Sad history.
Not at all. They did what they thought was right.
All our history contains stories of great sadness and great victory. The key is to understand that the past is not a prison.
You and I (and all freepers) are those who have been handed the baton. We are running the relay for those who have produced us.
Are we in the last lap...I certainly don't know.
But this is our lap, and we must run it to the best of our ability.
Are our relatives scoundrels? Probably no more than we are scoundrels (if we consider the opportunities we have had that they never had).
I think it is wrong to judge our ancestors...but it is right to place that judgment on ourselves.
We can right their wrongs...if only by doing the best we can do.
I might be wrong...but I don't believe in sadness or pity.
I don't want pity!
IMO, feeling sorry for someone robs them of the power to fight on until death.
We are all running a race. Don't feel sorry for me if I am last...I should only judge myself and even then I should compare myself to no one else. No one else is comparable to me or you. We are uniquely ourselves and our fight is uniquely our own.
Therefore, do not pity me and I will not pity you (or our ancestors). Let's each go forth into battle...into our own personal battle.
Victory or death!!!