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Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history

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Subject:
From:
"Lyle E. Browning" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:41:20 -0400
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As a teaching device, I'd turn it around and set your student the task  
of researching the letter and set the parameters to include pro and  
con views and let her work through the issues of when stock phrases  
came into being and to research the phraseology to guide her to the  
conclusion that the letter is undoubtedly a fake. Once she realizes  
that certain phrases haven't always been in use and can be dated to  
first use and thus will date a document, she will have a different  
take, if she's got the octane to deal with it.

These things take on a life of their own for various idiotic and/or  
nefarious purposes. The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" is perhaps  
the most famous of the nasty myth documents that seemingly have a  
vampire sort of life wherein stakes through the heart work for a short  
time and then they reappear all over again for another generation of  
the gullible.

Sounds like your student is not about to listen to any collection of  
wise elders but will have to discover for herself that disinformation  
is an insidious problem.

Lyle Browning

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