Someone got infected with Virtue Signal Syndrome. And is anyone surprised that the NY Times would publish this? When does the NY Times get cancelled, considering it stole the property for its current building from People of Color via eminent domain?
From Thomas Jefferson’s own family, a call to take down his memorial
A direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson has called for the memorial to the third president to be removed from Washington, D.C.
Writing in the New York Times Monday morning, Lucian K. Truscott IV says his ancestor’s former estate at Monticello is enough of a tribute and that the Jefferson Memorial, located next to the Tidal Basin in the nation’s capital, should be replaced with a statue honoring the abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman.
“The memorial is a shrine to a man who during his lifetime owned more than 600 slaves and had at least six children with one of them, Sally Hemings,†Truscott writes. “It’s a shrine to a man who famously wrote that ‘all men are created equal’ in the Declaration of Independence that founded this nation — and yet never did much to make those words come true. Upon his death, he did not free the people he enslaved, other than those in the Hemings family, some of whom were his own children. He sold everyone else to pay off his debts.â€
In the piece, Truscott argues that Monticello serves as an “almost perfect memorial†to the nation’s third president. In his opinion, Monticello notes Jefferson’s major contributions to the creation of the United States — including the Declaration of Independence — but also includes his history as a slave owner, or, as Truscott writes, “it reveals him with his moral failings in full, an imperfect man, a flawed founder.â€
“I am the sixth-generation great-grandson of a slave owner,†Truscott continues. “My cousins from the Sally Hemings family are also the great-grandchildren of a slave owner. But the difference is that our great-grandfather owned their great-grandmother. My family owned their family. That is the American history you will not learn when you visit the Jefferson Memorial. But you will learn it when you visit Monticello: There’s now an exhibit of Sally Hemings’s bedroom in her cavelike living quarters in the south wing, a room my brother and I used to play in when we were boys.â€
People have flaws. Things were much different in the 1700’s than they are now. I wonder if Truscott will come out against all the slavery in China? His other writings do not
Truscott is a novelist and columnist for Salon whose grandfather was a general during World War II.
Ah, Salon. You know Salon, right? A major hotbed of uber-far left insanity.
But, hey, Truscott is welcome to his opinion. Of course, he’s just one descendant. Jefferson had 10 kids and this was over 200 years ago. In the Yahoo article comments, Andrew writes
Furthermore, no, the memorial should not be removed. You can make a very compelling case that Thomas Jefferson is not only the most important man in the history of our country, but of Western society altogether. He was not perfect, but he should be judged based on when he lived, and the cumulative contributions he made to society.
It’s almost incomprehensible that even his direct descendants don’t understand his own legacy. Mr. Truscott says “It’s a shrine to a man who famously wrote that ‘all men are created equal’ in the Declaration of Independence that founded this nation — and yet never did much to make those words come true.” This is simply incorrect. Firstly, Jefferson was a vocal proponent for ending the institution of slavery. He was a leading member of the Continental Congress, a governor, the first secretary of state, second vice president, and then finally the third president. His words both at the time in in the future had a profound impact. And yes, he did take legitimate, meaningful steps to halt and roll back slavery.
While Jefferson served as governor of Virginia in 1780, Virginia banned the importation of slaves into the Commonwealth, they were one of the first jurisdictions in the world to do so. In addition to being governor and an obvious political and ideological leader, Jefferson also probably authored the actual law itself. While serving as president in 1807, the entire US followed suit, criminalizing the importation of slaves. Jefferson was again a principle driving force behind the new legislation. While addressing Congress in 1806 he referred to slavery as a “violation of human rights” and stated that is was in the country’s moral interest to end the practice.
Truscott also says that “Upon his death, he did not free the people he enslaved, other than those in the Hemings family, some of whom were his own children. He sold everyone else to pay off his debts.” That’s technically true, but it completely ignores the fact that legally, he couldn’t set them free. Jefferson inherited a significant number of slaves and debts from his father-in-law, and he never managed to pay those debts down. He was a notoriously generous man, giving out money to anyone that arrived at Monticello, letting visitors spend the night, and feeding them. He also focused his efforts on founding an nurturing a new country rather than managing his estates. As a result, he was saddled with debt his entire adult life, and when he died, Virginia law did not permit him to free his slaves. They legally had to be sold to pay off his considerable debts.
