Discussion:

Discussion for article #240480

At the bottom of that AHA interview, somebody left a comment appreciating Dr. Schmidt’s work:

Mila Saskova-Pierce September 19, 2013 at 9:08 pm
The work of Dr. Ethan Schmidt constitutes a major important contribution that sheds light on an important aspect of North American history. The world is watching his research. I am interested in the racial relations between the Moravian Brethern in North Carolina and the surrounding population, and their uneasy adaptation to the racial laws. The work of Dr. Schmidt adds greatly to my understanding of the problems in the region.
Mila Saskova-Pierce, associate professor of Russian and Czech, University of Nebraska

http://blog.historians.org/2013/09/aha-member-spotlight-ethan-a-schmidt/

I am saddened to think how many people will missing this guy. RIP.

I am sorry for your, and as you point out, our loss, Mr. Earle. One of the sad facts is that many readers of this site, mostly strong opponents of our insane gun culture, and lamenters of our seeming inability to do anything about it, become inured to the unrelenting stream of stories of gun-induced tragedy. Your words remind us again that there are real human beings who are killed and injured in these senseless and too common acts. I will try always to remember that.

Thank you for your remembrance of your talented colleague, and again, my condolences.

Civilization suffers another immeasurable loss at the hands of a gun-wielding maniac.

So much tragedy, so much loss, too much grief and sorrow.

When we will begin indicting the enablers of the NRA?

Here, here, CarlosFiance!

While reading this wonderfully-written remembrance, there is something that struck me–and really hit home–and that is that you never know where and when you might come across solid gold in a human being, as seems to be the case with anyone who is in the slightest interested in the early threads of American history and all that might or would mean to the person meeting this brilliant man, Dr. Ethan Schmidt. Here you have this great teacher of our combined history in, of all places, small-town Mississippi (small town when compared to the larger university campuses mostly on the coasts). It struck me that one never knows who they might come across in the mostly-unknown places in this vast nation.

I am so sorry for this man’s death, the loss to Dr. Schmidt’s immediate family and friends, the many students and faculty, colleagues who will be affected by his passing. I am also grieving that, yet again, we–all Americans–lose out to more violence, in this case where a gun was used. I don’t know but just a few scant details, so I’m going to try and refrain from getting on one of my many soapboxes.

Thank you, Jonathan Earle, for this very heart-felt remembrance. I am so sorry for your loss. After reading your kind words, I’m a bit sorry I never had the pleasure of meeting him. I am from rural Virginia, and would love to learn what sounds like some unbiased history of my ancestors. Again, thank you.

I have a friend that loves guns for hunting and for “self protection”, and loves the NRA for protecting his right to keep them. And everytime I hear him talk about them I think about what a small part of his time is spent hunting. I really think he’s mainly reminiscing about the time he spent doing it with this dad and brothers and passing that along and sharing time with his sons. And as far as self protection I think, what is he so scared of living and working in the affluent places he does and believing so strongly in a god that watches over and cares for him and his believing family.

It’s just a whole different thought process than what goes on in my brain.

Oh, make no mistake. Any time he “carries”, he is, indeed, hunting. It may be he is hunting to be heroic, or chasing some fantasy put out by the NRA, but it is hunting, none the less. Our inability to see this cripples those of us who want sane (Swiss, for instance) gun policy.

I wish whenever historians and other people who value the liberal arts are forced to ‘defend’ their education or profession they could refer to Ethan Schmidt’s insight and own words. “I value the fact that inquiry for the sake of inquiry is honored in the profession.” This is such a powerful simple sentence - and so lacking in today’s culture. Such a sad loss.

Sorry, knowing him, I have to disagree that he’s always hunting just because he’s carrying. I’d say it’s more he’s scared. He’s not a big guy physically,he’s in his mid 50s, he lives in a nice predominately white neighborhood and he buys into the young blacks guys are all hoodlums mentality. He doesn’t want to encounter and have to shoot anyone regardless of color but he doesn’t want them to hurt him either.

Edit: That said, I would agree that there are probably plenty of folks that are chomping at the bit for a chance to shoot someone.

Another victim of the NRA.

How come it’s always good guys this happens to? Why not alleged “historians” like Victor Davis Hanson (historian to the Kochs) or David Barton (historian to Cruz), whose lack of presence would be an improvement?

I’m waiting for all the pro-lifers to rail at gun culture regarding this loss of human life. We should be flooded with their cries of anguish at any minute.

The born are not as precious as the unborn.