Corruption of history

[L Verge]

(01-17-2019 09:12 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(01-17-2019 05:34 PM)Rsmyth Wrote:  I will pick on the DAR. Despite the fact that the acknowledged first casualty of the revolution was the death of a Black man in Boston, the DAR was a discriminatory organization.

Most countries/cultures/societies around the world then and now are discriminatory in one way or the other (not just about race). There are two key words in the U.S. vocabulary right now that point to that -- diversity and inclusion -- and they do not necessarily apply just to the race issue.

Try being in a position (especially gov't.) today where one is trying to hire based on qualifications for the job on one hand and going by the "rules" (that aren't written, but definitely implied) by the HR division. This is strictly my opinion, but the tactics of hiring that were ruled illegal thirty years ago are now back in full swing - but in reverse.

I am all for hiring the best qualified candidate, no matter the race, gender, age, orientation, etc. I just worry that those latter qualities may take precedence in some situations over the "best qualified" selection.

Rich - In reference to your comment about the first American killed at the Boston Massacre being a black man: From my previous history classes and readings, Crispus Attucks was perhaps bi-racial (African and Native American), but some folks described him as all "Indian."

I have also read about disputes as to him being the first killed. There are descriptions of the British soldiers firing into the club-carrying crowd and Attucks leaning on a stick and then falling. He was autopsied, and the cause of death was attributed to ricocheting bullets. It has become American folklore that he was the first to die, but I am not sure that it is documented or provable.

At one point, back in my teaching days, there was an account that said Crispus had just walked out of a Boston tavern (slightly tipsy) and automatically followed the irate crowd. That source implied that he was likely killed without knowing what he was participating in. Again, documented fact?