...we are not directly in the line of fire and can afford to take a more laid back position"

That's true in one way - but it often happens that the people actually in the heart of a conflict can be better able to be ready to make peace than many of their supporters a long way away crying "No Surrender".   That has definitely been the case sometimes in the context of the Troubles in Ireland.

I wholly agree with Sol there, about how we should value the opportunity we have here to argue and discuss with people who see things differently, and to learn to understand why they see things differently, and what that is based on. I think the key to using that opportunity wisely is that ability to walk away and consider before coming up with a reply to something that has been said that triggers an angry or dismissive response.

(Happy Pentecost, Sol - we celebrate it on this Sunday.)