General Discussion

wnylib

(26,467 posts)

12. My post was not a judgment of Keller.

Sun Mar 15, 2026, 08:48 PM

Mar 15

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 Mar 15 OP

I have gained a new respect for Ms. Keller--- lastlib Mar 15 #1

One of the first books I read as a child was about Kelller applegrove Mar 15 #2

I remember reading one too.... lastlib Mar 15 #7

Yes, me too senseandsensibility Mar 15 #8

That is so cool. I just remember the spelling of wa-t-t-er. applegrove Mar 16 #14

I had that book too! PCIntern Mar 16 #16

I can't picture my book. I think it was blue but I'm not sure. We did not applegrove Mar 16 #17

Did you also get Weekly Reader Children's Book Club? PCIntern Mar 16 #21

Nope. No book clubs. applegrove Mar 16 #22

Understood. PCIntern Mar 16 #23

I just got Amelia Bedelia for my great niece. My grandmother applegrove Mar 16 #24

Never read it but distinctly recall PCIntern Mar 16 #25

I also had one about Ben Franklin senseandsensibility Mar 16 #20

Helen Keller was a strong supporter of the wnylib Mar 15 #6

I think sometimes it's unfair for us to judge people of that time MadameButterfly Mar 15 #11

My post was not a judgment of Keller. wnylib Mar 15 #12

i thought your description of Keller's position MadameButterfly Mar 15 #13

Canada's favourite person was Tommy Douglas who introduced applegrove Mar 16 #18

Yup. The application of the faulty scientific reasoning wnylib Mar 16 #19

"Then Nazis showed up on the world stage, did the holocaust, and that was the end of eugenics." TheProle Mar 16 #26

End of the progressive fad of eugenics. The right wing applegrove Mar 16 #27

Careful there. Helen Keller was a radical leftist. DJ Synikus Makisimus Mar 15 #3

I didn't know that but samplegirl Mar 16 #15

Helen Keller was amazing.. whathehell Mar 15 #4

The movie "The Miracle Worker" is so good. twodogsbarking Mar 15 #5

His6ory books never seem to mention Warpy Mar 15 #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 Mar 15 #10