Not The Heroes We Thought: 23 People From History That Don't Deserve All The Praise
There are few (if any) historical figures that are completely free of controversy
Published 9 months ago in Wow
Few historical figures are completely free of controversy. Good people can do bad things just as easily as the bad can good, and no one person is without flaws. We've all done things we're ashamed of.
But in the eyes of many, some seem to have transcended their earthly origins and become venerated -- put on a pedestal as "perfect." Down below are people who some think don't deserve all the praise they get.
The opinions below are not facts, of course, but opinions on some of the world's most famous and venerated figures. Some of them are based on recorded facts, some of it hearsay and others on differing interpretations of "good."
You be the judge.
11
Einstein wasn’t a great guy. Brilliant, sure, but kinda douchy in his personal life. He refused to marry his long time lover for years, even after she got pregnant. The child was assumed to be given up for adoption, but no record has ever been found. He and his wife, Mileva Marić, worked together on their research. People saw them do it. They made jokes about it at parties. He proudly told people that she did all his calculations. They only put his name on their work and he went on to claim all the credit - ignoring any work she had done. Part of their agreement was that she would get the Nobel prize money but he tried to prevent that. She raised two children - one schizophrenic - took care of the house and tutored to bring in extra money because he couldn’t get a job for a long time. He started getting more notoriety and then began an affair with his first cousin. He moved to a different country to be with his new hillbilly mistress. He divorced his wife and quickly married the new, younger model. He had rules she had to abide by, such as leaving the room immediately when told and not expecting or asking for any sort of affection except when necessary for appearances sake. Elsa, his second wife, was dying and he worked nonstop because he didn’t know what to do (I guess). She was basically abandoned her last few months. He cheated on both his wives, numerous times. Ignored his children. Oh - and he was pretty into his second wife’s daughter and thought about marrying her instead.
16
Kinda coming much more into light now but The Founding Fathers, all of them owned slaves and by modern day standards they would be horrible people. But something I think lots of people don’t remember is even if these things are utterly reprehensible, everyone was doing it and they were all children of their time.
17
Benito Juárez He was the type of president who kills his opposition instead of negotiating. He did a lot of illegal executions. He was going to be executed in Guadalajara, however one of his ministers convinced the soldiers not to kill him with a famous phrase "alto, los valientes no asesinan", the soldiers forgave his life and risked theirs as the disobey an order. Well, as soon as Juarez returned to Mexico city, he immediately ordered to kill all of those soldiers with no mercy (source: my sister worked with the Sargent's descendant) After Juárez's government, there's a period Known as the porfiriato, where Porfirio Díaz was Mexico's president for 30 years. It was possible just because there was no opposition alive Juarez suddenly died in 1872 from a heart attack. It's believed that a woman, to avenge his husband, worked on his home as a maid, and when she had the opportunity, she put an infusion of "veintiunilla'" a herb known by the natives for being poisonous and cause a heart attack 21 days (veintiún dias) after it was drank
19
William Hurt. I remember seeing tons of praise for him when he passed recently. Thing is, he beat and raped Marlee Matlin back in the 80s. She discussed it in her memoir. When he was approached about it, his response wasn't to deny it, but to apologize for any pain he "may have caused" to her. If you want to praise his acting, fine. But remember what sort of person he was behind the characters you loved on film.
23
Queen Elizabeth I not the current one. -her cousin got married without her permission so she locked her in a tower for a long time. Her other cousin also did this and the Queen had her locked there until she died. -when she took over Munster she abused many native Irish people. -she spent more money than she had. Despite this slot of British ppl I talk too think she is one of the greatest monarchs they have had.
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