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> We need to have a serious think about the value of erasing historical figures based on their actions in a very different past. It’s like we assume that whate
by awb 5y ago
> We need to have a serious think about the value of erasing historical figures based on their actions in a very different past.
It’s like we assume that whatever they died believing they’d still believe today. I’m highly skeptical of that. Culture changes over time and people along with it. Except these people don’t have that opportunity to clarify or revisit their views because they’re dead.
- olivermarks 5y agoExactly. I wrote the parent comment and recall a pretty senior Australian medical specialist friend of my wife visiting us in San Francisco at the height of the aids crisis. He was embarrassingly, virulently anti homosexual. Today the same guy has totally different views as society has evolved and probably doesn't even remember his former perspective. He's alive and when he dies will have his reputation intact. Had he died while being negative about gay people by current social mores he would have his views frozen for all time. Separately, also never underestimate people's life experiences shaping their views. We can all learn from events in other people's lives that shaped their perspective. Not healthy to rinse that away.