jasendorf said:Finally, an intelligent, thought-provoking question!
Thank you. You must admit, though, that it's an entirely subjective assessment - particularly the "finally" part. Glad you found it interesting, though.
jasendorf said:I think it is definitely the first salvo against the prevailing sentiment of white, male, arrogant assessment of the human worth of African slaves. Not really trying to have it both ways... really.
Don't see how you could describe it any other way.
jasendorf said:I think that the prevailing sentiment among a vast majority of Americans at the time (North and South alike) was that slaves were wholly property. The framers actually fought long and hard to get to the point that they did and they should always be remember as those who fought the prevailing sentiment.
The three-fifths compromise was passed at gunpoint, then - over the majority of Americans' wishes? Come on, man - give credit where it's due, just ONCE!
jasendorf said:With that in mind, they didn't completely outlaw slavery either...
They did have other things on their minds, jasendorf - one being the world's reigning superpower, sailing over here just as fast as the wind could carry it, for the express purpose of grinding this upstart nation into the dust. In order for a governmental system to guarantee freedoms, it must first ensure its continued existence, wouldn't you say? The slavery question came to a head less than a century later - the historical equivalent of the blink of an eye. Let's not always be so quick to damn our founding fathers, m'k? I know it sweetens a liberal argument and everything, but it just doesn't bear historical scrutiny.
jasendorf said:Oh, I don't know... I will agree that conservatives value religious tolerance of Judeo-Christian diversity. But, I have yet to see some over-arching acceptance of Islam by conservatives in person.
And what manner would you have this acceptance take - over and above the absolute freedom, within the rule of law, already guaranteed Islam (and anybody else) by our Constitution?