Every human being has character flaws. Whenever we lionize anyone for their accomplishments, we do so by forgiving (or being ignorant of) the unsavory parts of their character.
Abraham Lincoln, for instance, was pretty racist. He liked minstrel shows and found deeply racist jokes hilarious. Judged in the context of his time, of course, he was very progressive, and despite those personal characteristics he remains one of the most important proponents of civil rights in history. We can recognize that without having to parenthesize (but he told racist jokes).
Abraham Lincoln, for instance, was pretty racist. He liked minstrel shows and found deeply racist jokes hilarious. Judged in the context of his time, of course, he was very progressive, and despite those personal characteristics he remains one of the most important proponents of civil rights in history. We can recognize that without having to parenthesize (but he told racist jokes).