Akashma Online News

My library is a very impressive time machine treasure. My 1897 Collection of John L. Stoddard’s Lectures is full of fascinating photographs of fascinating places, forgotten events and full of stupid statements.

I found the following statements describing two men in a photo on page 117, in Volume II, Constantinople Jerusalem Egypt.

“The two men who were grinding corn between flat stones looked more like anthropoid apes than human beings.”

In another paragraph, he described two other men he encountered in Jerusalem

“Two other characteristics specimens of humanity were lounging on the steps of the “Twelve Tribes Hotel, ‘”

“At one place in our walk about the Holy City we saw some wretched men and women crouching in the sun….They held out for our inspection fingerless hands and toeless feet…We started back, regarding them with mingled horror and compassion, for these knew must be the hideous lepers of Jerusalem.
Not far from the Jafa Gate, the hospital erected in 1867 for these pitiable creatures. They should be all secluded there; but liberty is still allowed them, and they often marry, this propagating the disease since this unfortunate evil is hereditary”

In the previous page, Stoddard acknowledged that “Physicians claim that leprosy is not infectious, ” and still he writes his despicable opinion.

That statement reflects a deep degree of racism and disregard of human sentiment. His demeanor for other races is sickening and heartbreaking. How, can a man that has traveled so much, has not learned to embrace the richness of humanity?

According to Google, Wikipedia, Library of Congress, WorldCat libraries and other researched sites, Stoddard is considered a writer.

Because of publications as such, I have made my duty to revise history. I research and highlight; the wrongs, the idiotic, stupid and racist statements I find.