Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 11:32:35 -0800
Reply-To: Jim Ellis <ellisjames@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Ellis <ellisjames@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Ellis- coming out party! Attn: Coyote
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Re: Ellis- coming out party! Attn: Coyote
I received some email from an individual who suggested that my announcement
relating to purchase of a 97 EurovanCamper contained totally offensive
"underlying negative stereotyping". It was further suggested that I had used
the "Vanagon
Mailing List to distribute hate…" and had "included a personal attack upon
another Listee" who is a major contributor to the Vanagon community and
deserves appropriate treatment from that same community.
Furthermore, list moderator, Tom Carrington, was gracious enough to welcome me
back to the list but requested that I watch my language.
OK, Firstly I had no intention of singling out Mr. Lucier or offending anyone.
No Coyote bait here. I strongly support and defend the rights of and fair
treatment of all individuals. I have been taken to task, in the past, for
defending and fostering the rights of Gays, Women, Children, Macromedia
software users, Owners of firearms and of persons who wish to defend the First
Amendment and retain their liberties in a free and open Republic as well as the
rights of individuals who find it convenient to switch their levels of
tolerance on and off like a switch depending on the occasion and agenda at
hand. I have many friends in the Gay and Lesbian community including members of
my own family. Liberal thinking becomes conservative when the group fighting
for tolerance becomes intolerant, overly sensitive and recognises that they too
will fight to obtain/retain a perceived virtue. My G/L friends and family are
no strangers to self-effacing/deprecating humor. Jokes upon ourselves is common
in this world- all worlds. Get used to it and get over it. Perhaps because it
has been assumed that I am not of that community <I am not> then it has been
deemed offensive. The offended party did respect my right to express myself and
complimented me on some humorous comments. Thanks for that, it is appreciated.
As far as inclusion of the Coyote moniker goes- I have been posting to the
Synchro Yahoo group and elsewhere in my hunt for a Synchro Westy. It has been
recognized that Ron and others have been active in that group. I highly admire
Ron's vehicle and the modifications that I sought to replicate. Additionally, I
have been away from the Vanagon list for sometime and at my last awareness
believed Ron and his S.O. partner were in alphadog/former alphadoggian status
in moderating this list. Apologies for any perceived slight. My intention was
180 degrees out from the isolated perception. Tolerance of a creative
Welsh-Irishman net-author may be in order as well. The base underlying humor
was not intended to in any way "hate" or ridicule any group. My long time
reputation as a hardcore Vintage Nazi <not that I have anything against Vintage
owners or Nazis!!!> and extreme visibility and involvement in the Vintage VW
scene was sure to draw well intentioned fire from many quarters. I am not so
sensitive that I find it necessary to lash out every time someone takes a swing
at me.
Kudos to and recognition-reflex tip the hat to Tom Carrington for keeping us
all in line~ and more. I count only one fiveletter word that I'm sure has been
seen on this list as used to complain about something and another used to
describe a donkey. In the future I will attempt not to be a donkey or complain.
Tom's point has been taken to heart. Otherwise the actual "Language" was clean.
The inference and assumptions were on the part of the reader. Mutual tolerance
observed. I am happy to be amongst the "community".
Peace and radiators,
-Ellis
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