[Vision2020] A Companion Piece to the Governor's Letter
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Thu, 22 Jan 2004 14:32:06 EST
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Visionaries:
The companion piece to the letter to the governor is below. It came to my=20
attention through the kind offer of a friend. The subject line of this emai=
l=20
could have read =E2=80=9CHell hath no fury like an academically humiliated D=
oug.=E2=80=9D =20
Yikes!!! And by the way, Doug (or fellow travelers), where are the four fac=
tual=20
errors in the first paragraph? =20
=20
From: Douglas=20
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 10:18 AM
To: bpitcher@uidaho.edu
Cc: gdickison@moscow.com
Subject: Diversity Office
=20
Dear President Michael and Provost Pitcher,
=20
Early this week I sent a letter to Raul Sanchez in which I told him that I=20
was grateful that he had removed the Quinlan/Ramsey piece from his web site.=
At=20
the same time, my letter went on to ask for an apology for its appearance in=
=20
the first place. The only response I have noted thus far is the reappearance=
of=20
a revised version of that same essay. The revised version is an improvement=20
in the sense that the most sophomoric errors were removed, but the basic=20
incendiary problems with the essay remain.
=20
I am sure you are very busy men, and that you have better things to do than=20
put out fires that have been started by your own diversity office. But the f=
act=20
remains that the "fires" that are contained in the essay by Quinlan and=20
Ramsey fall into two categories as far as the University of Idaho is concern=
ed --=20
embarrassing and dangerous. This means that they really must be dealt with,=20=
and=20
I am sorry that I am the one who has to ask you to do it.
=20
The embarrassing part is easy enough to ascertain. There are at least four=20
factual errors in the first paragraph, and the rest of the essay continues t=
he=20
tradition. Drs. Quinlan and Ramsey make much of the fact that they are=20
professional historians, but the demonstrable fact remains that they are ext=
remely=20
sloppy professional historians. I would rather have no adversaries at the=20
University of Idaho at all, but if I must, I appreciate the fact that their=20
scholarship is of this caliber. I want this controversy to die. But if it do=
es not, I=20
am extremely grateful that it is being waged against me like this.
=20
The dangerous part is of greater concern to you, and involves the current=20
overall situation at the University of Idaho. That concern is financial and=20
political, not legal. Please note that this letter is not threatening a suit=
for=20
defamation. I have better things to do. But it is to let you know that I hav=
e=20
been counseled to consider it, and that the slanderous Quinlan/Ramsey piece=20=
does=20
bring the phrase "reckless disregard for the truth" to mind. The central=20
point is to let you know that if the facts of this particular controversy we=
re to=20
find their way into the hands of those who are looking for ways to hammer th=
e=20
University of Idaho, it would be very difficult for the UI to defend itself.=
=20
In short, the University of Idaho has enough trouble going right now without=
=20
your diversity office generating more of it for you.
=20
I am a graduate of the UI, as is my wife. I have no desire whatever to be=20
involved in a controversy with the university. I regret the current problems=
the=20
UI is going through. That is why it astounds me that your diversity office h=
as=20
chosen to start picking new fights.
=20
The Quinlan/Ramsey essay is slanderous, defamatory, inaccurate, sloppy, and,=
=20
to the point of your concern, unnecessary. I am therefore asking you to see=20=
to=20
it the Quinlan/Ramsey piece is pulled from the diversity office web site, an=
d=20
an apology put in its place. I appreciate your consideration of this request=
.=20
I would be happy to meet with you in person to discuss this further if you=20
would wish.
=20
Sincerely,
=20
Douglas Wilson
=20
The actual refutation of Doug=E2=80=99s little book can be found on the "Not=
on the=20
Palouse" website, created and maintained by Tom Hansen. Hint: You won=E2=
=80=99t=20
recognize it from the description in this email=E2=80=A6.but I guess that=
=E2=80=99s not surprising=20
considering Doug=E2=80=99s lack of training in history and multiple thinking=
errors.
