We hail the first individuals who questioned our relationship with England 
and dared to speak of independence as great leaders, great independent 
thinkers. We (or at least our history books) totally ignore those who had 
the moral fortitude to recognize slavery for what it was and to free their 
slaves.

Instead, we fixate on the slaveowners as our great leaders, as if 
slaveowning was only a minor blemish on their otherwise great careers.

If that is the case, I still think we must give Nazis the same benefit. They 
were only following the culture and morals of their society. Other Western 
countries denounced their behaviour, but other Western countries also 
denounced American slavery.
Paul