He doesn't get a pass, I think in the long run analysis of it in the context of history doesn't add anything to the discussion. He was wrong about it, eveyone around him was wrong about it. To my knowlge there wasn't a burgeoning rights movement he crushed or anything, although if there was I'd have to update my thinking. I think the historical realities of receving a partial 1800s education prevent us from gaining deep insight through this analysis.
Shit take. You wouldn't say that about George Washington being a slaver, why does Stalin get a pass for being homophobic
He doesn't get a pass, I think in the long run analysis of it in the context of history doesn't add anything to the discussion. He was wrong about it, eveyone around him was wrong about it. To my knowlge there wasn't a burgeoning rights movement he crushed or anything, although if there was I'd have to update my thinking. I think the historical realities of receving a partial 1800s education prevent us from gaining deep insight through this analysis.