[Vision2020] Re: Earlier question

[Ted Ryan]

I was taking issue with the word superior, a word not used in the pamphlet.  As far as the condition of multi-racial relationships, that is highly dependent on geography.  There would be a lot of people in other parts of the country that would tell you (and have told me) that the relations are non-existent in some places.  In my limited experience, the Northwest is entirely different than many other parts of the country, so our perception is not necessarily representative of the whole. 

I would like to read some material that supports your point, "But I am also saying I think they - and you - are wrong when you make the claim that race relations in the South were harmonious and mutually intimate."  I lot of modern historians might agree, but what do those that lived it have to say?

Ted Ryan
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sunil Ramalingam 
  To: coffeemonkey100 at hotmail.com 
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 12:40 PM
  Subject: Re: Earlier question


  Ted,

  You say I am putting words in the mouths of the authors.  OK, let's look at the quote I was discussing:

  'there has never been a multi-racial society that existed with such mutual intimacy and harmony in the history of the world.'

  That's what they published.  I then wrote:

  'In other words, race relations in that period were superior to those of any other time and place, which I take to include our present time.'

  I don't think that I'm putting words in anyone's mouth with my paraphrase.  If I'm mistaken in this, please tell me how.  You say, 'They did not say that "race relations in that period were superior to those of any other time and place".'

  I disagree with you.  I think that's exactly what they said.  What else did they mean by the statement I quoted at the top of this post?  

  Yes, I am making the assumption that they would include the US at the time of the publication of the pamphlet; if this is an incorrect assumption, can you point to anything in the pamphlet that shows I should not make this assumption?  Mind you, I'm not saying we live in a multi-racial paradise today, but I am prepared to say that as a society we have improved a great deal.  But I am also saying I think they - and you - are wrong when you make the claim that race relations in the South were harmonious and mutually intimate.  

  Sunil



  >From: "Ted Ryan" <coffeemonkey100 at hotmail.com> 
  >To: "Sunil Ramalingam" <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> 
  >CC: <vision2020 at moscow.com> 
  >Subject: Re: Earlier question 
  >Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 08:41:54 -0700 
  > 
  >Sunil, 
  > 
  >Look, you had time to ask the question in the first place, you had time to ask me why I hadn't answered and now I am guilty of stealing you away from your work and your family.  You have not given any tone to the conversation that has made it pleasant.  If this is so difficult for you why post in the first place?  I did not accuse you of hostility due to your work load; until you told me you had work to do, how am I supposed to know? 
  > 
  >I can certainly appreciate family time and encourage you to partake, but don't get upset when you ask me to answer a question that was not visible in the first place and even after finding it, was not easy to decipher.  The statements out of the slavery pamphlet WERE taken out of context and given the delicate nature of the subject can be misused outside of the whole text.  This has already occurred in this forum, and I fear, you are doing the same thing. 
  > 
  >You have already started putting words in the mouths of the authors.  They did not say that "race relations in that period were superior to those of any other time and place".  Even what they did say doesn't mean that there are no race relations that are good right now.  Condoning a multi-racial marriage would have been wrong then and it is wrong now.  Like any marriage, if is entered into as it should, race has no bearing.  I am glad that you are happily married and enjoy your children.  My wife and I have good friends that are a multi-racial couple, and they exemplify the kind of relationship we should all have with those different then us. 
  > 
  >Stop for a moment to read and consider what the authors of that book actually said, not what you think they said. 
  > 
  >I will chase down those references and send them to you. 
  > 
  >Ted Ryan 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20040831/603161d1/attachment-0001.htm