I have to correct myself...

[damYankee]

In another thread that has since been locked down I posted the following,

I would go so far as to call every slave owner scum of the earth,,it has to be viewed in the historical context. There may be a time in the future when we will be judged by much different standards and be viewed as "scum".
I cannot compare slavery to genocide, that is slippery slope. Was Washington scum of the earth? Jefferson? Compare them to their contemporaries.
I meant to say ,
I would not go so far as to call every slave owner scum of the earth. Now the rest of the post should make more sense.

 

[Nathanb1]

Why don't you start a thread on that? Seems like a logical topic.

 

[damYankee]

Because it has been beaten like a rented mule. I just wanted to correct any misconception I may have created.
I could start a whole threat for others to make corrections!

 

[Diana9]

In another thread that has since been locked down I posted the following,

I would go so far as to call every slave owner scum of the earth,,it has to be viewed in the historical context. There may be a time in the future when we will be judged by much different standards and be viewed as "scum".
I cannot compare slavery to genocide, that is slippery slope. Was Washington scum of the earth? Jefferson? Compare them to their contemporaries.
I meant to say ,
I would not go so far as to call every slave owner scum of the earth. Now the rest of the post should make more sense.

It does seem that the thread was prematurely aborted, leaving some things unsaid.

I think your post above was a response to mine as follows:

Sorry people, can't get passed the fact that Forrest was a slave trader, the lowest scum of the earth even by plantation owner's standards of the time. At least they had the excuse that they had inherited the problem. There is no excuse for a slave trader, anymore than there would be for a drug dealer. And even there slave trading is worse, because people at least have a choice not to buy drugs, the slaves didn't have the option not to be sold.

I did want to point out that I reserved "scum of the earth" for slave traders and explicitly made a distinction with slave owners, allowing that they inherited the slaves and didn't choose the problem. They were saddled with it. So no, Washington and Jefferson were not scum of the earth, they struggled with the problem and were mindful of its serious wrongs. I also didn't compare slavery to genocide.

 

[Nathanb1]

If you don't want threads "prematurely aborted," stay on topic. I don't think three warnings are in any way, shape or form premature. Get over it.

 

[Diana9]

I believe I was on topic. We were discussing Forrest, the subject of the thread.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/gen...-civil-rights-leader.76469/page-9#post-527646

 

[damYankee]

I don't want to start another firestorm. The issue is as emotionally charged today as it was so many years ago.

 

[Diana9]

As you wish.

I've had my say.

 

[Diana9]

I don't want to start another firestorm. The issue is as emotionally charged today as it was so many years ago.

I just want to say (sorry, I can't resist) that there is something different today. We have the Internet, where emotionally charged subjects can be discussed without people killing each other.

That's a major improvement over the past.

 

[ole]

It is often good to just leave it lie. And not rise to the bait. Unless it's irrestible. Then it gets closed.

Upshot: Don't rise to the bait.

 

[Diana9]

It is often good to just leave it lie. And not rise to the bait. Unless it's irrestible. Then it gets closed.

Upshot: Don't rise to the bait.

What does rise the bait mean exactly? I suppose it's your judgment call, but it's also very subjective.

 

[tmh10]

It is often good to just leave it lie. And not rise to the bait. Unless it's irrestible. Then it gets closed.

Upshot: Don't rise to the bait.

I can understand the reason the thread was locked, but on the other hand, there were some really good post in it that were very educational and most of the people were enjoying the debate. I have to admit I knew the thread would be a hot topic, when I saw it and was on the verge of not posting it, but there are times we need to clear the air and go at it. I am very thankful to those that contributed to it and sorry if it was a problem to the mods. Ted

 

[Diana9]

there are times we need to clear the air and go at it.

Yes.

We're all adults here. I think we know when to go at it and when to back off.

 

[Unionist]

In another thread that has since been locked down I posted the following,

I would go so far as to call every slave owner scum of the earth,,it has to be viewed in the historical context. There may be a time in the future when we will be judged by much different standards and be viewed as "scum".
I cannot compare slavery to genocide, that is slippery slope. Was Washington scum of the earth? Jefferson? Compare them to their contemporaries.
I meant to say ,
I would not go so far as to call every slave owner scum of the earth. Now the rest of the post should make more sense.

