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Archiver > Melungeon > 2003-03 > 1046817395


From: Brent Kennedy <>
Subject: Re: Fw: [Melungeon] Plecker revisited
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 14:36:35 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <000c01c2e29c$559726e0$6032fb43@hewlett2n8fn74>


Hey Cleland,

Thanks, and I couldn't agree more. Working in the healthcare field I take great interest in trying to improve the diagnosis and treatment of ANY disease we might have. But we cannot blanket ALL our folks with the same medical problems. And I do think a lot of sick people are desperately seeking an answer and many hope that their perceived "Melungeon" connection might provide that answer. In some cases it can, but in many, if not most, it won't. But the focus on this aspect can indeed get out of control. My advice to all is to wait until the studies are completed and published in bonafied medical journals. I know Dr. Morris plans on doing this. And folks need to remember that it could be half a decade or more until we know the extent, if any, of such relationships. That's how medical science works, and that's how it has to work.
Anyway, appreciate the post and nice to see we basically agree. Except I'm still heartbroken over the Wildcat-Vol game <G>

Brent
Cleland Thorpe <> wrote:Dr. Kennedy,
I tend to agree with some of what you said in your post, at least in
principle. The problem with Melungeon Research is, some folks read about
these SO CALLED
Melungeon Diseases, decide they have these symptoms and then come to the
conclusion they are Melungeon.
For what it's worth, some of these folks spout these Melungeon Diseases
as truth without the first concern as to the damage it can/could cause
Melungeon descendants.
For what it's worth.
Cleland
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brent Kennedy"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: [Melungeon] Plecker revisited


>
>
> To all,
>
> Janet makes some good points. But I do want to emphasize that Morris was
kidding. He also "toyed" in his presentation with "Melungeon Periodic
Syndrome" (i.e., "PMS"). Now, one can argue that he ought not kid about
health related issues, but I suspect he was trying to make his presentation
a little lighter. Clearly different people have different interpretations,
and journalists are human beings just like the rest of us.
>
> The 601 number, though, did concern me. It seemed high to me as well,
until I typed in the following (Google) and got some equally interesting
results.
>
> Italian diseases - 241,000
> Native American diseases - 329,000
> Scottish diseases - 83,500
> African diseases - 595,000
>
> So maybe we aren't as unhealthy as the 601 seems at first glance .
> Finally, and importantly, while we all need to keep our minds open
regarding health issues and possible diseases that we normally don't think
of in a supposedly "northern European white" Appalachian population, we
also don't need to beat the disease thing into the ground. Being a
"Melungeon" or a "Melungeon descendant" or "Melungeon-related" is NOT about
disease, or illness, or having these diseases. It's about culture and lives
that were lived. Now, if by better understanding our full heritage we can
have a positive impact on the lives of, and medical care for, our people and
our children, then by all means we need to be open to every medical
possibility. But possible diseases are only one part of the Melungeon
experience and we do NOT know yet (and maybe never will) precisely where
some of these "harmful" genes entered our lines. I know that I don't. So
be open to considering other answers for difficult medical scenarios, but
also realize that such scenarios are not!
> a prerequisite for "Melungeonism." Anyway, just a few thoughts.
>
> Brent
>
>
>
> JECrain wrote:Just for the record, if you enter
Melungeon Diseases at Google you get 328
> hits. If you enter Melungeon Disease you get 601. Internet Urban legend?
> This is making Melungeons look like very sickly people. When in reality,
> they lived amazingly long lives and survived many hardships.
>
> http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,53256,00.html
>
> "Morris toys with the notion that Melungeons have developed their very own
> disease. He's even given it a name: Periodic Melungeon Fever."
>
> Some have said that Dr. Morris was joking, but Kristen Philipkoski, the
> author of the article from which this quote is taken, did not present it
> that way and the average reader stumbling on this article will not either.
>
> Janet Crain
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pat Elder"
>
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 7:55 AM
> Subject: RE: [Melungeon] Plecker revisited
>
>
> > Cleland,
> >
> > I took your suggestion and did a search for "Melungeon Diseases."
Phewww.
> I
> > think I need an aspirin. :) Seriously, somebody, somewhere has the idea
> > there are Melungeon diseases or else there wouldn't be as many hits as
> there
> > are. That is only one bit of misinformation that floats around about
> > Melungeons. Want me to list some more?
> >
> > Pat
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Cleland Thorpe [mailto:]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 12:10 AM
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [Melungeon] Plecker revisited
> >
> >
> > Frank,
> > When you get that book published, let me know. I would like to buy a
> > copy of it and if you would be so gracious to sign it, I would be
> eternally
> > grateful.
> > I have tried to point out to Dennis the "Melungeon diseases" web link
> on
> > the Melungeon List but he has elected to disregard it. Obviously he has
> no
> > concern for the possible damage articles such as these could do to
> Melungeon
> > descendants. Crap such as what you find in these so called "Melungeon
> > Diseases" articles could result in some of our folks being denied health
> > insurance or a job or what ever.
> >
> >
> >
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>
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