I'm a little sorry about bringing Rick's post into this, frankly. My point was and is that Rick, whether you agreed with him or not, was a reasonable and funny guy. He didn't take cheap shots, call people names, and even when he was very sick he kept his good attitude.

I miss him in a way I would not miss a certain few nasty-attitude people who feel it necessary to insult someone they disagree with if they were to go away. PERIOD.

Thank you for posting this, LEJ. It hurt to see Rick dragged into the "all hail to MY alMighty essential freedoms" stuff too, but no ... there will always be those who will manipulate how people feel about him here, using his treasured memory as ammunition, I suppose. Regrettable, but it does take all kinds to make a world...

There's at least one other current member here who's earned my respect and taught me a lot about the art of productive public discussion. That's you, Kevin (McGrath of Harlow). Like Rick, you enjoy debate, even heated debate. And certainly you hold your own, but I've never seen you insult anyone yet!

You helped me out here once, out of the goodness of your heart, when I was an absolute newbie buried in @@!!!%%&&& over a battle of a thread I started called "Violence is the American Way?" I learned much from that, and from you Kevin. And from Rick, who finally posted on that monster of a thread as The Voice of Reason and Understanding. Speaking simply, NOT about politics or history or far-reaching sociological theory but about his own personal experience -- about the kindness and friendliness of the Americans he always encountered on his many visits to the US -- well, his words went a long LONG way toward defusing the argument and angst. ANd I won't be forgetting it anytime soon!

So thank you again for that Rick, and Kevin, and to the Mudcat for continuing to be the wonderful, caring, fun, informative and inherently decent community that you are.

daylia