[Vision2020] Aaaaaa! Slavery!

[Nate Wilson]

Neat. I'm not interested in defending my father's historical abilities, 
or the accuracy of his writing (while I do agree with him). If folks are 
all done wondering if he's a racist, then I'm all done too. As far as 
Darwin goes, of course science has progressed a bit (though not enough 
to close the open door to racism). But I had the priviledge of hearing a 
prof (with Phd and excellent bona fides) in WSU's vet school admit that 
if given an unlimited amount of time he could breed a Budweiser horse 
from two parakeets. He didn't want to say it, but he had to. Not that 
that has anything to do with racism, but it is amusing.

NDW

P.S. I would still love to see anyone at least admit that M. Sanger's 
Planned Parenthood was founded on racist ideals.

Joan Opyr wrote:

>
> Joan,
>    Okay, so my dad isn't a racist because you think he's a poor 
> historian, he's a racist because you think he really, really, sucks at 
> history? I see that I misrepresented your case. Please accept my 
> apologies.


Apology accepted, Nate, but I believe you're confusing me with someone 
else.  I haven't accused your father of being a racist.  He might be or 
he might not -- I'm not interested enough in delving into his psyche to 
say.  The assertion I made is that his arguments are suspect and his 
bona fides non-existent.  His obsession with showing what good 
Christians those Confederate slave-holders were is frankly puzzling, and 
I wonder what exactly Doug and the Reverend Wilkins are trying to 
achieve.  Are they really hoping to change the terms of the historical 
debate?  Do they imagine that a screed like 'Southern Slavery: As It 
Was' will once and for all knock that tiresome Shelby Foote off the 
map?  Note to Ken Burns: the Wilsons are ready for their close-up.

I grew up in North Carolina, kids.  My family has lived there for a few 
centuries now.  Do you imagine that in a region as self- and 
history-obsessed as the South that I wouldn't have read hundreds of 
original documents pertaining to slaves and slave-holders?  I've read 
wills, conferring ownership of money, acres, and human beings to the 
next generation; I've read slave narratives and listened to oral 
histories.  I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.  I've heard 
all of your arguments before.  The road you're on might begin beneath a 
wisteria arch, but it winds up at the gallows tree.

Yours sincerely,
Joan Opyr

PS: I have read Darwin.  It's a good place to start if you're trying to 
understand evolutionary theory, but it isn't where you should stop.  
Much has happened in the intervening century.  Move on; catch up.  There 
was a lovely fellow who worked with fruit flies in the 1930s to 
demonstrate certain principles of genetic mutation -- but don't take my 
word for it.  Any biological supply house would be happy to sell you a 
microscope, some drosophila, and a bottle of fly nap.  Let's engage in a 
bit of hands-on learning!

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