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wnylib

(25,823 posts)

12. My post was not a judgment of Keller.

Sun Mar 15, 2026, 08:48 PM

Sunday

I was just pointing out that even people we admire as heroes in some aspects of their lives are still human enough to have other qualities that we don't like. That does not diminish Keller's achievements or the values that she stood for and promoted most of her life. She did, after all, change her views on eugenics, to be more in line with her basic values.

I also don't excuse some past movements or views with the explanation that "times were different then than today." During slavery, there were people who opposed it as far back as the colonial and revolutionary period. Anyone with a conscience and the capacity for empathy could see the cruelty of slavery. Same with eugenics.

Hubris allows people to make such terrible judgments as deciding to play God with other people's lives.

I am glad that Helen Keller realized her mistake in judgment and changed her views. It makes her even more admirable.

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Helen Keller: [View all] applegrove Sunday OP

I have gained a new respect for Ms. Keller--- lastlib Sunday #1

One of the first books I read as a child was about Kelller applegrove Sunday #2

I remember reading one too.... lastlib Sunday #7

Yes, me too senseandsensibility Sunday #8

That is so cool. I just remember the spelling of wa-t-t-er. applegrove Monday #14

I had that book too! PCIntern Monday #16

I can't picture my book. I think it was blue but I'm not sure. We did not applegrove Monday #17

Did you also get Weekly Reader Children's Book Club? PCIntern Monday #21

Nope. No book clubs. applegrove Monday #22

Understood. PCIntern Monday #23

I just got Amelia Bedelia for my great niece. My grandmother applegrove Monday #24

Never read it but distinctly recall PCIntern Monday #25

I also had one about Ben Franklin senseandsensibility Monday #20

Helen Keller was a strong supporter of the wnylib Sunday #6

I think sometimes it's unfair for us to judge people of that time MadameButterfly Sunday #11

My post was not a judgment of Keller. wnylib Sunday #12

i thought your description of Keller's position MadameButterfly Sunday #13

Canada's favourite person was Tommy Douglas who introduced applegrove Monday #18

Yup. The application of the faulty scientific reasoning wnylib Monday #19

"Then Nazis showed up on the world stage, did the holocaust, and that was the end of eugenics." TheProle Monday #26

End of the progressive fad of eugenics. The right wing applegrove Monday #27

Careful there. Helen Keller was a radical leftist. DJ Synikus Makisimus Sunday #3

I didn't know that but samplegirl Monday #15

Helen Keller was amazing.. whathehell Sunday #4

The movie "The Miracle Worker" is so good. twodogsbarking Sunday #5

His6ory books never seem to mention Warpy Sunday #9

i was at helen kellers home. i didn't take time to go in to her house but i did walk thru the displays in her garden. dawn5651 Sunday #10