Comment on Northern Americans are generally wrong about the US civil war
cattywampas@lemm.ee 1 day ago
If we’re willing to give Lincoln a pass for being a product of his time, doesn’t the average person living in the south also deserve it?
Probably. I’ve heard arguments about whether to judge people according to modern standards or the standards of their time, and I think it’s important to do both. History is complicated, human beings even more so. I think we should all work a little more towards understanding people without condoning or condemning.
Comrade_Spood@slrpnk.net 22 hours ago
I don’t necessarily see the issue with codemning behavior based on modern standards. There were people at the time who (while yes were ahead of the majority of people (in the US at least)) opposed slavery. I feel it is entirely fair to extend the belief that those that believed in slavery were morally wrong even for the time.
I feel a modern parallel (not perfect but I mean what is for American slavery, it was that fucked up) is trans rights. Trans rights is a hot button topic that is highly debated, similar to slavery or any other hot button topic through history (civil rights, women’s right to vote, etc). Those that oppose trans rights are yes a product of their time, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t morally wrong and shouldn’t be held accountable for those beliefs.