Thomas Jefferson should not be honored as he is today in society, particularly by the Democratic Party.
A new book entitled The Hemminges of Monticello reveals more about the nation's third president that would not be forgiven if he were about a candidate in today's presidential politics.
It is not easy to write this opinion. But just reading the review of the book is conclusive and sickening enough to mitigate the greatness of the man as a writer of some of this nation's most sacred documents and highest ideals.
Jefferson was a hypocrite of despicable extreme. So it is difficult to understand how Democrats across the country can hold Jefferson-Jackon Day celebrations to raise money for their campaign and champion their causes.
Both presidents were slaveholders. And Andrew Jackson was a butcher of American Indians and set the stage for the atrocity of the Trail of Tears. His populist leanings only applied to white men.
Most certainly, Republicans could not get away with celebrating such figures with such atrocious histories connected to the most vulnerable people of that time.
To read more about the new book on Jefferson, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/books/review/Foner-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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Tim--I just discovered your blog because of Google Alert on Trail of Tears to this blog entry. I am glad to know about this new book on Jefferson. The Democrats did not know all this hyposcrisy in Jefferson until the last decade. And we have to thank him for the important documents he created. But it is painful to see how flawed he was. (He actually contributed to the Trail of Tears because of an agreement he made with Georgia at the beginning of the 19th Century.) I grew up admiring Jackson as a "man of the people," but as I have studied the Trail of Tears, I have to fight detesting the man. I definitely want his face off the $20 bill. Let's replace it with a Cherokee face. (Unfortunately, we might have trouble there too finding the absolutely perfect hero.) Humans are so onery--no matter our color, race, intelligence, or social status. (We all need a Savior.) I loved seeing all the causes you are interested in and am so pleased you are able to contiue your writing despite your illness. I will want to explore more of your writing to see if you have answers to our present immigration policy failures. I am too ignorant to know what we ought to do, but I know we need to do something.
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