[quote=Vilageidiotx]But it is important, despite how muddy these things are, to not go and white wash history so it feels more comfortable to us. Lee owned slaves - he was not blind to the idea that maybe slavery was evil, he just didn't agree that it was. This doesn't make him a monster we have to vilify, but we shouldn't try to exonerate him either, or work to create excuses for his behavior.
[/quote]

Exactly.

[quote=mdk]Lee was kind of a bastard, who did lots of other cool stuff and was otherwise a pretty remarkably awesome dude.[/quote]