Sean:

I understand what you are saying, but I think one of the extraordinary thngs about this thread, in particular, is that we all ahve felt comfortable enough with one another to post and discuss the offensive terms we've all heard, learned, and maybe used.

This has happened in other threads, too. I cringed when I first started to read the postings on Vietnam songs; I was worried that everyone would be polarized and angry. I didn't know everyone on here as well then, and I was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed that it seems with distance of time and retrospect of maturity, everyone was very respectful of one another's positions in that time of our world, some were even able to see it from the other person's perspective.

Also, some tribal customs are good and I think we could use a return to some of them, esp. the nurturing of extended family-types, whether it's blood relatives or friends of like mind and goals. I understand about fighting for food, territory, etc.

The only answer I can think of to that, is the more we teach people everywhere about one another,teaching how to understand and accept our differences, even embrace the diversities of culture, etc., the less we will all have to fear. It all boils down, in my opinion, to fear of the unknown or differences.

The example of the animal world is valid, except in the colour issue. I LOVE that my cats and dog are "colour-blind" when it comes to their spots, stripes, etc., as is the rest of the animal kingdom. we can learn a lot from our dogs***smile***:

This was just recently in our paper:

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when something goes wrong through no fault of yours and those you love take it out on you,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies or deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, colour, religion, or politics, Then, my friends, you are almost as good as your dog.
(From the Ann Landers column of March 20, 1999; org. from the San Pablo Catholic Church Bulletin, Marathon, Fla.)

HERE'S TO THE DOGS OF THE WORLD!***BIG GRIN***NOI!!!