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Post by SeattleDan on Mar 18, 2007 20:43:09 GMT -5
Let's back it up a moment.
Really, all of us here are white and heterosexual. At least as far as I know. What I'd like everyone to assume and use as a guidepost is that there are actually people of color, and who have different sexual preferences reading our posts. And they are our friends. Your friend, my friend. Don't use language or imagery that will offend these friends.
There are people here who have much different political opinions than mine. Obvious. But I will regard those people, have tried to regard those people, as my friends who I just don't agree with. My Uncle and Aunt and my favorite in-law Uncle and Aunt are staunch Republicans and we have many spirited debates. But that doesn't lessen my affection for them. I do not use language with them that would piss them off. Spirit is one thing, insolence is another. Watch your language. Have some sensitivity.
What Ann Coulter said about Edwards was tasteless. IMHO, everything she says is tasteless. I suppose she was trying to make a joke. It wasn't a very good joke. I would hope my conservative friends here do not regard her as some sort of pinnacle, or model of how and what conservatives are trying to express. Let's drop the Coulter nonsense and talk.
Be kind, have respect, and let's not resort to schoolyard taunts. Thanks. I'm here all week.
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Post by Gracie on Mar 18, 2007 20:51:44 GMT -5
Thank you, Joe, for clarifying more for me.
You are more than correct when you speak of the manner of expressing. It is why I haven't said anything in this thread until now. I don't mind lively discussions at all; I've always been known as the one who tried hard to see both sides of an issue and I pray I will always be so--because just because we may disagree does NOT mean that I am right and you are wrong. Neither does it mean that I am wrong and you are right. ('You' being generic, here.)
It means we are human and we are passionate about what we believe. That is all I have ever seen in Julia's posts, but as I said, I don't have a long history here. And that doesn't mean I need to see past ones...I can only believe what I believe based on what I know to be true at this time. And some topics are so incendiary that just reading the beginning of a thread can leave you scorched.
I come here because I enjoy the mix of minds and backgrounds and beliefs, and I'd like to believe that all are welcome. I won't ever say anything here if I cannot say it carefully and respectfully--it is what we deserve. Otherwise, we sound like kids in the playground, taunting each other.
Thank you, again.
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Post by brutus on Mar 18, 2007 21:01:15 GMT -5
The last two or three posts I have made here have been a lot less than civil. For that I apologize with hat in hand. I believe that nearly everyone here can see both sides of an issue and disagree in a humane manner. My outburst was a result of "flashbacks" to the old place and the civil war that erupted there and I was not about to abide another round of that. 'nuff said. ~B~
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Post by joew on Mar 18, 2007 21:06:25 GMT -5
Well said, dand. I agree with you that Ann Coulter's joke about John Edwards was tasteless. I also agree that we have just about beaten the topic into the ground.
Gracie — regrettably, some of us — and I include myself in that group — find it harder than others to refrain from keeping disagreements over things we feel strongly about from becoming personal. And unfortunately, sometimes the personal insult can become a game, almost like a celebrity roast. Strongly held opinions lead to strong feelings which lead in some cases to strong expressions.
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Post by joew on Mar 18, 2007 21:08:09 GMT -5
The last two or three posts I have made here have been a lot less than civil. For that I apologize with hat in hand. I believe that nearly everyone here can see both sides of an issue and disagree in a humane manner. My outburst was a result of "flashbacks" to the old place and the civil war that erupted there and I was not about to abide another round of that. 'nuff said. ~B~ Thanks, brutus.
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Post by SeattleDan on Mar 18, 2007 22:12:37 GMT -5
Thank you gracie, joew and brutus. There is nothing wrong with passion. Who wants to live in a passionless world? I recently re-read 1984 and there is a world I'm glad not to have lived in that world. Let's keep the passion impersonal. Lord knows, I have posted passionately here, and at the old PHC forum. I hope no one has been personally offended. We can disagree without rancor.
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Post by Trusty on Mar 18, 2007 23:39:34 GMT -5
When this thread started, our member count was 56. Now it is 52. You may check the member list and see who is not with us anymore.
The most vivid lessons we learn do not come from textbooks. What sticks with us the most is not what to do, but what NOT to do. It's vivid because it is usually learned by experience. and it is valuable because it almost always changes the direction we take in our lives, in our relationships, and in our discussions.
We are entering a political season where the divisions are so great that it requires ALL political subjects to be discussed with respect for everyone involved in the discussion. I have requested before that you can be as passionate as you need to be; just please don't get personal.
Starting now, that request will be a requirement. In a heated discussion, if you are tempted to find fault in another person because of his or her beliefs, think twice before you post such remarks. If you really feel like you need to carry on a personal argument with another, take it off the board. We have invested too much into this community to let personal attacks destroy it.
Is this "requirement" going to hinder our "freedom of speech"? Are we going to have to check our beliefs with the thought police before we post? Will we be compromising our passions to the point of making our arguments meaningless?
The answer to all three questions is "No". "Hell, NO!" We will have the freedom to be more passionate than ever in presenting our arguments. Freedom of speech will be enhanced because we will be living higher than personal attacks. The only "thought police" we need to have will be our own discretion, because the only rule will have is to NOT get personal. State your opinions vigorously; just have respect for others in the community - and the community itself.
This thread is locked. There is no reason for people who are of good character and have respect for each other to continue it. May it rest in peace, and it will stay on the board to be a reminder of what NOT to do.
Let us work together to make this place healthy. Thank you.
Trusty
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