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Americans, if you put yourself in the shoes of Washington, Jefferson, Adams and their ilk at the founding of this country, what questions do you think they would have for the leaders of today? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Personal power, leadership abilities, integrity and morals were much stronger with these people, and in their times in general.

There's just no reason at all to think this. Most obviously, people who signed their names to the idea 'all men were created equal' while themselves owning slaves quite obviously did not possess a high degree of moral integrity.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

More a different definition of "men".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

True, but one that conveniently allowed them to do what they were already doing anyway. As I say: not titans of moral probity.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There's just no reason at all to think this. Most obviously, people who signed their names to the idea 'all men were created equal' while themselves owning slaves quite obviously did not possess a high degree of moral integrity.

could this have been a tree they planted knowing they would not live to see fruit?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

That may explain why they didn't abolish slavery, but does not justify the fact that they themselves owned slaves.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

while themselves owning slaves

I did not say that it was good morals (from today's point of view: most of what they did was actually criminal). I said strong ones.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Having strong morals is mutually exclusive with compromising your morals to enrich yourself, which we've established is something they did.