I thought it was resolved long ago that in this forum we wouldn't
recurringly re-fight--or should I say re-shout?--the Hemings-Jefferson
ideological wars. In any case, here we have from Mr. Barger a charge against
Monticello itself, namely, that the foundation moved not to "memorialize Mr.
Jefferson but the slaves' contributions there." As he has done before, Mr.
Barger also complains that--heaven forbid!--African-Americans, of all
people, have become deeply involved in Monticello's evolution as a
constructive national treasure.
Well, as a paternity agnostic (FWIW, I think some on both sides sometimes
exhibit too much confident certitude), I'd like to assert something myself,
I guess with confident certitude of my own, whatever may need saying about
Monticello's performance following the DNA announcement. It's this: the
foundation does the planet an important service in telling the full story of
life on what in the future will seem less and less like a place that
illustrates only the grace, serenity, and elegance connoted by the word
"plantation," and more and more like a place that illustrates the phrase
"slave-labor farm."
It seems to me that Monticello memorializes both Mr. Jefferson and enslaved
Americans, not only on that "plantation" but elsewhere, who contributed
foundationally to the country's economic and cultural wealth. And with
additional swaggering, confident certitude of my own, I'd like also to
assert that if Mr. Jefferson himself somehow reappeared today, he'd agree
that Monticello's evolution toward deep respect for those contributions
affirms the foundational American principles that he led in enunciating.
Those people had individual stories and passions and travails and dignity.
They also had and have a claim equal to that of any of us to the protection
of the laws of nature and of nature's god.
Good for you, Monticello.
Please indulge my impassioned outburst, forum participants.
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