Dear Friend W W, and Cousins, I presented Wendell Berry's biography and writings because I believe they are inspiring and link us to distant homelands of our ancestors, particularly mine. I have never felt like emulating his personal choices to retain the privy, nor the lifestyle of those who lived in the early 1800's in Henry County, KY. My ancestors rode on; his didn't. It was a choice then, as now. What I do love is Wendell Berry's refusal to bend to technology, even though I do not. Because my work is in an area which is enhanced by technology, i.e., computer and internet usage in the research field, I love and appreciate my computer! I would never have traced the Smiths in Henry county (who founded Smithfield) had I not had such technology. Wendell Berry's life is different, and I admire its difference even though I do not embrace the land, its peace and comfort, in the manner he does. We each have to find our own path, which I think is what Mr. Berry has done with great eloquence, as I said, in his work and in his life. I believe that is integrity -- knowing oneself and remaining true to that core of self-knowledge. I suggest also, Dear Friend WW, that is how you've also lived your life, from what I've come to know about you. In addition to greatly admiring Mr. Berry's writing, I find his insistence on purity of purpose admirable, just as I admire the Quakers and Bretheren who simply refuse to participate in war and war-making. Although I do not carry my pacificism to the same extreme edges that they do, I respect their views. However, I think I am more like the "Fighting Quakers," in the Revolutionary War! One of of those fighting was Daniel Pennington, a life-long Quaker, whose family came to Philadelphia in the early 1700's. After years of persecution for their pacifistic views on both sides of the Atlantic, the Quakers were once again intensely tormented for holding to their beliefs during the Revolutionary War period. As you may remember, some were hauled out of their beautiful Philadelphia homes (by their neighbors) and interred near Winchester, Virginia. One of these was another Quaker, Edward Pennington, who was not of the same family as Daniel Pennington. (At least on this side of the Atlantic.) Our Cousin, Jim of Connecticut, descends from this family. Our Cousins Marilyn and Mary are also Quaker descendants. Two of the Philadelphia Quakers died in Virginia, never seeing their families and homes again. General Washington, when asked about more reprisals against the Quakers, instructed: "Leave them alone. They do nothing to help us, but they do nothing to help our enemies either." After he was released, Edward Pennington returned to Philadelphia and berated the council in the most scathing, although gentlemanly terms, asking how those who had stood beside him in those chambers could have behaved toward him as they did. They had lost their integrity in their patriotic fervor. We have many lessons to learn from history, as well as from our fellow human beings, whatever their time frame. The trick I think, is to learn where our own integrity lies, rather than disputing the motives of others. Writers, and artists of every variety paint a view of the world that is their own unique interpretation. Through seeing, reading, and assessing -- and yes, questioning! -- the varied interpretations of others, we come to greater clarity about our own moral core, even if it differs from theirs. Therefore, WW, your message is greatly appreciated. I had hoped to stir a debate with this! Everybody benefits by expressing our views. We simply need to remember to attack ideas, not persons! (You did not do this, and I appreciate that, too.) One thing we definitely know: If we lose touch with our heritage, or are deprived of it, we lose what is most meaningful to the lifelong process of creating our identity/soul, and thereby lose contact with what is most integral to our own individual lives. Native Americans and African Americans have suffered this kind of loss through the actions of our ancestors. In our own generation (mine, at least!) we have interred (Japanese) American citizens, just as the Quakers and Native Americans were persecuted and interred in the past. Franklin Roosevelt, whom I believe was among our most outstanding Presidents, greatly erred in interring Japanese American citizens. Roosevelt (and the rest of the world) also erred in not recognizing the evil that became known as the Holocaust. We are in another hideously critical time in our national life, which once again will test our ideals, and our integrity. We need to be vigilant against foreign attack, as well maintaining our vigilance about who we are as individuals and as a nation. Discussions like these help put things in perspective. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@teleport.com ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads

Carolyn McDaniel, sometimes you write stuff and i wonder what you are thinking! "If we lose touch with our heritage, or are deprived of it, we lose what is most meaningful to the lifelong process of creating our identity/soul, and thereby lose contact with what is most integral to our own individual lives. Native Americans and African Americans have suffered this kind of loss through the actions of our ancestors." please explain what you mean above. i have lots of ancestors with no surname, (destroyed by Indian Wars, & Revolution) i have lots of ancestors who moved across this country losing touch with their roots, and handed down sketchy info from their memories. I have lots of Southern ancestors whose homes, property, livelihood, way of life and culture were totally destroyed by Lincoln's War and Union Army and occupation. (also Kentucky & Maryland & Missouri). I have seen my lifetime the destruction by pc activist thru media hype destroying the playing of songs such as, "Dixie", the banning of movies "Song of The South" and as we speak in the South the destruction of the Confederate Flag, Southern Street names, Southern school names, Southern names of bridges. As we speak Dumbing down and propagandizing our Southern children in schools, and media by teaching them to dislike and abhor their ancestors. (I am sure you don't want to be a part of this). Tallahassee, Florida in their Spring parade had honored Andrew Jackson since its beginning, but