Folks, I would prefer that this be a dialogue between myself and the GUEST known as Peace Matriot, thread lurker, Ladies Against The War. I am sorry to do it here, but I have no other way to communicate to this person. Would you be good enough to just let us have this one.
I will ask that any posts here other than myself and GUEST, be deleted. My aim here is to establish dialogue in the only way open to me. I would like to improve the "climate" that currently exists. Thanks for your understanding.

GUEST, I have asked you to contact me. I don't blame you for being wary. But I assure you my intent is honorable. I want you and I to start talking to one another instead of what we are doing now. This thing has spiralled out of control, as in the Berrigan thread. That one, to a certain point, was my fault. But you have your share of blame as well, if you would go back into other threads. Folks here that know me personally will tell you that I have a great deal of caring for other folks. They will also tell you that I fly off the handle every so often. Fair enough, as I am an imperfect human. But I can't help but understand the point that you and I have much in common. We come from different perspectives but share an abhorrence of war. I see things from the perspective of one who has experienced it, you as someone who has fought against it. I believe we would both be enriched by trying to understand one anothers viewpoint. But this requires willingness.

I guess what I am trying to get across is that we can do much for one another by making an effort to understand one another. This isn't about what folks on the Mudcat think of us, but what we think of each other. I have read many posts of yours that I found well researched, in which you make valid points. I would like to know you better. We would still have spirited disagreement as we come from such different environments. But if we could do it from the perspective of mutual respect, then it would have value. And that dialogue wouldn't put our fellow Mudcatters through such a sieve.

What has spawned this thread is that I have just went back and read the Berrigan thread, as well as others. I don't like the way you have behaved, but I am just as unhappy with how I have behaved. Can we find some common ground and establish a respectful form of debate and dissent. I hope so.

Mick