Posted: 28 February 2010 at 4:39pm | IP Logged | 3
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Jodi,
I'm neither a Republican nor a Tea Party member. They are not "my" parties, thank you very much. (And before you ask, I'm not a Democrat either. I don't hold any party affiliation. As a resident alien, I do not have the right to vote.)
Nor, do I believe, in anything that I have written in this lengthy thread have I demonized anyone. I would very much like you to show me different if that is the case.
Partisanship and cheap debating points, Jodi, do more harm than good. They do not foster good will and they do not engender reasonable debate. And I would hope that intelligent people like us could avoid falling prey to such minutiae.
Forgive me for interpreting your continual references to Joe Stack and his vile attack as a form of gamesmanship, Jodi, but it sure looks that way. But in the face of all evidence to the contrary, if you honestly believe the Joe Stack is representative of those in this country who are concerned about the cost, size and scope of government, I doubt there is any power in my prose that might persuade you otherwise. I would only hope that you might eventually come to the realization that in your disdain toward those who seek to demonize the government, that you are now engaged in an act of demonization of your own.
Now, I could give you a Google list all the shootings that have occurred in City Halls across this country by those who don't care much for government or hold some other grudge against authority. There are far more instances of those than airplane attacks, and often they are far more deadly. And most, like Stack's attack, are done by individuals who -- if you'll permit me to use a clinical term -- are stark raving nuts. Sadly, it's a fact of life that you accept as a public servant, just a bank teller or a convenience store clerk has to accept the possibility of a hold-up.
And finally, Jodi, I would never call you weird for believing those that serve the community in any capacity are due gratitude. I was raised to treat all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their social station. I am thankful for everyone who works to make this country a better place, be they janitor or a policeman or even a common citizen engaged in a peaceful political protest.
Edited by Matthew McCallum on 28 February 2010 at 4:42pm
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