In a message dated 3/29/2002 2:55:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > Freedom achieved its paramount > position as a core western value out of the experience of people "in their > roles as masters, slaves, and nonslaves." Professor Hardwick: While slavery and its aftermath threads through the societal and political history of the United States, my comment intended that you (and several other posts) justify the claim summarized by your reference to the above quote. Historical analysis does not support an assertion that to the values of 18th century colonial America, based on the evolution of English law and thought and the philosophes of the Enlightenment, we can also add the social dynamics of slavery. But more to the point of my challenge is the fact that Jefferson owned slaves does not add support to the claim that one of his slaves was his concubine. It is not a permissible assumption that whatever is discovered about the Virginia master/female slave relationship implicates Jefferson. We hear a great deal today, and mostly from the academic community, about the fallacy of stereotypes (profiling?), yet that same community applies it without a blush to Jefferson. ____________________________________________________________________ Richard E. Dixon Attorney at Law 4122 Leonard Drive Fairfax, VA 22030 703-691-0770 fax 703-691-0978 ____________________________________________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html