282RA - I can't imagine what I said that would have made you think that I was calling you a self-righteous prick. I do remember asking you why you would celibrate Christmas. Because if I've read your posts correctly you consider yourself an athiest. So why would an athiest celibrate Christmas? I think that's a logical question and I'd still like to hear your answer. I also remember asking you about your desire to see Christian groups start an anti-smoking campain. I'm all for that too. But the groups you are talking about { whom I do NOT belong to } already have an agenda. Why should they delute their message? And is tobacco an issue you feel strongly enough about to take any action on yourself?

What I've been objecting to lately is the trend here by a few people to lump all people of faith together. They refuse to see any good in any organization of faith. They see no difference between Jim Jones and Martin Luther King. People are people. Judge them by their actions or - in a certain posters case - lack of action. Don't judge all groups of faith as bad if you're sitting on your ass at home doing nothing. In the same regard I have no ill will toward anyone who decides that there is no higher power or supreme being. And I'll be the first person to defend your right to think whatever you want to think. If you lose your job because of your beliefs I'll be the first person to send you 100.00 for your legal defense fund. I'll write letters and send e-mails if you like. All I ask is that I be able to come here to the Mudcat and find a little bit of tolerance. I'd rather not see my beliefs trashed and thought of as evil.

I'd like to think that's what I've offered eveyone else here. If you can find a case where I haven't done that please let me know and I'll apologize if needed. R-E-S-P-E-C-T sock it to me sock it to me. It's not too much to ask.