And another thing to consider about statutes and other means to honor historical figures.
We are applying modern standards, values and mores to people and situations hundreds of years ago. Although the idea of one human owning another is wrong and was wrong back then, by the "rules" of the society they lived in, it was an accepted, common practice. Many important historical figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves. It was perfectly acceptable, by the standards of the time they lived in. Do we excoriate them as well by applying standards from 200 years after they lived?
Suppose 200 years from now, society has changed so that illegal immigration is not only frowned upon, but considered as unacceptable as slave ownership is today. (it's not impossible) Do they then proceed to remove all traces and honor given to Obama because he encouraged illegals? If you don't like that example, I'm sure I can think of others.
But the basic question is "is it right to judge the actions of people from 200 or more years ago by modern standards which were unheard of in their time?"
We are applying modern standards, values and mores to people and situations hundreds of years ago. Although the idea of one human owning another is wrong and was wrong back then, by the "rules" of the society they lived in, it was an accepted, common practice. Many important historical figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves. It was perfectly acceptable, by the standards of the time they lived in. Do we excoriate them as well by applying standards from 200 years after they lived?
Suppose 200 years from now, society has changed so that illegal immigration is not only frowned upon, but considered as unacceptable as slave ownership is today. (it's not impossible) Do they then proceed to remove all traces and honor given to Obama because he encouraged illegals? If you don't like that example, I'm sure I can think of others.
But the basic question is "is it right to judge the actions of people from 200 or more years ago by modern standards which were unheard of in their time?"
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