Dear Cousin Anthony, I am sorry that you feel a need to leave the list. I understand and respect your comments and respectfully request that you reconsider your decision. I agree with Jim Vick that the main focus of this list should be VICK genealogy and getting to know each other. However, I must also respond to your comments before I drop this subject. I hope you will fully consider the following comments and statements and not reject them out of hand: 1. Slavery has existed virtually since man has existed. All cultures took slaves during war. Slavery existed in Africa long before any white person ever set foot there. The America Indians on the East coast took and kept slaves. The Mayans, the Aztecs, the Incas, all took and kept slaves. Most of the original European slaves were white, because the countries conquered by the Romans were white. The word "slave," comes from "Slav," indicating people of Slavic or East European descent. 2. Most of the black slaves brought to America were captured and sold into slavery by their own people. Numerous treaties existed between Portugal, Spain and black rulers to expedite slavery. 3. Virtually all of the black slaves brought to America were captured or bought and then shipped to America by NORTHERN slave traders. 4. The first sovereign state to pass legislation against slavery was Virginia, back in the late 1700s, fully 30 years before slavery was abolished by Britain. 5. As others stated in the digest, slavery is still being practiced in the Sudan where black slaves are bought and sold by black slave traders for as little as $50.00 each. 6. The Confederate battle flag was never considered as a symbol of slavery by the people who created, honored, and fought for it. It is no more a symbol of slavery than the flag of the United States, which flew over slaves in the North and South for almost 100 years before the War for Southern Independence. The battle flag has been made into a symbol of slavery by people who wish to promote what Shelby Steele calls "redemptive liberalism." You made this point very clear yourself when discussing the Nazi swastika. 7. Every single day in the year 2000 tens of thousands of children in the African countries die of starvation and disease and tens of thousands of people are slaughtered or forced to flee from their homes by various warring factions, and yet others are sold into slavery. These are not symbols. These are black human beings being murdered or exploited by other black human beings. Where are the protestors? Where is the moral outrage? 8. None of the postings in support of the Confederate flag were in support of slavery. I don't know of anyone, other than black people in the Sudan, who supports or tolerates slavery. I apologize for being long-winded, but I am tired of being called or considered a racist simply because I am of Southern heritage and proud of it. I never owned slaves or supported slavery. A few of my ancestors owned a few slaves, as was the custom of the time. Anyone doing genealogy research will eventually find the same. I used to feel a lot of personal guilt and embarrassment about this issue because I was taught the Northern version of Southern history in school. Now that I have taken it upon myself to try to discover the truth, I no longer feel any guilt or shame. Numerous VICKs fought in the War for Southern Independence, on both sides. The Southern VICKs did not fight for slavery, but in support of their country. The Northern VICKs did the same. Please accept my apology for any offense, as none was intended. My experience is that the real "truth," devoid of subjective or emotional evaluation is an elusive target. Also, the real "truth," when and if it is found, is frequently disagreeable or unpleasant when contrary to what was originally believed. Per the suggestion of Jim Vick, I am signing off of this subject. If anyone wants to continue a private conversation, please feel free to contact me directly. Your cousin, James B. Davis ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com