alex wrote:

"Is holding contradictory thoughts in one's head a commendable thing?" --why, yes, I believe it is. But you twist my words, don't you? I referred to the CAPABILITY of holding more than one contradictory thought in one's head at a given time. Such a capability is, I believe the first step towards having compassion for one's fellow man.

"Holding them provisionally, perhaps; or as possible options."

--so what is your point? You get so bogged down in semantics all the time. "Holding" does not mean "squeezing to death and blotting out all reason." Okay?

"Holding them permanently, as parts of one's worldview, would seem a refusal to think."

--if you are accusing me of refusing to think, I likewise accuse you of being unwilling to actually read what I have written with an open mind (not to mention a reasonable grasp of the subtlety of our language). But that is nothing new.

Some NOBODY wrote:

Peg, Seems to me that the only person I have heard outright attacking opposing viewpoints here is you.

--and you are doing what to me, exactly?

"I have never refered to anyone who does not support military action as unamerican, cowardly, or what-have you."

--goody goody for you. Where did I say that these comments came from someone in the Mudcat? I was talking about comments I have heard in general, out int he real world. And that is quite clear in my post. Does your need to take this so personally somehow justify your attack on me? I thought not.

"Personally, I remember several of your comments about war mongering dick wavers several times."

--several? Where?

"Those I find equally offensive."

--excellent. The behavior itself is offensive to me.

"But who am I?"

--um, lemme guess...just a nobody?

"just someone that does not agree with you, so name calling and bashing is your response."

--oh, please. Again, you seem to have taken what I said about behavior I witnessed in the general population and applied it to yourself just so you could have carte blanche to rip me apart in this forum. That is just fine if you feel the need to do that, sonny jim, but have the fucking balls to sign your name.

"There are several here that I dissagree with. Most have put thier thoughts together very well and made a good argument for thier case. CarolC did that rather well, an while I may disagree with her, I respect her opinion because they are well defended. She did not just attack anyone that was on the opposite side."

-nor have I. I have not attacked anyone in this thread until now, actually. Mousethief is just up to his old games; it is kind of like swatting at a gnat. You, however, well, you are clearly looking for a fight. I guess all that flag waving must be putting you in the mood...

"You are the one that brought Libralism into the argument."

--I am? Little old me? Gee, that's funny, I had been hearing all htis bi-partisan crap for weeks now in regards to this issue; and whattya know, NOW I am told I STARTED IT ALL!

"I hope you are not the example of one."

--hope all you want...

"One that sits there and condemns the other side because you feel you have been condemned."

--my mom used to refer to this sort of statement as "the pot calling the kettle black."

"I had a talk with my wife today, she was upset with things people were saying. I told her, it is far easier to hate and point fingers than it is to trust."

--no argument from me.

"Seems that way for you Peg. Easier to insult those that oppose your views, than to make a good argument."

--I do not insult people BECAUSE THEY OPPOSE MY VIEW. I happen to take issue with the immature, bullying, meat-headed, war-mongering behavior I have witnessed in recent weeks.

"If you really feel that it is becomming a liberal vs. conservative fight,"

--but I don't. Sounds like YOU do, though.

"do what I did, write to your political offices. Let them know that now is not the time for politics as usual."

--if this is how you feel, then why are you accusing me of this crap? I did not know I was your little liberal whipping boy.

"I simply stated that the nation watches them now, and the ones that wish to go back to politics as usuall, will find themselves looking for new jobs come election."

--we can only hope.

"Sure, alone I can be ignored, but groups.... much harder to brush off."

--yeah. Funny thing that.

"Peg, just a thought. You have very general and sweeping comments, war mongers.. and by implication only Liberals have heart and soul...."

--I am pretty sure I never said "only liberals have heart and soul."

"with such a broad generalization against those that dissagree with you"

--as I said, I do not generalize about people because they disagree with ME; but based on what actual ideology they hold, what statements they make, and what behavior they engage in...

"I wonder, should I then believe that every Muslim, every Arab is guilty of what happened?"

--no, I do not think you should feel that way. Why are you asking ME that? Do you honestly think *I* feel that way? Becauase if you do, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought previously.

"I certainly hope that your generalizations end at political associations."

--and I certainly hope that yours extend to their logical conclusion.