One Last Point...

When you see later authorities explaining a troubling earlier source in a way at first that seems to be a stretch, realize that this is not apologetics covering up for embarrassing earlier statements by our religious leaders, but attempts to reconcile single, minority sources with the mainstream Torah literature on a subject.  For example, regarding the Meiri's opinion cited below, there are countless sources in Tanach and Torah sheb'al peh that teach that all people are created בצלם אלוקים and upholding the dignity and value of all human life.  So when we see the Gemara seemingly ruling against that principle, it becomes the job of the commentaries to interpret the passage is a way that is coherent with its whole.