For the first time in ages there seems to be an outbreak of hostilities. This will cease immediately! This group is for family research in Bristol and Somerset, thats all.I will not have people arguing the merits of some percieved slight or wrongdoing. I am sure their are other forums where that type of discussion is welcome. I would now ask you all to follow the very flexible guidlines and allow me to repair back to my cave. Steve List manager Bristol and Somerset On 06/02/2014 6:29 PM, "Josephine Jeremiah" <jojeremiah@dsl.pipex.com> wrote: > Hi Listers, > > This Bristol Post article has just caught my attention: > > Notebook reveals chilling insight into Bristol's slave trade > > > http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/CHILLING-INSIGHT-SLAVE-TRADE/story-20569759-detail/story.html > > Josephine > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

From: Steve Medley <sjmedley@gmail.com> > For the first time in ages there seems to be an outbreak of hostilities. > This will cease immediately! > This group is for family research in Bristol and Somerset, thats all.I will > not have people arguing the merits of some percieved slight or wrongdoing. > I am sure their are other forums where that type of discussion is welcome. > I would now ask you all to follow the very flexible guidlines and allow me > to repair back to my cave. > Steve > List manager > Bristol and Somerset < I presume you are referring to the exchanges between Giles Oakley and myself, which I believe both of us found an interesting exchange of views, rather than an "outbreak of hostilities". I feel sure neither of us hold any grudges and that is certainly not the impression I had from Giles' last message. If we are not to be permitted to indulge in lively and vigorous debate now and then over an issue on which many people will have views, then there seems little point in living in a democratic society. Personally, I take the view that family history should be told as it is - WARTS AND ALL. It wasn't all sweetness and light with our ancestors and it is naïve to pretend that it was. Of course slavery is an issue that is entirely appropriate for discussion on a list devoted to family history, it seems to me, and not just the factual side of it but the wider implications. My principal point was to express the view that we who are alive today cannot be held responsible for what our ancestors did, and that harping on about an apology for slavery is simply futile posturing. However, I will naturally adhere to your instruction and make no further comments. -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Famous family trees blog: http://blog.findmypast.co.uk/tag/roy-stockdill/ Reach For The Stars blog: roystockdillgenealogy.com "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE