Letter from freed slave to former master. *1865

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Since we going all Nazi here, why would you capitalize Grade?

Didn't you see the disclaimer?

Actually, I think capitalizing "Grade" in "Grade 11" (or any other grade) is kind of standard here, but I ain't sure.

Speaking of (and back to the subject at hand) I've read "the letter" on at least two different sites, and somewhere along the way they both mentioned that the former slave had dictated the letter.

Is this to say "he couldn't read and write, so he had it dictated" or "he was successful, so he dictated it to a flunkie"?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by pylon

I am a grade 11 drop out. What do you expect?

Why are you afforded an excuse?

[DementedReality]

Oh geez guys, I rarely capitalize on a message board. Relax, it's not a formal presentation here.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Their is more you could have corrected, you know?

Stop butchering English, pylon.

There

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

Oh geez guys, I rarely capitalize on a message board. Relax, it's not a formal presentation here.

It's an unofficial rule, but only "loooob" is allowed unrestricted capitalization.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

Oh geez guys, I rarely capitalize on a message board. Relax, it's not a formal presentation here.

And that's why you're part of the problem.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Interesting. You don't mind carrying around big/heavy parcels? I do 99% of my shopping on Amazon. I think I've been to a mall 2x in the past year... all my shopping is done online. I'm waiting for the day I can do my grocery shopping online, and then set a date/time I go to (Safeway) to pick up my groceries.

Wait, you can't do that yet? I don't even have to go pick it up.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by Reaper

And that's why you're part of the problem.

what problem?

[V]

Is it grammatically correct to begin a sentence with "And"? I was always taught it was wrong.

[jammies]

The problem? Pervasive illiteracy masquerading as apathy.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by jammies

The problem? Pervasive illiteracy masquerading as apathy.

who says i am illterate just because i dont use grammar conventions on a message board.

its the same as using slang in verbal discussion. you all need to lighten up.

[stang]

Came to this thread to read about slaves, not nazis.

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

who says i am illterate just because i dont use grammar conventions on a message board.

its the same as using slang in verbal discussion. you all need to lighten up.

Indeed...

Speaking of lightening things up, do you recall about 24 hours ago

Originally Posted by DementedReality

sad? for real?

give me a break ... why should you care that letters are rarely hand written anymore? it should generate no emotion actually, hardly something to be sad about.


sounds like grandstanding on a message board.

[Morozee]

So much hatred and discrimination. You'd think in this day and age we could all just be grammatically correct and get along.

[Devils'Advocate]

Hrm. I just finished watching Roots for the first time. I did watch "Roots: The Next Generation" (and I did find some humour in that Levar Burton was NOT in "Roots: TNG" but his character kept being mentioned). It is quite beyond me how people can ignore the obvious suffering of others.

I mean, there is horrible suffering in the world today, but it's thousands of miles away. But this was so up close.... and people just considered it normal. Boggles my mind it does. I know Ed Asner's character just about went crazy with guilt over being captain of a slave ship, but for the rest of them it was just a typical day at the office....

[BloodFetish]

Just caught up with this thread, and all I've got to say is...

PWND!

[Timbo]

Looks like another grammar lynching party taking over a decent original topic.


Back on topic. The letter was a great insght to how people of that era communicated. While Mr. J. Anderson had every right to respond with pages of bile and venom he instead used decorum and tact.

History is fasinating.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by redforever

Yes true, although it all is related to slavery and the fact that some Americans still do not recognize equality among the races.

The fact you specifically pointed out Americans annoyed me. Your statement is factually correct, but the same applies to virtually any country. In the United States there is at least a well developed civil rights movement, and the existence of racism is both recognized, and acknowledged to a significant degree.

Canadians have much further to go IMO when it comes to indigenous people than the US as a whole does when it comes to blacks. That's coming from a guy who has lived in Dallas for 10 years, and grew up in Cochrane.

Just ask a section of the BC populace about native land claims. Or people in Cochrane about the Morley native reserve. You'll hit a couple of real losers in your sample who will speak very similarly to the dips you talk about in your post - except instead of blacks it'll be about natives.

I doubt there is a nation on earth that should be pointing fingers at others regarding equality. Even progressive well educated countries like Japan treat outsiders differently.

[SeeBass]

^^Yeah how dare he mention America even though it is the location and direct reference to where everybody is from in the letter and it is related to the topic at hand.

I can see how that would annoy you.

[To Be Quite Honest]

what happened to the former slave that wrote his old master