after a few complaints from minorities the ditched him. Andrew Jackson, the Hero of the War of 1812, the one man so responsible for our finally winning our independence from Britain, the only man who could gather up all the diverse men of this region, of the original Southern frontier to his side to march and fight the Battle of New Orleans. Anyone who was anybody, everyone of any value was proud to fight by his side. The next year they banned the Sons of the Confederate Veterans from marching in the parade. Please tell me why you think only African Americans and American Indians have suffered from this cultural genocide. BTW there are still blacks who know and remain loyal to their Southern heritage and Indian Natives as well. josie At 06:17 PM 11/6/2001 -0800, you wrote: >Dear Friend W W, and Cousins, > I presented Wendell Berry's biography and writings because I >believe they are inspiring and link us to distant homelands of our >ancestors, particularly mine. I have never felt like emulating his >personal choices to retain the privy, nor the lifestyle of those who >lived in the early 1800's in Henry County, KY. My ancestors rode on; >his didn't. It was a choice then, as now. > What I do love is Wendell Berry's refusal to bend to >technology, even though I do not. Because my work is in an area >which is enhanced by technology, i.e., computer and internet usage >in the research field, I love and appreciate my computer! I would >never have traced the Smiths in Henry county (who founded Smithfield) >had I not had such technology. Wendell Berry's life is different, and >I admire its difference even though I do not embrace the land, its >peace >and comfort, in the manner he does. We each have to find our own >path, which I think is what Mr. Berry has done with great eloquence, >as I said, in his work and in his life. I believe that is >integrity -- knowing >oneself and remaining true to that core of self-knowledge. I suggest >also, Dear Friend WW, that is how you've also lived your life, from >what I've come to know about you. > In addition to greatly admiring Mr. Berry's writing, I find >his insistence on purity of purpose admirable, >just as I admire the Quakers and Bretheren who simply refuse to >participate in war and war-making. Although I do not carry my >pacificism to the same extreme edges that they do, I respect their >views. However, I think I am more like the "Fighting Quakers," in the >Revolutionary War! One of of those fighting was Daniel Pennington, a >life-long Quaker, whose family came to Philadelphia in the early >1700's. > After years of persecution for their pacifistic views on both >sides of the Atlantic, the Quakers were once again intensely tormented >for holding to their beliefs during the Revolutionary War period. As >you may remember, some were hauled out of their beautiful Philadelphia >homes (by their neighbors) and interred near Winchester, Virginia. >One of these was another Quaker, Edward Pennington, who was not of the >same family as Daniel Pennington. (At least on this side of the >Atlantic.) Our Cousin, Jim of Connecticut, descends from this family. >Our >Cousins Marilyn and Mary are also Quaker descendants. > Two of the Philadelphia Quakers died in Virginia, never seeing >their families and homes again. General Washington, when asked about >more reprisals against the Quakers, instructed: "Leave them alone. >They >do nothing to help us, but they do nothing to help our enemies >either." > After he was released, Edward Pennington returned to >Philadelphia and >berated the council in the most scathing, although gentlemanly terms, >asking how those who had stood beside him in those chambers could have >behaved toward him as they did. They had lost their integrity in >their patriotic fervor. > We have many lessons to learn from history, as well as from >our fellow human beings, whatever their time frame. The trick I >think, is to learn where our own integrity lies, rather than >disputing the motives of others. Writers, and artists of every >variety paint a view of the world that is their own unique >interpretation. Through seeing, reading, and assessing -- and yes, >questioning! -- >the varied interpretations of others, we come to greater clarity about >our own >moral core, even if it differs from theirs. Therefore, WW, your >message is greatly appreciated. I had hoped to stir a debate with >this! Everybody benefits by expressing our views. We simply need >to remember to attack ideas, not persons! (You did not do this, and I >appreciate that, too.) > One thing we definitely know: If we lose touch with our >heritage, or are deprived of it, we lose what is most meaningful to >the lifelong process of creating our identity/soul, and thereby lose >contact with what is most integral to our own individual lives. >Native Americans and African Americans have suffered this kind of loss >through the actions of our ancestors. In our own generation (mine, at >least!) we have interred (Japanese) American citizens, just as the >Quakers and Native Americans were persecuted and interred in the past. >Franklin Roosevelt, whom I believe was among our most outstanding >Presidents, greatly erred in interring Japanese American citizens. >Roosevelt (and the rest of the world) also erred in not recognizing >the evil that became known as the Holocaust. We are in another >hideously critical time in our national life, which once again will >test our >ideals, and our integrity. We need to be vigilant against foreign >attack, as well maintaining our vigilance about who we are as >individuals and as a nation. Discussions like these help put things >in perspective. > >Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn >Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@teleport.com >========================================= >--- Visit American Crossroads --- >http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads > > > > > > > >============================== >Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history >learning and how-to articles on the Internet. >http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library Josephine Lindsay Bass Confederate Southern American 216 Beach Park Lane Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 321-868-1771 My Southern Family, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mysouthernfamily/