Frederick Demond

[L Verge]

That was no joke and was a sincere apology on my part because I felt that my 60+ years of interest in the Lincoln assassination had brought me to the point where I forgot that other people might be learning things for the first time and feeling the enthusiasm of learning and expressing opinions, just as I have done over the years. I believe that other people understood what I was doing, and I'm sorry if it was not clear to all.

Perhaps for those who are newbies to the site, it would be wise to spend time going back through approximately three years of very interesting and productive discourse that have gone on here with comaraderie and constructive differences of opinion. In many cases, what appear as contentious debates are sparring matches between highly intelligent and qualified scholars. There's something to be learned in most cases as long as one maintains an open mind.

Reading the full forum and realizing the friendships and respect that have grown within the circle of participants - thanks to the masterful eye of Roger Norton, a true Lincoln expert - might awaken all to the positive aspects of this forum (not the negative ones that some are choosing to elaborate on).

Although it has recently appeared that some on this forum may have a negative agenda, that certainly is not the case. We all might do well to consider that. End of story.