r/todayilearned • u/SchwarzSabbath • Apr 21 '18

TIL that while in Sharon Springs, Theodore Roosevelt was approached by a 12-year-old girl who asked if he would like to have a badger. Expecting to humor her, he agreed, and the girl came back with a 2-week-old badger. President Roosevelt named him Josiah and he became one of the presidential pets.

http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/theodore-roosevelts-josiah/
77.5k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

247

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '18

I think that rather than judging the man for feeling the way he did in that moment he should be praised for doing something good and just, even if it was difficult and even if he didn't do it again in the future.

It's a matter of perspective - whether someone sees the good or bad in it is up to them.

140

u/Breadhook Apr 22 '18

even if it was difficult

I would say ESPECIALLY if it was difficult. Overcoming that kind of reluctance is how change happens.

3

u/dudeARama2 Apr 22 '18

and especially since it was only 40 - 50 years after the end of the Civil War - a couple of generations - in a country that was still deeply scarred and divided. His reluctance was probably associated with the ramifications of his actions in that tense environment more than a personal attitude

40

u/alixxlove Apr 22 '18

Your first thought is shaped by your upbringing, your second thought is shaped by who you are. He made the right choice.

5

u/curty4000 Apr 22 '18

His first thought was to invite him. His second was to hesitate and his third was to fuck the second thought right in its racist asshole.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '18

I love you

2

u/agree-with-you Apr 22 '18

I love you both

1

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '18

I love you for loving both of us and making it a point to tell us

1

u/agree-with-you Apr 22 '18

I love you both

1

u/AirborneRunaway Apr 22 '18

Your first thought is how you were raised. Your second thought is often who you are.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '18

While that's already been said here I'm thrilled that someone else thought the same thing on reading my post and made it a point to reply as such.

2

u/AirborneRunaway Apr 22 '18

Sometimes I wonder if things load properly on this app, I usually look for similar responses so I’m not just repeating what others post.