Thursday, September 12, 2013
Benjamin Franklin
After reading, "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind" I felt really offended by what Benjamin Franklin said in his last paragraph because in my opinion it was extremely racist how he pinpointed different races and felt that the only race that should increase in number were what he called "Saxons". No one has the right to feel superior of another person and for him to believe that only one race is allowed into the world is very ignorant of him.
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I agree with that. I was suprised to see someone heralded as such an American Hero and forefather have such shallow and narrow-minded opinions published and still read to this day. He held himself in high esteem based on his European ancestry and appearance, and looked down on the immigrants of all non-Saxon European peoples, not just Africans. I am glad we are moving forward from that in present times, albeit slowly. But still, progress is progress.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Cece! Even though America has evolved over the centuries, it still offended me when he said that basically "Saxons" were the only ones that should have been the superior ones. Even knowing that his writings should not be taken literally, because he was quite a sarcastic man, and that last paragraph wasn't supposed to be publish, it still offends me to know that it was still a thought of his.
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