Finally, what I consider to be his most considerable contribution towards ending slavery and even racism in general was his written word. Jefferson, and many of the other founders, introduced enlightenment ideas into mainstream American life. The phrase “All men are created equal,” even if not properly enforced at the time, was spread all throughout the Western world and did eventually become an observed reality. Jefferson didn’t live at a time when all men were viewed as equal, but his belief that it was true and his written eloquence literally shaped a society in which it is true. He was a pioneer whose ideology was ahead of his time, and whose system of beliefs is directly responsible for the rise of modern Western society. It’s to him that we owe our gratitude for securing for us our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Yeah, let’s leave his memorial alone.
Well said. Let’s run a poll, see what the nation as a whole thinks. I can bet the SJWs won’t like the results.
To hell with it. Just remove all monuments, all museum pieces and erase all the history books.
Truscott IV is a well known freak. His opinion should not be considered on anything of importance. What do all of his other descendants think? I’m sure the Hennings family would love to go back to being descendants of “no one in particular”.
Truscott is a novelist and columnist for Salon whose grandfather was a general during World War II.
Not exactly a class character, either. He banged Claire Boothe Luce (wife of Henry, founder of Time-Life) while she was reporting in Italy and got Darby’s Rangers massacred at Anzio.
Then had the gall to say it “bothered” him after he tried to weasel his way out of it.
I don’t think that is right. Truscott IV is Vietnam era. Could not have been at Anzio.
Reading comprehension not your thing, prof? The comment refered to his Granddad, Truscott II
I was speaking of grandfather.
No sweat.
Some idiot great, great, great, great something or other to Thomas Jefferson has an opinion? Who TF cares? Being related to a great person doesn’t mean you yourself are worth a shit.
My wife keeps saying she’s somehow related to LBJ. I’m like, “You know, that guy was actually one of the biggest assholes in history, don’t cha?”
Thomas Jefferson was only 1 of the 8 US Presidents (including Washington, Madison, Monroe and Andrew Jackson) to own slaves while occupying the White House.
And yes, Jefferson was a hypocrite for writing “All men are created equal”, while owning hundreds of slaves, and denying the intelligence and humanity of Black men and women in his writings. Although Jefferson didn’t mean all men when he wrote “All men…”, unlike the CSA “rebels”, Jefferson was not a traitor who tried to overthrow America.
President Jefferson does deserve honor, while at the same time being recognized for his “flaws”, but the tributes to traitors should be removed.
Americans should not and will not forget the treason of the Civil War, but neither should we celebrate its engineers and symbols.
Among other historic inaccuracies the CSA never tried to “overthrow America”.
But stupid Rimjob doesn’t care for accuracy.
Lolgfy
Thomas Jefferson was only 1 of the 8 US Presidents (including Washington, Madison, Monroe and Andrew Jackson) to own slaves while occupying the White House.
First of all, George owned no slaves. They were Martha’s (she was, after all, a Custis). Same was true of Robert E Lee, and US Grant.
Second, slavery was legal. Blacks owned slaves.
Third, bonded indenture, essentially slavery of whites was not outlawed until 1836.
And yes, Jefferson was a hypocrite for writing “All men are created equalâ€, while owning hundreds of slaves, and denying the intelligence and humanity of Black men and women in his writings. Although Jefferson didn’t mean all men when he wrote “All men…â€, unlike the CSA “rebelsâ€, Jefferson was not a traitor who tried to overthrow America.
No, Tom was no hypocrite. the equality thing was about being equal in the eyes of their Creator. Of course, men are not equal on earth. All of us here are smarter and of better character than you.
And the Confederates, as we have established, were not traitors. Nor did they attempt to “overthrow America”. They merely exercised their rights to secede.
President Jefferson does deserve honor, while at the same time being recognized for his “flawsâ€, but the tributes to traitors should be removed.
Let’s start with all the Lefties who opposed American foreign policy in the last half of the 20th century because it stood in the way of Communism.
And, again, show us how many Confederates were tried and convicted of treason.
Americans should not and will not forget the treason of the Civil War, but neither should we celebrate its engineers and symbols.
Not only is your sanctimonious drivel utter nonsense, but all your pals have been doing is an attempt to erase American history in the Stalin matter.
On our July 4th post, we noted the problem with Jefferson’s statement in the Declaration and independence.
There was a clause in the original that would have outlawed slavery or noted it evils. Members of southern states delegations and at least on state delegate from a northern state had concerns with the passage on slavery being in the Declaration.
