which was not recognized at the time, regardless of race of those involved.) I don't care what happend in someone's bedroom 200+ years ago. Its over. done, and who cares? Nothing we do will change it.
Someone is probably looking to get paid.
Fourths.
Obviously I am not down with the idea that he had slaves and certainly that he essentially, and in today’s legal terms, raped an “employee” of his.
It's all OK Kimmy. Just use Olivia's logic about the violence in the Quran.
It is merely a reflection of the times. There was nothing wrong with it then.
I'm sure Olivia will come and defend slavery any time now, just to show how consistant she is, and to do yet another commercial on why we need abortion.
Jefferson was brilliant. Obviously I am not down with the idea that he had slaves and certainly that he essentially, and in today's legal terms, raped an "employee" of his. However, I recognize that at the time, slavery was normal and even though many of these men would be nominally Christians, it was also normal to commit adultery with a person that they owned. It is hard to judge on this side of history, especially knowing that a good number of these women (who were slaves) actually acceded to the adultery knowing fully well that they were benefits to them and their families involved.
I think it is obvious that slavery issues were one of Jefferson's inner demons and sadly has tarnished a brilliant legacy. Perhaps he felt that if he didn't own them, they would end up at the hands of an unfeeling and evil owner... *shrugs* Whatever the case maybe, it is a fascinating subject. It doesn't really matter at this juncture if he father the children or not, or if he allowed his male family members to use his female slaves as sexual partners. Whatever happened, happened so long ago, that at this point in time to seek certitude, in my humble opinion, seems like a waste of time. What will that do? Overall even if perhaps a bit tarnished, what he has done for the establishment of this country cannot be repealed. The only sad thing is the misuse of his terminology which I wonder if he would take back or else amend if he was alive today.
True. If they are that concerned, run a DNA test on Sally's descendants and compare to Jefferson's. This is easy to fic if people want proof one way or the other.
there is something funny about the word "consensus" these days....but it's still 2nd place to "unexpected" in my book! I wonder if we will get those "unexpected" high unemployment numbers again this month?
Not only will this month's unemployment numbers be unexpectedly bad, next month they will unexpectedly revise them upward. Everything this administration announces is unexpectedly revised in the bad direction later.