Eric

We haven’t decided yet if we’ll tour with him (we all could probably learn something from it) but it might be good for all of us.

J.D.

I tend to ignore people like this, although I do think he showed character by admitting error and apologizing – rather refreshing. I think addressing it initally was the right thing to do, now he’s apologized. I would move on and take him up on his offer. By fretting over critics (especially ones who have harmed what credibility they may have had), you give them undeserved stature.

Just some friendly and well-intentioned advice. Besides, we all need mercy from time to time.

I also have a post on my blog in which I acknowledge that he apologized and took responsibility for his actions. It remains, however, that it was very easy for him to have found out the facts before accusing us – there were two simple things he did not do: 1. Ask the Historical Society if we, or anyone, got a copy of his manuscript, and 2. Check our book’s footnotes and bibliography to see what our sources were (there was a blurb at the end of the CWT article that it was adapted from our book).

All he did was read our non-footnoted article, then flew off the handle that we must have stolen from him. The onus of original responsiblity to have checked his facts first still remains with him, and everything could have been avoided immediately had he done the above.

Therefore, his reaction (writing to and accusing us) is really not “understandable” in the sense that he didn’t do the minimum required before accusing someone of something. Also, he could have first written us simply with his concerns, and ask for an explanation, prior to then telling us in print that we are thieves and we did this or that.

J.D.

Secondly, it is to his credit that he has acknowledged his error and apologized. Far too often these days, a person who makes this kind of mistake simply walks away or even continues to press the issue because he is not ‘big enough’ to admit to having been wrong. This fellow seems not only to have been ‘big enough’, but now willing to at least attempt to make amends by being helpful to you should you so desire.

Was the man wrong? Certainly. But did he respond appropriately when he was PROVEN wrong? It seems to me that he has done so and that at least should be recognized. It takes a big man to admit his error and apologize an even BIGGER man to accept it in the spirit in which it is offered.

Brian Dirck