I have decided to make a public apology to Skookum, not so much for the initial offensive comment but more for my reaction and subsequent comments. The internet is a strange place and one really does not often know how ones comments will come across. In real life I am not a generally offensive person but I am often flippant and never serious. Its just the way I am. I do recognize that other people are different and that if you want to be friends with them you simply have to accept them as they are or just move on. Skookum is not the kind of guy I want to blow off or ignore. The fact is that I have a lot of respect for him as a person. Not only is he one of the most intelligent guys I have ever met, he is also one of the friendliest, least assuming bad assed trail riders I know. I am not shy about voicing my respect for someone I have done so with Skookum on more than one occasion.
Skookum and I have a history that involves personal conversations about an issue he takes very seriously I knew this but choose to repeat the offending phrase in an offhand manner, in a public forum because I was ignorant about the depth of his conviction. I have my own feelings and views as they pertain to certain racial issues I am not ashamed of them and I often discus them openly. Unfortunately they were not relevant to this issue. I have finally realized that my views versus Skookums views are not the problem. This should have been a quiet, personal matter between friends but my misguided reaction lead to a public feud hence the need for a public apology.
Regardless of what anyone may think about Skookum and his on-line personality, I personally know him to be a stand up guy who would go out of his way to honor a friends requests. My failure to respond in kind was the cause of our disagreement and the root of Skookums disappointment for this I apologize in the most unconditional way possible. Skookum was right to call me out; my immediate and subsequent responses were wrong. End of story. Now its time to ride.
Well there you go. Writing this apology was not difficult recognizing the need for it was. This is the first serious post I have ever made on a public message board, I hope it will also be the last. I have deleted all of my offending posts, However words, once written or spoken, can never be erased by those who have heard or read them.
Skookum and I have a history that involves personal conversations about an issue he takes very seriously I knew this but choose to repeat the offending phrase in an offhand manner, in a public forum because I was ignorant about the depth of his conviction. I have my own feelings and views as they pertain to certain racial issues I am not ashamed of them and I often discus them openly. Unfortunately they were not relevant to this issue. I have finally realized that my views versus Skookums views are not the problem. This should have been a quiet, personal matter between friends but my misguided reaction lead to a public feud hence the need for a public apology.
Regardless of what anyone may think about Skookum and his on-line personality, I personally know him to be a stand up guy who would go out of his way to honor a friends requests. My failure to respond in kind was the cause of our disagreement and the root of Skookums disappointment for this I apologize in the most unconditional way possible. Skookum was right to call me out; my immediate and subsequent responses were wrong. End of story. Now its time to ride.
Well there you go. Writing this apology was not difficult recognizing the need for it was. This is the first serious post I have ever made on a public message board, I hope it will also be the last. I have deleted all of my offending posts, However words, once written or spoken, can never be erased by those who have heard or read them.
i expected nothing less from you
