This really isn't true acin. People aren't working backwards to justify the figures they do like. They like them in the first place because they held up under scrutiny (in a way that Jefferson doesn't, even though he's just as much a "mythical hero").This all seems to me to be revealing a bias among everyone regarding historical figures that they want to like and thus try to wiggle their way out of condemning said person while at the same time trying to appear "objective" and "fair" towards the individuals actions.
There are many things that no one would defend someone today for doing, it's just that having slaves isn't one of them for most people. Like I said your objection isn't truly to the theory it's to people feeling differently about owning slaves.
I don't know why you two imagine that people are desperately trying to hold on to an image of perfection and that your view is the nuanced oneNothing is black and white means you would have to reject the view of Washintonian perfection and allow that ACIN has every right then to hold a more nuanced view of Washington the man.![]()
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