Slavery was bad from our perspective today. But, to accurately understand history one has to look at things from the people perspective who were living it.

Was murder, lying and stealing wrong back then? Will they be wrong tomorrow? Or Doyle are you one of those who believe in no moral absolutes? Everything is just relative, let it all hang out. Were you to ask any slave owners of anytime, was slavery wrong, they would probably say no. What do you think would happen if you ask the slave?

Slavery has been an universal scourge. Whites have been enslaved, blacks have been enslaved and Orientals have been enslaved. None, of that makes it right nor does it make the owner any more evil than other fallen creatures. A person may be basically good and still indulge in sin...I don't know if you believe in sin, Doyle...that is wrong.

You ask about what was Lafayette's contribution to American freedom? Well Doyle, he put his life on the line in battle to help found this country. No disrespect to Jefferson, he's one of my heroes, but I don't think he was ever in combat. I know that Lafayette wasn't a citizen as we are and couldn't dictate his own policy by the vote. George Washington, however (You do believe he made a contribution to America, don't you Doyle?) shared and agreed with Lafayette's views as you would know had you read the letter from Washington that I posted.

You stated that Layette was a Marquis and that was the only reason he was known to history. Was Baron Von Steuben Washington, Morgan, Henry Lee, only important to America, because of their position. Cannot both the rich and poor display talent and ability? I guess you think not.

Doyle you seem to hint that I believe Jefferson's words are worthless because he owned slaves, that would no more be true than if he drank a little much or spent too much time at cards.

I would love proof that millions of slaves loved being slaves. Perhaps we can enslave some more. I don't doubt that many had ties to their owners. My own family had a couple of slaves. You can also get used to living in prison. The fact his when the Union Army came into the deep South, they had no idea, what to do with all the contrabands.

None of which has anything to do with Lafayette, he bought a slave plantation in the French possessions and set the slaves free . So he swept around his own doorstep y'all as de old folks say.