It was killing me to not reply. Big difference b/t Washington and what had evolved in the south. First Washington shouldn't have had slaves. The man wasn't perfect. That being said, he freed them all after his wife's death, and worked actively to stop the trade and the westward expansion.
As he grew, he became opposed to slavery. It isn't unreasonable that someone born into it finds it normal then matures and detests it as he ages. Look at Mark Twain. It would have been *almost* impossible to not approve of it at a young age- having it drilled into you all the time.

 

[Unionist]

'I never mean to possess another slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by the Legislature, by which slavery in this Country may be abolished by slow, sure and imperceptible degrees.'
http://www.historynet.com/george-washington-his-troubles-with-slavery.htm

 

[Nathanb1]

I can understand the reason the thread was locked, but on the other hand, there were some really good post in it that were very educational and most of the people were enjoying the debate. I have to admit I knew the thread would be a hot topic, when I saw it and was on the verge of not posting it, but there are times we need to clear the air and go at it. I am very thankful to those that contributed to it and sorry if it was a problem to the mods. Ted

You can read the posts. Locking just means you can't post any more. Nothing was deleted or changed.

Go at it all you want. For the umpteenth time, the topic is not the problem...straying off topic is very much a problem and I will lock every thread I find where 2/3 of the posts are not on topic. I should have locked that one after the second warning, but as I said, I didn't want to be accused of being something I'm not.

I am really, really ticked at this point. You people don't know me and don't know what I think. I suspect you would all be shocked and amazed if you knew ANYTHING I think when I read these posts. Mike entrusted me--as did Ole and others--with this job and I take it seriously. I believe we all have the right to free speech within the confines of the rules Mike has set up. As he says, it's his house and his rules. If you have a problem, discuss it with him. I certainly shall.

POSTED IN CAPACITY AS MODERATOR

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

You can read the posts. Locking just means you can't post any more. Nothing was deleted or changed.

Go at it all you want. For the umpteenth time, the topic is not the problem...straying off topic is very much a problem and I will lock every thread I find where 2/3 of the posts are not on topic. I should have locked that one after the second warning, but as I said, I didn't want to be accused of being something I'm not.

I am really, really ticked at this point. You people don't know me and don't know what I think. I suspect you would all be shocked and amazed if you knew ANYTHING I think when I read these posts. Mike entrusted me--as did Ole and others--with this job and I take it seriously. I believe we all have the right to free speech within the confines of the rules Mike has set up. As he says, it's his house and his rules. If you have a problem, discuss it with him. I certainly shall.

POSTED IN CAPACITY AS MODERATOR

IMO that thread had gone on...and on...and on straying both on and off topic several times. If my horse is lame, he still may be able to walk but he will do me no good for working/riding. Gotta shoot him and get a new one if you want something to get done......

 

[Unionist]

IMO that thread had gone on...and on...and on straying both on and off topic several times. If my horse is lame, he still may be able to walk but he will do me no good for working/riding. Gotta shoot him and get a new one if you want something to get done......

IMO that thread had gone on...and on...and on straying both on and off topic several times. If my horse is lame, he still may be able to walk but he will do me no good for working/riding. Gotta shoot him and get a new one if you want something to get done......

Or we can look at the other side of the coin, who wants a one trick pony? Expired Image Removed

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

Or we can look at the other side of the coin, who wants a one trick pony? Expired Image Removed

I'd like to see you charge an enemy battery on that horse

 

[damYankee]

'I never mean to possess another slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by the Legislature, by which slavery in this Country may be abolished by slow, sure and imperceptible degrees.'
http://www.historynet.com/george-washington-his-troubles-with-slavery.htm

I have no problem with the decision to lock it down. I just wanted to correct a mistake I made. When I went back and read my post I saw that I had left out one word that totally changed my honest opinion.
Keeping people on point is not easy when issues are taken personal by some posters.