A recurrent theme for those who criticize beards is to trot out a long list of historic bad guys with beards. Obviously, that must PROVE that beards are somehow bad, right? It does not take, however, too much effort to compile a similar list of historic bad guys without beards. So, don’t blame it on the beard!
It also doesn’t take much effort to compile a list of some of the most notable men in history who had beards. Throughout most of world history, in fact, there have been more men with beards than without, especially during the 19th century. I have a photo of my great-great-grandfather, who had a magnificent long goatee. I’ll post it to the beard gallery.
Thanks, Gary! I posted your great great grandfather’s photo here: http://blog.beards.org/2006/05/28/a-beard-from-the-past/