Today's Richmond Times Dispatch had an article about a Massachusetts pediatrician who claims via oral history to be descended from James Madison's father and from James Madison. Difficulties in getting genetic testing done and by whom, etc. are preventing forward motion at the moment. The Washington Post's Jonathan Mummolo wrote the article and in it was a paragraph: "Despite genetic evidence that has linked Hemmings' line to Jefferson's family, and documentary evidence that historians say points to Jefferson as the father, there are still some who deny the link." The first part about linking SH's line to Jefferson's family is true via DNA. The second part about documentary evidence is highly contested and cannot be ascertained with certainty. The third part goes completely off the rails by tarring those who might deny that TJ was the father. Of such things is disinformation promulgated. The first step is to make a statement that is true. Then you warp it one degree as the second part did, and then the third part is introduced as the new "truth" and we're off to the Goebbels finals with a flourish. Let the fireworks begin. Lyle Browning ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html