So the 56 men were left with a horrible choice – declare independence slavery, or not declare independence which means that the US would have remained a part of the British Empire – with all of its human rights issues – in place.
The 56 men were not demigods. They were not perfect. Their actions need to be seen in light of the times as formwiz points out.
For those who criticize Jefferson and others, they criticism lacks any sort of historical context and critical thinking.
One thing the pandemic (and Rimjob) has taught us is if foreign invaders actually ever attacked America the Democrats would join the enemy.
Lolgf
They already have.
As always Jeffery can’t get anything right. 12 Presidents had slaves, according to Wiki.
And here’s why the Lefties hate statues.
BTW How many slaves did Frederick Douglass own?
How many slaves did that elk statue in Portland own?
Lolgf
Your opinions are always ill-informed but they’re yours. But you are wrong on your “facts”.
As I said, 8 (eight), not 12, US Presidents owned slaves while occupying the White House. While occupying the White House, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Tyler, Polk, Taylor owned slaves. While occupying the White House. That means when they were President. So you are wrong again.
Commenter typed, disingenuously: And, again, show us how many Confederates were tried and convicted of treason.
Confederate soldiers, commanders and civilians received amnesty and pardons from Presidents Lincoln and Johnson. But you know that. Just because no one is tried and convicted of a murder doesn’t mean the murder didn’t occur. The US government felt pursuing and prosecuting confederate soldiers, commanders and civilians would disrupt reconstruction of the treasonous confederate states.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/25/this-day-in-politics-dec-25-1868-1074077
Why do today’s conservative Republicans support and defend the old confederacy?
First off none of us is “defending” the old Confederacy. We are acknowledging it’s part in American history only. We honor our brave ancestors because right or wrong they helped make America the Beacon of Liberty it is.
Not one of us here to my knowledge owned slaves, have family that did own slaves or support the right to own slaves. We are however, tired as hell for being blamed for slavery which was neither invented by America nor was it happily accepted by America. The ONLY reason it was allowed is because AT THAT TIME the only way America would come to be was to accept it which is why it was LIMITED to certain Southern States.
Why do today’s leftist Democrats hate their Democrat forefathers to such a degree they are willing to ERASE them like a Bolshevik Tyrant?
Trump 2020 America is Great, not Perfect.
This from a great black American:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP36y7GCpLA/Xvz2M80pXJI/AAAAAAACVm0/PRHIRDA3gPUuKa2bJj1_qKw7oWgVpZxcACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1%2B1%2B1%2B1%2B1%2Behqwehihfiehfqih.png
Your opinions are always ill-informed but they’re yours. But you are wrong on your “factsâ€.
my facts are always good. You just lie.
Wiki says a dozen. As I said, George owned no slaves; neither did Grant. Harrison inherited a few, as did Van Buren.
Most importantly, you missed Johnson.
Why do you quote Politico? The US had plenty of POWs they could have tried for treason, yet none were ever charged during the course of the war. Since no one was tried or convicted, the pardons were meaningless. And Lincoln only pardoned a few.
Again, none tried or convicted.
The Radical Republicans wanted all Confederate officers and government officials executed. The Union Army chain of command said it would happen over their collective dead bodies. That’s when the US government felt pursuing and prosecuting Confederate soldiers, commanders and civilians would disrupt reconstruction of the Confederate states.
I do note you want all Confederate soldiers and civilians tried for treason and, presumably, executed. Typical Commie. Rewrite history and mass murder.
I notice all your friends in Antifa and BLM are now murdering little kids. Doubtless, you’re proud.
PS You’re still the only hypocrite, not Jefferson.
Yep, and here are some of Elwood’s “brotha’s” recruiting new Trump voters:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfam8K5zK9E/XwRx8qzqjFI/AAAAAAACV10/P3idpcjkFFMzwjDAXRU2WgaPaT0y9i_bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1%2B1%2Bdfffffbnmvvvv.gif
Trump 2020 Please stop the Democommie racists from killing blacks. PLEASE!
So the Burn Loot and Murder crowd wants to get rid of the Jefferson Memorial? Shocking.
Abolitionists fought slavery, the Civil rights movement fought segregation, and the BLM movement fights….statues..
I believe Lucian K. Truscott IV, being the true nobleman he is, should realize he should deed Monticello over to Black Lives Matter or to Al Sharpton.
Truscott is a writer for Salon .. that’s all you need to know that he has a few lose screws and is far left in his beliefs .. and he doesn’t care what your beliefs are.