No, I'm not doing any such thing. It is clear, however, that many who post on FR or engage in political conversations resort very quickly to vulgar and abusive language. I just want to remind people that little exchange of ideas occur that way, and nobody yields in an argument to verbal duress. Fostering hard feelings will not solve the woes faced by our Nation. So, I agree with the original poster just as long as he intends to "push back" with skillful use of language.
Bet you can't back that up with examples.
No, I'm not doing any such thing.
You need to go back and read your post. It was CERTAINLY an accusation against ClearCase-guy. If you are the "Christian" you claim to be, you will apologize to CCG for such a false accusation.
'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' ....which is what you did.
Unfortunately, we are being backed into a corner of speech control. Their language use in not "skillful." We lost the language war by complacently allowing "hate speech" and "hate crimes" into our judicial system. Recapturing unrestricted use of language is ESSENTIAL for maintaining our freedom.
You're the kind of guy who, when the thug breaks into your house and finishes raping your wife, you offer him your daughter and you feel pretty damned proud about it.
Our opponents have physically attacked our fellows because they dared to peacefully protest against an unconstitutional healthcare takeover.
Our candidates' vehicles have tires slashed.
Houses and vehicles with conservative stickers and signs are vadalized.
Our party members are routinely threatened with rape and murder.
Union fat cats and lefty pundits publish addresses of our party and PAC leaders while issuing calls for violence.
Their elected officials brought Code Pink members into the Chamber of Congress where they accosted Condi Rice. Don't you remember? They attempted to smear red paint on her.
The progressives try every dirty trick to silence us.
Then, they accuse us of everything they are doing.
You cannot reason with the unreasonable. If you're not capable of resisting evil, you're part of the problem.
I am guilty of this, and sometimes deliberately so. It is not because I lack the capacity for civil discourse; it is because the time and framework for academic debate and civil discourse have long since passed. The difference is between the language of political debate and the necessarily dehumanizing language of the battlefield. Our opponents are using the latter (and have been for decades); and we are admonished to remain civil.
What would have been the appropriate time for the Jews to resist the NAZIs? When they were lined up at the ovens? When they were shuffling obediently to enter the boxcars? When they were being rousted out of their homes and assembled in the square? When they were forced to wear the Star of David? Kristallnacht?
Or would it, should it, have been several years before all of this, when the "civil discourse" of the day clearly demonstrated that the political dialogue would lead to horrors beyond the human ability to comprehend?
A kinder, gentler genocide is what our opponents propose.
As much as I dislike the use of scripture in political discussions, this bit from Solomon is appropriate. He was considered a pretty smart fellow back in his day.
It is our unpleasant task to foresee what is coming, before hindsight becomes 20/20, and to determine how to honestly and effectively deal with it.
Ecclesiastes 3
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
8 A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.
It is clear that some on FR resort very quickly to straw man arguments.
What's your agenda?
Well now that would determine by whose measurement is skilled, now wouldn't it?
Some just don't like to feel uncomfortable with certain language...or emotions with it. But they should not stand in the way of those who have language that gets the point across in no other way.
I recall trying time and time again to get a bully sister to hear me...fruitless to try. But the day came when she stepped far over my boundaries and I rose to that occassion. My voice went ten octives higher than any of my family had heard before....I made my point clearly and directly. ..and that with volune and a few choice words to take it home to the ears hearing.
After this my sister understood...saying "Sometimes people have to get on my level for me to hear them". And since that day she has never tangled with me again. She listens now.
We have no right to dictate or assume "language" needs to measured across the board...it is simply a means of communicating...regardless of the choice of words.