To All List Members I have noticed that many Busby's subscribing to this mailing list are either located in our fair Southern part of the country or they have close ties to Southern Busby's I though you might find the following enlightening concerning how the owners and staff of RootsWeb perceive our brethren I came across a story at GenWeb's home pages ("AN (ALMOST) UNEXPURGATED HISTORY OF ROOTSWEB" by Dr. Brian Leverich) while looking for something else. I became alarmed when I read his story and found repeated use of the word "cracker" in several paragraphs, evidently referring to some problem with someone in Atlanta. Perhaps, in this day of supposed political correctness, it is okay for self-effacing elitists to slander and degrade our southern cousins and fear no reprisal for the effort. However, I ask each of you with whatever resolve you can muster to register your protest of the use of the term by an organization desiring and attempting to be recognized as a leader in their field. Responsible and genuine company's/leaders do not go around calling their customers/followers foul and derogatory names (certainly not in public). The following is my post to the GenWeb HelpDesk board: The use of a degrading term referring to a certain element of our society in "AN (ALMOST) UNEXPURGATED HISTORY OF ROOTSWEB" by Dr. Brian Leverich, co-moderator, soc.genealogy.methods/GENMTD-L, RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative, is not becoming of anyone or any site worth taking seriously. His willingness to use the term "cracker" and your willingness to display it in his "article" mark both of you as pretending to an intellectual elitism that is not only unbecoming, but also insults every single individual in this country with an education exceeding kindergarten Is this the things people learn at Harvard? I hope you consider removing either the offending article or the term. By the way, many of my distant relatives are in Atlanta and surrounding areas. I will post this to the surname list and see if any others are as incensed as I am that you would use such a derogatory term to describe ANYONE. You are welcome to use my message and to depart from it as you see fit. Cordially, Michael Busby (The Incensed)