I just wanted to post a big thanks to all of the members here and my fellow mods and especially our Big Bug Ken for this great forum.

What inspired this you may be asking? I was just over on the Civil War Reenactors forum reading a thread that started out discussing a state wanting to change its state song and it broke down into a North vs South fight (worse than a P/C/H vs mainstream fight IMHO). Now I am not disparaging that forum, it is what it is, but the level of decorum exhibited by everyone here is very refreshing and it's nice that I've only had to put on my Mod face a couple of times nd only for minor infractions or reminders. I find it both sad and scary to see so many people (North and South) who still seem to want to fight the war instead of simply discuss it in a historical manner. Brave and valiant men and women were on both sides of that conflict as were villians, scoudrels, and scallywags (how's that for a term you don't hear everyday). It was a time that put countryman against countryman, neighbor against neighbor. A great nation was divided, a large portion of the country ravaged by war, a President shot, a people freed, and a section of the country taken advantage of by profiteers yet we as a people prevaled and emerged from it stronger than ever. We can debate the changes and nuances that came out of the conflict and whether they were good or bad for the future of the country but it still helped form us into what we are today; the greatest country on the face of this earth! God bless the USA!

Sorry, had to rant in a positve way there. Anyway it is always a breath of fresh air to be here on the Common Ground where we may not always agree but we are civil in our discourse. Thanks again everyone.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-07-18 21:34:50 --

Robert

Well said..

I have stopped going over to the Szabo forum because I found that after not going there for a few weeks, the threads were still the same.  The arguments were still the same and the civility was dropping.

I was glad when Ken recreated the forum and I was able to come over here to discuss issues and photos and such with people in a calm rational manner.

Thanks to the Ken and the mods for the great job you do.

That was nicely done, Mr. Collett.  Those are exactly my sentiments.  It is refreshing to come to this place knowing there will be nothing acidic   The pretentious posturing so evident in other places is blessedly absent here.  That in itself is a pleasant attribute.

The information put out has been timely for me, more than you could possibly know.  I read every post with more than causal passing interest.  You see, there is a healthy dose of vicariousness at work.  In spite of having been involved in this hobby since 1993, in a sense I’m starting over.  The country is weary of hearing about Katrina.  No matter, Katrina cleaned our plow.  New Orleans got the publicity.  The Mississippi Gulf Coast got the storm.  Most all of my reenactment gear was fed to the storm.  Most everything we had was fed to the storm.  The most salient fact this storm beat into my head is no matter what you lost and no matter how much there was of it, it’s just stuff.  No one in my family was injured.  That’s all that really mattered.  All we lost was stuff.  Stuff can be replaced.  You should see the loathsomely vile canker that grows out of brogans after having been baptized under storm surge laced with chemical runoff off and raw sewage. Since it stayed under that soupy mess for a matter of days, everything leather went to the debris pile.  The house was gutted, treated for mold, roof replaced, structural damage repaired and we moved back in.  Back in?  From where did you move, Curtis?  Why I’m so glad you asked.  We moved back in from a very, very mainstream Civil War camp set up in the yard.  As a matter of fact we will be leaving this gutted out house on Monday for five weeks (or longer) while all of the cosmetic repair is finished.  I’m here to tell you bare stud walls don’t lend themselves to privacy.  You tack sheets to stud walls in the bathrooms.  However, the dog is really keen on this idea of wall to wall doorways.  After Monday, my hopes are to still drop by on a daily basis, maybe more than once--not the house but this site.  

Anyhow, this site has provided information in the posts and other pertinent things in the form of private messages.  This site has been a relief and a release.  This forum has truly provided what I needed over the last few months. For that I thank the participants.  Thank you for tolerating my meager and some times inane contributions.  For making the site possible my gratitude is extended to the administrator and moderators.  Thanks, for doing what you do.  Collectively and individually, you have done me a service.

Now, after having written that,  allow me to make a small request.  When it comes time to do whatever has to be done financially to keep a forum functioning please, please allow the peons to make a contribution.  Tell us where and when to send donations.

Curtis,

I'm glad everyone with you made it through Katrina in good health and you are right the rest of the stuff is just stuff, that's why we have insurance.

This site is great and refreshing and I agree with all that has been stated. This forum has kept my civil war juices following with my 1 1/2 year absence from the field, but soon to change after relocating next week. Hope to see all the members in the field soon.  

Folks,

Eric Tipton had a vision for this Forum that took shape about four or five years ago. It was to be a place where people who shared a love of reenacting and an abiding interest in the real Civil War could come together, no matter where they fit on the authenticity spectrum. Over the years, the Forum has gone through a lot of changes; but thanks to everyone who participates on the "Common Ground", I feel we've been pretty true to Eric's original vision.

We've managed to discuss a number of controversial subjects with civility and maybe even a little humor. Given that we tend to be passionate about what we do and what we won't do, that's not always easy.

Thanks again.  

Bill,

That and the free pair of tweezers!

(For splinter removal.)

Quote :

Charles Heath wrote : Bill, (For splinter removal.)

Hey,

They only hurt when I laugh!