North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Alan Haigh" <alandhaigh@gmail.com>]

Mangodance, I love your writing but have to take issue with your definition of zealots. At the front of every important social movement I believe were zealots.  Folks so consumed with passion that they have very little patience for different perspectives.  I am a Quaker and the Quaker abolitionists were crazy-ass zealots about the sins of slavery.  They caused old Abe no end of trouble trying to negotiate with politicians of different persuasion as I recall.  As far as being an important force in ending the practice, they generally receive a lot of credit.  How many great scientists have been zealots?  Your problem isn't with zeal, I think, it's what you regard as zealots driven by misinformation.  The definition of misinformation can be a little subjective, don't you think?-

 

I say let the zealots speak (they're going to anyway) and pick through their thoughts for what might be useful.  I love my zealot organic growing friends and have never been offended by their contrasting opinions.  Everyone on this list I consider a friend, if only for their shared love of  fruit trees- their opinions interest me.  I guess I consider myself a zealot so I leap to their defence.