No one's perfect, I know I'm far from it. But if we're going to remember a person for his scientific accomplishments, I could care less if he supported slavery (I'm talking 1700s). It happened, it's over, and irrelevant. It definitely helps his reputation that he was an abolitionist, but as a politician his views on forced conversion is appalling.

Franklin was a great man, but this one flaw is tragic. It's appalling that someone so revered was so intolerant towards another religion when his peers decided to draft a document allowing for freedom of religion, an amazing accomplishment. I don't really respect him as a politician, or humanitarian. I feel that some people will propogate half a truth to give him an almost mythical status instead of being completely honest. Admire the real person, appreciate that despite Franklin's intolerance, there were better men that fought for tolerance and won.