Dear Marie, I am distressed at what appears to be the beginning of a "war of words" concerning the use of the word Cracker. I think we should all assume that there has been some miscommunication between the involved parties and just get back to using our RootsList for it's intended purpose; to help each other find our lost ancestors and provide information about our past. Rather than use the list as a forum for disagreements, we should ask both parties to accept that people make mistakes and often misunderstand situations. The RootsList does a wonderful service and I think it's time to get back to business. Marie Evans McQueen wrote: > Thank you for sending the message, "Deragotory Terms." It was very wrong for him to have done this, but he probably meant no harm. It was also wrong of Rootsweb. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and now live in Bon Secour, Alabama. I am about as southern as one can be. > "Cracker" used to be a fun term - people from Georgia even referred to themselves as "Crackers." > However, it is no longer "the thing" to do. > > I think it would be best if we all thought of this the same as we would have if a very intelligent, well educated person had made a "whopper" of a grammatical error. > > Please feel free to put my letter for everyone to see. When I do this I always forget to to change my format to plain text and cause all kinds of problems. > > Marie Evans Davis-McQueen > > P. S. "Webster's New World Dictionary." - third College Edition, list this as the definition of a cracker ...5 Poor White: contemptuous term...often used for a native of Georgia or Florida - a humorous usage. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Busby <mbusby@airmail.net> > To: BUSBY-L@rootsweb.com <BUSBY-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 12:37 PM > Subject: Deragotory Terms > > >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) > > > > > > > > > >==== BUSBY Mailing List ==== > >RootsWeb Resource Cluster > >http://resources.rootsweb.com/~clusters/surnames > >Listowner: Barbara Peddicord mailto:nashoba@cdsnet.net > > > > > eb.com/~clusters/surnames > >Listowner: Barbara Peddicord mailto:nashoba@cdsnet.net > > > > > > ==== BUSBY Mailing List ==== > RootsWeb Resource Cluster > http://resources.rootsweb.com/~clusters/surnames > Listowner: Barbara Peddicord mailto:nashoba@cdsnet.net