Mudd Descendants visit Fort Jefferson NP

[L Verge]

Rosemary,

There is one important element to the debating on this forum that you, as a newcomer, are likely not familiar with. Those of us who are frequent posters have known each other for a good number of years and have been sparring back and forth like this as a matter of habit -- not out of personal spite, revenge, whatever you might think it to be, but out of scholarly concerns for what effect(s) some historical opinions might have on a subject that is near and dear to our hearts. We're beyond the point of accepting speculation (been there, done that!).

Personally, I have taken a lickin and kept on tickin with discussions such as this for many decades. This includes face-to-face, via email, letters, even lawsuits. The fun part is that 99% of the people that you might suppose I am irritating are friends. We could have similar discussions/disputes in my living room or over a beer, and we would live to spar another day. The key to me is mutual respect for each other's ideas and styles - and that does not always mean agreement with those ideas and styles. Another key is recognizing that most of the people with whom we might argue are very knowledgeable in our field, so it is a fight among equals. Please don't judge us until you know us.