We hold most of these truths
A copy of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson’s own hand is on public view at The New York Public Library. Accompanying it are several of the very first printed versions known to have survived.
Standing in the presence of these yellowing pages is like glimpsing the face of God, for they are the foundation of American democracy, and their core idea underlies all human rights struggles, liberation movements, and emergent democracies around the world.
The version in Thomas Jefferson’s own hand is fascinating not only because it’s in Thomas Jefferson’s own hand, but also because it contains passages that would have ended slavery at the birth of the American nation. But those passages had to be deleted before the Declaration could be signed by representatives of states where slavery was practiced.
Put another way, the client bought a document intended to liberate all humanity, but demanded changes that kept part of humanity in chains. It would take another 100 years and hundreds of thousands of deaths before slavery ended, and the tragic legacy of African enslavement plagues the U.S. to this day. (At The New York Times: a slide show of Freedom Rider portraits, a work in progress by my friend Eric Etheridge.)
So the next time a client requests changes that make your work less beautiful, less usable, or less smart, remember that greater people than you have lost bigger battles over far more important matters.
The Declaration of Independence is on view at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue now through 5 August and admission to the Library is of course free. If you’re in New York City this summer, the exhibit is worth a look. (Plug: And if you’re in town next week for An Event Apart, the Library is just a few blocks away from the Scandinavia House venue.)
Filed under: An Event Apart, Design, Ideas, cities, events, people, war, peace, and justice, writing
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[...] Jeff Zeldman writes about his experience in seeing a copy of the Declaration of Independence in New York: Standing in the presence of these yellowing pages is like glimpsing the face of God, for they are the foundation of American democracy, and their core idea underlies all human rights struggles, liberation movements, and emergent democracies around the world. [...]
[...] Jeffrey Zeldman puts designers’ everyday frustrations into perspective. [...]
[...] 6 July 2006 1 pm eastern [...]
“So the next time a client requests changes that make your work less beautiful, less usable, or less smart, remember that greater people than you have lost bigger battles over far more important matters.”
That’s quite some way of relating to the topic!
[...] From time to time, though, you can expect to encounter situations where you will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, or perhaps even situations where you will be given no choice at all. Sites that are incapable of passing accessibility or validity tests will result, and you will be forced to accept those outcomes even when your contrarian assertions are absolutely correct. [...]
[...] Tips and tricks are great, but what I really crave are overviews and guides that give structure and shape to the whole issue of accessible web design. All of which is a build-up to linking to one of the best I’ve read in a long time - read it if you build websites and either find yourself daunted by the prospect of re-learning everything you once knew to conform to web standards, or are being driven mad on the project from hell. [...]
[...] De tempos em tempos, no entanto, você deve esperar por situações em que será forçado a escolher o menor dos males , ou talvez até situações em que não tenha escolha. Sites que são incapazes de passar em testes de validação e acessibilidade vão acontecer, e você será forçado a aceitar estes contratempos mesmo quando suas convicções contrárias estiverem absolutamente corretas. [...]
[...] From time to time, though, you can expect to encounter situations where you will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, or perhaps even situations where you will be given no choice at all. Sites that are incapable of passing accessibility or validity tests will result, and you will be forced to accept those outcomes even when your contrarian assertions are absolutely correct. [...]
of compromises, especially when things are in a state of transition. The best thing you can do to ensure compromises in your favor is to plan effectively. From time to time, though, you can expect to encounter situations where you will be forced tochoose between the lesser of two evils
into a document, I find myself in a foul mood. A really foul mood. An “if I were a cartoon I’d have a huge black rain cloud above my head” foul mood. So fast forward to today, where in unrelated webdesign work, I came acrossthis post
into a document, I find myself in a foul mood. A really foul mood. An “if I were a cartoon I’d have a huge black rain cloud above my head” foul mood. So fast forward to today, where in unrelated webdesign work, I came acrossthis post
of compromises, especially when things are in a state of transition. The best thing you can do to ensure compromises in your favor is to plan effectively. From time to time, though, you can expect to encounter situations where you will be forced tochoose between the lesser of two evils, or perhaps even situations where you will be given no choice at all. Sites that are incapable of passing accessibility or validity tests will result, and you will be forced to accept those outcomes even when your contrarian assertions are absolutely
of compromises, especially when things are in a state of transition. The best thing you can do to ensure compromises in your favor is to plan effectively. From time to time, though, you can expect to encounter situations where you will be forced tochoose between the lesser of two evils, or perhaps even situations where you will be given no choice at all. Sites that are incapable of passing accessibility or validity tests will result, and you will be forced to accept those outcomes even when your contrarian assertions are absolutely
[...] time to time, though, you can expect to encounter situations where you will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, or perhaps even situations where you will be given no choice at all. Sites that are incapable of [...]