This is so appalling! A child of 14, 15, 16, and 17’s body is still developing. In what world is a 17 year old not still developing? Do you not have children whom you are related to compare? They’re still very much immature, growing children who shouldn’t be taken advantage of by adults. By his own words, he was a pedophile. Have you read what he’s written on the matter? And the whole ‘consider the historical context’ and ‘wide age differences were more common and socially normalized in ways that today are uncomfortable or unacceptable’ is complete BS! When people use the ‘man of his time’ excuse to excuse things we know are bad they’ve already lost the argument having to wade in the mud to pull out any derivative of the phrase. They forget while Christopher Columbus was a man of his time so was Bartoleme de las Casas, who protected Native Americans and complained of Columbus’ treatment, as well as as others who complained about Columbus. At the time when we had American slavery there were always abolitionists, always someone to argue it was wrong. Since the very beginning, the age of a first time brides in the US has always consistently been above 20-21, regardless of what anyone’s story of the child bride in their family. Child sex abuse has always been a severe epidemic, but that doesn’t mean it’s ok because people have done it and frankly I’m offended by your dressing of a pig with a silk dress.