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Archiver > ARIZARD > 2006-12 > 1166630794


From: "Bill Dunn" <>
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD] Seeking New List Owner
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:06:34 -0600
References: <7.0.1.0.2.20061220050603.022b1cf0@comcast.net>


Dear list,

After reading Jean's email , I posted my response to her privately. Now that
I have read so many hearfelt responses of other members, I realized that
this was an occasion where my personal reponse should also be publicly
posted. We should ALL see just how much Jean means to us, each in a
different way. For that reason, I offer my letter below.

Bill

"Jean,

I thought you might appreciate my opinion on this subject as one of your
former "adversaries" (I say that with tongue planted FIRMLY in cheek.)
Please take these observations in the warm and loving spirit they are
offered.

If Mike feels wronged by his treatment, I truly believe he has a right to
try and convince Rootsweb of his case. Rootsweb provides the servers and
bandwidth for this site and thus should be the final arbiters of any
unresolved complaints. That said, there is ample evidence on the archives to
convince Rootsweb that Mike not only posted inappropriately, but that you
were more than fair in his treatment and readmittance to the list. I am
convinced that they would side with you in this matter.

I can only imagine that perhaps Mike is complaining about his rights to
freedom of speech, but that argument is hollow. Within that framework, he
has every right to start a competing list on some other server. There he can
offer all of his wonderful stories and data along with a heaping helping of
his personal travails and withering, insulting responses to whomever might
"cross" him. That is his freedom of speech.

By threatening a lawsuit, Mike is merely continuing the same manipulative
ways he has exhibited since his reemergence many months ago. I cringed
whenever he was called out for his misbehavior and he would then intimate
that he had nothing to live for without the joy of this list. It seems
certain that Mike has had a difficult life (as we were constantly reminded
with the admonition to "walk in his shoes") but while the list provides
wonderful therapeutic and spiritual value to a great many people, Mike never
learned the minimum "manners" necessary to converse on these subjects in a
community such as this. Even his compliments were frequently backhanded.

Because of past occasions where my feelings have been hurt, my sensibilities
offended or my ire raised, I choose to mainly lurk. I privately converse
with the listmembers to whom I am close and just try to post info when I
might have it. I always know, though, that I can go to you privately when I
feel there is a post that goes over the line and that you will do your best
to arbitrate. As listmembers, we can ask no more of you.

On a personal note: I know that we come from two disparate perspectives but
I absolutely know that we have each been positively affected by the other
over these last few years. I must say with all sincerity that I love you. I
love you for all the hardships you have overcome with grace and humility. I
love you for your cheerfulness and levelheadedness when we all seem to need
it most. Mainly, I love you because you are human with all the strengths and
frailties which God intended for you.

If you really must leave the leadership of this list due to this latest
stress, I will understand and support you. In my heart though , I feel you
have much more to offer us. I know that I could never carry out your
responsibilities with the same aplomb.

With much love and a heavy heart,
Bill"

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