Margaret,
Please be assured that your work is welcomed and appreciated and that any insinuation to the contrary is a lot of hot air. Personally I am fascinated by your subject and applaud you for having the inspiration to shed light on a story little known. Your article on Hosono is first-rate. You have done him proud.
As to Jan's criticisms, it's a grossly unfair assessment that the ET board membership is conservative and fundamentalist but it's the intimation of racism that has me outraged. That's totally insupportable. I know a good many of the members here and I can say that, as a whole, they are a very diverse, accepting, fair-minded bunch.
There are several religious, cultural, sexual and political persuasions represented here. And there are some members who are not religious, political (or sexual!) at all.
The truth is there are a number of Republicans among the American membership but, knowing several of these, including that very proud conservative fundamentalist from South Carolina, I can say that they are far from being closed-minded or intolerant.
We here on ET are not all white, either; several in fact are inter-racial, have spouses who are, or (as in my case) have family members who are inter-racial. So the characterization of this forum as ethnically, politically or religiously biased is totally untrue.
May I say that it's also ridiculous to make the claim that all Titanic "heroes" have been Christian. The Strauses were among the most beloved and exalted of the lost and this was felt universally, not only by fellow Jews.
Jan further contends that most of the heroes are "guys like Captain Smith." Actually, although Smith was lionized by many, he was also bitterly criticized. So that's not quite a good example. The most famous "hero" wasn't even a "guy" at all - it was
Molly Brown.
So, Margaret, please know your contribution has a good home among a group of folks who are more than glad to have you with us. I look forward to reading more of your work and hope you won't hesitate to share it here.
Randy