Our more conservative friends certainly have some amazing flights of imagination about what they think liberals find acceptable (implying that said liberals find these things acceptable because they all do them themselves). Drug use and sexual promiscuity seem to top the conservatives' "hate parade" and are fastened on with a seemingly ferocious joy (unless, of course, one of their chosen people gets caught—say, Rush Limbaugh or Mark Foley).

For the record:   I used to smoke (cigarettes), but I quit 29 years ago. I drank unhealthy amounts of coffee, but I seem to have suffered no lasting ill effects. I now drink tea, with an occasional coffee (gourmet blends only). I used to drop into the Blue Moon Tavern for a beer or two after an evening's teaching. Now, I may have a beer with friends on a warm summer afternoon, or drink a little wine with meals when we have guests. Those are my "recreational" drugs. Beyond that, I take 2.5 mg. of Norvasc every morning (a prescription drug to control blood pressure—not unusual at my age) and an occasional Acetaminophen.

On one occasion in 1964, when a joint started getting passed around at a party I was attending (an increasing happenstance at the time), after long resistance, I decided to see what all the shouting was about. The only effect it had on me was to make be dizzy for a few minutes and it left a foul taste in my mouth. That was enough for me, thank you. I never tried it again. Nor have I ever tried any other illegal drug. I'm quite sure, however, that if I ran for office, someone would be sure to dig out my "extensive marijuana use."

Although I reject easy labels, I can see why some people tend to cram me into the pigeon-hole marked "Liberal." I think war is the worst possible failure in foreign policy and diplomacy and should resorted to only when attacked by another nation, and it should be waged only against the nation that initiated the attack. Beyond that, I think people (including businessmen and politicians—who should not be the same people) should be honest, open, and fair-minded. I also think that the government has certain responsibilities to its citizens at large, not just to special interest groups.

That's all it takes to get you branded a "liberal cry-baby" these days. No matter how really conservative your views actually happen to be.

Unless someone comes along whom I deem a better candidate, I will probably vote for Barack Obama. But it's early days yet, and lots can happen between now and then.

Don Firth