Ulrich Boser's recent revelation that "only over the past 30 years have
scholars examined history from the bottom up" "finally" reveals "The sorry
legacy of the founders" (January 12) who "knew slavery was wrong -- and yet most
did little to fight it".
In examining the history of
slavery from the bottom up, Mr. Boser would've done well to have
written "The sorry legacy of humanity" -- for the legacy as
pertains to slavery is neither confined to a blip in world history nor to a
particular race.
Further, a
more exacting examination, exercising restraint in judging
our founders' values by today's civil standards, just may reveal
that in the process of the civilization of humanity (becoming more and more
civilized), our founders' legacy may be found to have
been more "saving" than "sorry".
Fortunately over the
centuries, man's incivility to man, at least in this form, lessened. The reasons
man progressed toward civility are probably a conglomeration. Some might credit
a gradual and subtle religious awakening. Others may believe it a continuing
positive mutation of our collective mentality. In any case, thank God that
slavery was finally abolished globally in the past century except in parts of
West Africa where chattel slavery is still practiced.
In contrast to the terrible
fate of our ancestors who endured slavery for centuries, history's most recent
slaves, black Americans, enjoyed the fate of participating in the last
historical remnants of slavery and were freed as they witnessed its ultimate
abolition.
Our founders should be
recognized for their contribution, however protracted the civilizing
process of their day, to this "saving" legacy.
Sadly, Mr. Boser devotes but a puny ending paragraph to a varying
view to his history "lesson".
Armond "Si"
Simmons
Pell City, AL
35128
205 338
7378
psysim@coosahs.net
http://psysim.www7.50megs.com/html/dustoff.htm