This website, I'm Spatial, discusses what to do with the DeJarnette buildings. It was published before the decision to destroy the buildings for the creation of a shopping center. These comments show a random selection of viewers and their opinions towards the buildings. The comments and opinions shared are reflective of just how effective this rewriting of history involving Dr. DeJarnette has been.
While it is very important to remember that we now know eugenics was scientifically flawed, to call the hospitals who practiced it evil, is not appropriate. This was a world wide movement that believed science and sterilization could end mental illness for forever. It was not an evil scheme designed by doctors to torture the patients.
Calling doctors "ogres" is also not appropriate. It symbolizes the issue of people looking at the eugenics movement with a 21st century lense, and not placing themselves in the early 1900s.
*User Iglegli strongly advocated for the destruction of the DeJarnette buildings. Her response is quite lengthy so these excerpts are just a sampling of her strong opinions*
This user's comment is a perfect example of someone refusing to see eugenics through the eyes of DeJarnette. Yes, eugenics is not something Virginia, along with numerous states who also practiced it, should brag about. But it is imperative to study it while placed in the appropriate time context. This user blames the doctors and institution for the evils of eugenics and argues it was done with hatred and disrespect to the patients. History has unfortunately been successfully rewritten for user Iglegli.
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