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It is clear, however, that many who post on FR or engage in political conversations resort very quickly to vulgar and abusive language.

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.