King County, Washington

Ian Absentia · February 19, 2008, 03:05:15 PM

Quote from: John MorrowWhile I normally dislike renaming things like this, given what William R. King supported, I think that I have to approve of this one.

And, to be honest, I have no problem with dropping Vice President King's connection to the name. It's the substitution of someone else's name that irks me.

!i!

John Morrow · February 19, 2008, 03:20:17 PM

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAnd, to be honest, I have no problem with dropping Vice President King's connection to the name. It's the substitution of someone else's name that irks me.

While I can see that and agree with it to a large degree, I think there is a certain irony in this particular substitution that makes it more palatable than it might otherwise be.

Ian Absentia · February 20, 2008, 06:06:55 PM

Quote from: John MorrowWhile I can see that and agree with it to a large degree, I think there is a certain irony in this particular substitution that makes it more palatable than it might otherwise be.

Have I mentioned that there's a Jefferson County in the State of Washington? Thomas Jefferson owned slaves. I don't see anyone in a rush to re-dedicate the name of Jefferson County (this man's name leaps to mind, to be sure). And what of George Washington himself, for whom the entire state was named? He owned slaves.

This is where the irony regarding the King County re-dedication starts to sour for me.

!i!

John Morrow · February 21, 2008, 12:34:40 AM

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThis is where the irony regarding the King County re-dedication starts to sour for me.

I see a substantial difference in degree between owning slaves and, as stated earlier in this thread, supporting a gag rule against debating anti-slavery positions and actively protecting and promoting slavery. At the other end of the spectrum, I think that Washington granting freedom to his slaves upon his death makes his ownership of slaves more forgivable. Jefferson falls somewhere between the two. That King seems to have enthusiastically supported slavery is the tipping point for me.

Koltar · February 21, 2008, 12:52:48 AM

The BIG difference is that Jefferson always wanted to end slavery - that was a debate even when they writing the Declaration of Independence.

Its also unfair to judge the man by our frame of reference from the early 21st century.
If you look at the time that he lived in - Jefferson's way of thinking on many things was actually pretty ahead of his time.

- Ed C.

John Morrow · February 21, 2008, 01:23:07 AM

Quote from: KoltarThe BIG difference is that Jefferson always wanted to end slavery - that was a debate even when they writing the Declaration of Independence.

Correct, but where does that leave the people of the day who didn't want to end slavery but wanted to protect it?

Quote from: KoltarIts also unfair to judge the man by our frame of reference from the early 21st century.

It's unfair to expect them to conform to our ideas but not unfair to expect some humanity from them.

Quote from: KoltarIf you look at the time that he lived in - Jefferson's way of thinking on many things was actually pretty ahead of his time.

Sure. And so were Washington's. And freeing his slaves showed some humanity. But William R. King seems to be a far less admirable character based on the quotes from Wikipedia. (And, no, that comment has nothing to do with the rumors of him being gay even if they are true.)