Re: BW Controversy

[<GRBroman@aol.com>]

John, I freely admit a bias, everyone has it and I would not have mentioned it had I not agreed that it exists.  The difference is that you also make the mistake of identifying the results of my research with bias. Do you know what my opinion or thesis was when I started?  Certainly not, as I never stated it.  You made an assumption, a dangerous game for the historian.   In other words, you now look at my statements, derived from reasonable study, and attribute the result to bias, rather than study.  In the case of Endicott, his thesis, supporting documentation and end result are published so his bias, which I believe is due to a lack of rigourous scholarship and methedology, is plain to see.  I don't view his work as "compelling evidence", but rather opinions or facts altered to fit a thesis.  I don't know about your college experience, but Professor Bridgeman kicked my ass when I tried to do that as an undergraduate.  Now, as to your last statement about doing your own research.  You copped out.  I work full tim
e and I'm a high school soccer coach plus I have a housefull of teenage boys (for those of you keeping score at home, that's actually three full time jobs).  I also have hobbies and a life.  Yet, I don't get grants, although I do get paid when I publish, if it sells. And yet I manage to read about a book a week.  Today it's Chemical Soldiers by Richter.  So, I manage to do this stuff along with having a life and a normal salary.  Now, as Cookie Sewell and some of the other guys on the list that know me will attest, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I still manage to find the time to do this with the limited resources I have on hand.  You can too, give yourself some credit.  So, the only "grant" I can give you is advice.  What you do with it is completely up to you.
Glen 

In a message dated Tue, 18 Dec 2001  8:22:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, <Jhk789@aol.com> writes:

> In a message dated 12/18/2001 8:29:55 AM Pacific Standard Time, GRBroman@aol.com writes:
> we all have it and the greatness of an historians work is directly rela
> 
> tional to his or her ability to overcome it. John2, now that we've dealt with your complaint of me, how about one I have with you? You read a book, and now you cite it as "proof" or at least compelling evidence. 
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> Glen,
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> Thanks for your thoughts on this!
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> 
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> I fully agree agree with above. 
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> We all have certain bias because we were raised that way.
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> I think you also have a bias.
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> I do not necessarily believe in all that were said by Dr. Endicott.
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> But I have to respect his view because he did an extensive 
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> research already and his arguments are quite logical.
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> I wish I had the time and money to do a lot of research into
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> this question. But I am too busy making a living unfortunately.
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> Can you get me a big grant?
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> John2