Eddie Hyatt is a NAR dominionist who specializes in rewriting America history to pretend that our country was founded by like minded folks who were trying to create a theocratic, Evangelical Shangri-La. This utopia is now being threatened by godless leftists of course that Christians must vilify. The problem he faces is that the Founding Fathers were not trying to create a theocracy at all. One of the dilemmas Eddie always faces is the horrific record that America has when it comes to slavery and the ensuing treatment of minorities up until this present day. So, one thing Eddie does as often as he can, is rewrite history to pretend that our history when it comes to slavery was somehow positive. What better, or worse, day to try this again than Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Let us reason once more together through his above linked article from Charisma News, focusing on the portions directly dealing with slavery.
"Among those who turned against slavery in the 18th century were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and other American leaders. You could research all of 18th century Africa or Asia or the Middle East without finding any comparable rejection of slavery there (Hyatt, "1726: The Year that Defined America," 90). It was the Great Awakening (1726-1770) in Colonial America that shattered racial and cultural barriers and unleashed antislavery outrage throughout the Colonies. This Christian Awakening resulted in virtually every Founding Father, even those who owned slaves, taking a public stand against it. For example, in an April 12, 1786 letter to Robert Morris, George Washington wrote, "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery" (Hyatt, "Abolitionist Founding Fathers," 41)." - Eddie Hyatt
I am always compelled to point out that citing yourself, is not an accepted practice. George Washington turned from slavery? Then why did he own slaves his entire life? Why did he not even set them free in his will but rather passed them on to his wife? Jefferson owned about 600 slaves in his lifetime. Sure, he freed ten and expressed some desire to end slavery but he still never stopped owning them. Despite his vocal opposition, Patrick Henry owned slaves his entire life as well and died owning 67 of them. So, spare me this whitewashing Eddie. Mr. Hyatt has this pet theory that he has written books about regarding slavery. He posits that this great awakening is what led to the abolition of slavery. He pretends that this all started in 1726, as he claims - the year that defined America. Except slavery would not be abolished for 137 more years and then even after, America would still abuse African Americans for over 100 more years to when MLK was fighting for their rights. Who cares that George Washington wrote in a letter that he wanted to see a plan for abolishing slavery, while he was owning slaves and writing his will to leave them to his wife? Hyatt's theory also places America at the forefront of abolition when this country was one of the last. While leaders were talking about it for 137 years, the rest of the world was outlawing it.
'By the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution in 1787, virtually every founder agreed with John Adams, America's second president, who declared, Every measure of prudence ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States. I have throughout my whole life held the practice of slavery in abhorrence" (Hyatt, "Abolitionist," 36). Because of this cosmic shift, America's founders formulated founding documents that contain no classifications based on race or skin color. The words "slave" and "slavery" are nowhere to be found. Instead, the Constitution speaks of "citizens," "persons" and "other persons."' - Eddie Hyatt
John Adams was one of the few founding fathers who was a true believer. He also put his mouth where his money was by not owning slaves. The problem was the rest of the founders were not so pure. What is absolutely moronic here is to claim that the Constitution does not speak to classifications of people. At the Constitutional Congress, where the Constitution was drafted and agreed upon, they agreed to the "three-fifths compromise." This specifically said that African American slaves, should be counted as three fifths of a person, for the purposes of representation within Congress. Three fifths of a person. That sure sounds like a classification based upon race or skin color Eddie. Slaves were not considered citizens and had no rights. Look, we can agree that the times were different and that America has made progress through the centuries. Just stop rewriting history to pretend that this country was on the cutting edge of abolition. We were not and to engage in this whitewashing, on an alleged Christian website, on MLK Day, is beyond disgusting and unseemly.
The rest of Hyatt's article is the usual blather and nonsensical NAR talking points. Now, I believe America is the best experiment in secular government and has done a lot of good throughout the centuries. That does not change the bad we have done as well. We were founded in rebellion and committed genocide against the indigenous peoples. We built this country on the backs of slaves and eventually making kids work 20 hours a day in sweatshops. We had a long imperial era where we took over other countries for economic purposes. We have started wars in other countries for economic purposes. That does not change all of the good but we should not be in the business of lying while pretending to be Christians. I will close with the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who said that truth crushed to earth will rise again.
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