Amen.
Laura Catherine Dawson
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 7:01 PM
Subject: Re: Barger and Barger, Jefferson family of Virginia
>I rarely find myself in unequivocal agreement with Mr. South. But his
>remarks below strike me as sensible. Barring the emergence of new
>evidence, we can not know for certain whether Jefferson did or did not have
>children by Sally Hemings.
>
> Having reviewed the evidence, assisted by a number of fair-minded and
> constructive folk here, I find myself compelled to change my mind. Where
> once I thought that we could fairly say that it was likely, but not
> certain, that Jefferson was the father of some of Heming's children, now I
> am convinced that we just don't know, nor do we have strong reasons to
> believe, one way or the other. We just don't know. All the evidence we
> have is flawed and partial.
>
> But suppose we did know. What difference would it make for the way we
> commemorate him in our public history? We honor Jefferson for a variety
> of reasons, but primarily because he was one of the men who articulated
> the fundamental public principles and values upon which our public life
> today is premised. Suppose he fathered children by Hemings? How would
> that change the fact that Jefferson was one of the more important men who
> helped found our country? Suppose he did not father children by Hemings.
> How would that make his contribution to our country any more (or less)
> worthy?
>
> We value Jefferson for his public contributions. He could have had the
> private life of James Henry Hammond, or Jean Jacques Rousseau (two men who
> were far more thuggish, barbaric, irresponsible, and just plain vile than
> anyone on either side of this debate alleges Jefferson to have been), and
> he would still command our respect and attention.
>
> So Mr. South is correct. What difference does it make? And if in fact it
> does not make any difference, why are we spending so much time talking
> about this?
>
> All best,
> Kevin
>
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