Well, Steve, I'm not really interested in defending John Paul II, Mother Teresa, or Junipero Serra. I've stated their flaws, and I've stated their good points. None of them are particularly inspiring to me, although I find all three to be interesting personalities - and they are inspiring to many people.

And I don't like to get into defending/attacking mode. That's not my way of thinking. I find it destructive and negative. If I get myself pushed into it, it puts me in a mode akin to anger. I generally find my life to be fuller if I direct my mindset toward exploring and appreciating things and ideas. Defending/attacking is a form of battle, and I don't find that to be particularly useful. Defending/attacking is what fundamentalists do, and I hate myself when I get sucked into that mode - so I'm usually pretty good at deflecting it.

So, yeah, all I want to say is that your depictions of Junipero Serra, Mother Teresa, and now John Paul II are almost cartoonishly exaggerated. But that's apparently the way you like to live life - in absolutes, seeing all good or all bad. Good luck with that.

As for me, I prefer to explore the greys and pastels. It's a different mindset. You probably wouldn't understand it.

-Joe Offer-