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<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
f">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Visionaries:</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">The companion piece to the letter to the governor is be=
low. It came to my attention through the kind offer of a friend. =
<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The subject line of this email cou=
ld have read =E2=80=9CHell hath no fury like an academically humiliated Doug=
.=E2=80=9D <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yikes!!!<SPAN styl=
e=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And by the way, Doug (or fellow travel=
ers), where are the four factual errors in the first paragraph? </FONT=
></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>From: Douglas </FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Sent: <st1:date Month=3D"12" Day=3D"19" Year=3D"2003">F=
riday, December 19, 2003</st1:date> <st1:time Hour=3D"10" Minute=3D"18">10:1=
8 AM</st1:time><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>To: </FONT><A title=3Dmailto:bpitcher@uidaho.edu href=3D"mail=
to:bpitcher@uidaho.edu"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>bpitcher@uid=
aho.edu</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Cc: </FONT><A title=3Dmailto:gdickison@moscow.com href=3D"mai=
lto:gdickison@moscow.com"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>gdickison@=
moscow.com</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Subject: Diversity Office<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Dear President Michael and Provost Pitcher,<o:p></o:p><=
/FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Early this week I sent a letter to Raul Sanchez in whic=
h I told him that I was grateful that he had removed the Quinlan/Ramsey piec=
e from his web site. At the same time, my letter went on to ask for an apolo=
gy for its appearance in the first place. The only response I have noted thu=
s far is the reappearance of a revised version of that same essay. The revis=
ed version is an improvement in the sense that the most sophomoric errors we=
re removed, but the basic incendiary problems with the essay remain.<o:p></o=
:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">I am sure you are very busy men, and that you have bett=
er things to do than put out fires that have been started by your own divers=
ity office. But the fact remains that the "fires" that are contained in the=20=
essay by Quinlan and Ramsey fall into two categories as far as the <st1:plac=
e><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Idaho</st1:Pla=
ceName></st1:place> is concerned -- embarrassing and dangerous. This means t=
hat they really must be dealt with, and I am sorry that I am the one who has=
to ask you to do it.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">The embarrassing part is easy enough to ascertain. Ther=
e are at least four factual errors in the first paragraph, and the rest of t=
he essay continues the tradition. Drs. Quinlan and Ramsey make much of the f=
act that they are professional historians, but the demonstrable fact remains=
that they are extremely sloppy professional historians. I would rather have=
no adversaries at the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType>=20=
of <st1:PlaceName>Idaho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> at all, but if I must, I=
appreciate the fact that their scholarship is of this caliber. I want this=20=
controversy to die. But if it does not, I am extremely grateful that it is b=
eing waged against me like this.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">The dangerous part is of greater concern to you, and in=
volves the current overall situation at the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>Univer=
sity</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Idaho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. Th=
at concern is financial and political, not legal. Please note that this lett=
er is not threatening a suit for defamation. I have better things to do. But=
it is to let you know that I have been counseled to consider it, and that t=
he slanderous Quinlan/Ramsey piece does bring the phrase "reckless disregard=
for the truth" to mind. The central point is to let you know that if the fa=
cts of this particular controversy were to find their way into the hands of=20=
those who are looking for ways to hammer the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>Unive=
rsity</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Idaho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, i=
t would be very difficult for the UI to defend itself. In short, the <st1:pl=
ace><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Idaho</st1:P=
laceName></st1:place> has enough trouble going right now without your divers=
ity office generating more of it for you.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">I am a graduate of the UI, as is my wife. I have no des=
ire whatever to be involved in a controversy with the university. I regret t=
he current problems the UI is going through. That is why it astounds me that=
your </FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">diversity=20=
office has chosen to start picking new fights.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">The Quinlan/Ramsey essay is slanderous, defamatory, ina=
ccurate, sloppy, and, to the point of your concern, unnecessary. I am theref=
ore asking you to see to it the Quinlan/Ramsey piece is pulled from the dive=
rsity office web site, and an apology put in its place. I appreciate your co=
nsideration of this request. I would be happy to meet with you in person to=20=
discuss this further if you would wish.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Douglas Wilson</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">The actual refutation of Doug=E2=80=99s little book can=
be found on the "Not on the Palouse" website, created and maintained by Tom=
Hansen.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Hint: You won=E2=80=
=99t recognize it from the description in this email=E2=80=A6.but I guess th=
at=E2=80=99s not surprising considering Doug=E2=80=99s lack of training in h=
istory and multiple thinking errors.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P></BODY></HT=
ML>
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