Karen Heller: On Oscar weekend, Pennsylvania's 19th-century congressman Thaddeus Stevens is a winner
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Even if Tommy Lee Jones fails to win an Oscar on Sunday night for his indelible portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens in Lincoln, the fiery Lancaster abolitionist congressman is already a winner for being rescued from the dustbin of history.
»Read story: Karen Heller: On Oscar weekend, Pennsylvania's 19th-century congressman Thaddeus Stevens is a winner
»Read story: Karen Heller: On Oscar weekend, Pennsylvania's 19th-century congressman Thaddeus Stevens is a winner
Comments (8)
What happened to our political system? Why can't we produce great men like this today instead of the self centered career politician interested in nothing other than feeding off the taxpayer?— non excidet
Thaddeus Stevens: When I saw it in the movie I thought "it" was added for dramatic effect. Still when I got home I had to google it: It was true!!! There was such a White Man in 1800's America who atually believed in the "equality" of "Blacks". (I still believe though that many Ablitionists merely thought that Blacks should be treated beter than a dog.)
While such a fact offers another layer to our great American history, it also underscores that the greatest leaps in American "Civil Rights" history comes not from Blacks (at all) but from Whites.— Cuddles- @Excidet: I would like to take exception to what you said. We do produce great(and women) today with insight and real dedication, however they are all faced with three large barriers that didn't confront our leaders of yesterday. One, instant communication where everyone knows everything instantly. Two, hugh amounts of disposable income that is used by those who want to influence regardless of the consequences. And three, Nothing is just American anymore, the world and all its diversity directly affects everything we do, use, eat, and basically survive on.— phillytransplant
- Saw the movie, and also noted that corruption existed then as is does now. Stevens seemed true to his beliefs and did not give into the corruption that helped the 14th Amendment pass. Overall, Tommy Lee Jones did a great job acting the role of Stevens.— FletcherT
- Saw the movie, and also noted that corruption existed then as is does now. Stevens seemed true to his beliefs and did not give into the corruption that helped the 14th Amendment pass. Overall, Tommy Lee Jones did a great job acting the role of Stevens.— FletcherT
- What we do not have in Congress are men or women like Thaddeus Stevens. Men or women who will live or die by principle. What we have are a bunch of pigs at the public trough who vote where the dollars lead them. Thaddeus Stevens will now have my eternal respect.— BillyBob369
- It's interesting to note how his historical cachet has moved up and down over the years as different "schools" of history have become dominant then receded. For a long while he was vilified by southern historians for his harsh stance toward the south.
It's good to see that he is getting some of his just due now. He was a great man; hero who fought for the ultimate have-nots of his day. Pennsylvania should be proud that he was one of ours.— carl and sons - It would do all Philadelphians well to compare what Thaddeus Stevens and Lincoln stood for and the great struggle of black Americans to achieve their Constitutional and civli rights to self determination and the right to participate in the governance of our once Great democracy. Now we see their rights being stripped from them once again by their public school system being turned over to "private entities" wherein our students have less rights to a free, appropriate public education.
And in Philadelphia, we are not even allowed to vote for our school leaders, instead we have a white guy in Harrisburg defunding the schools of African Americans and appointing people who are doing his bidding for him.
And we sit back and watch it happen.
Thanks Karen.— readingspecialist 1
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