Abe, I don't think I abused any powers whatsoever. Nonetheless, if there is any specific action or statement of mine you object to, I am willing in good faith to take it back.
I would like to settle this issue courteously and reasonably. I believe you are a man of good motives and high intellectual ability.
As far as I know, despite my initial query about whether "we" can ban you and VerilyVerily, you have NOT been banned. I can't say I've read every post word for word, but I seem to recall Fred Bauder of the Arbitration Committee affirming that you remain a contributor in good standing. (I don't recall anyone specifically supporting a ban on your user:172 account, but Erik or someone recommended blocking you from a specific article -- perhaps "Augusto Pinochet" which seems to be at the focus of this dispute.)
If anyone else thinks I've taken advantage of my sysop powers or of the wrangle over your membership, to take out or put in ANYTHING in a Wikipedia article, I am willing to step away from editing that article. In fact, to show good faith, even if you are the ONLY ONE who feels that way, go ahead and revert. Mark it something like "undoing Ed's abuse of power" and I'll leave it at that. Fair enough?
I is not true that I "used admin powers to ram my way through", but if you or anyone else thinks so, then I'll simply stop editing for a while. That is, until this issue is resolved.
Please note that I didn't read your post of Monday, June 07, 2004 4:02 PM until Tuesday, June 08, 2004 at 9:30 A.M., so I made a bunch of edits to "Augusto Pinochet" this morning. I will avoid making any further edits on that article and others related to it -- other than the talk pages -- until there is general consensus that I am free to do so.
Think of this as placing myself under house arrest, if you wish.
Ed Poor