We will not achieve the reconciliation we badly need in this country unless we recognize that words have tremendous power and choose them very carefully so as to avoid exacerbating the problem. In an attempt to sound witty and "right" we often write more harshly than necessary to make our point - I have been guilty of it at times, but I'm trying to refrain from it now - I invite you to do the same. If we need to vent, we should maybe do it somewhere else.
We really must learn to accept that many, many people see things differently than we do, no matter which "side" we are on, and yet we are all, every one of us, first and foremost Americans. No, we don't all hold the same values, but we don't always have to. Heck, when I was growing up in east Tennessee, even the Baptists and Presbyterians tended to look down their noses at each other in disdain out of disagreement over scriptural interpretation, so it will hardly help to engage in debate over issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. I doubt either of us would be persuaded.
One of our most precious rights is freedom of religion - you believe as you do, and I respect your right to do so. I respectfully request that you return the favor. We may not be able to understand how someone can see things so differently and consider their POV legitimate, but we simply must accept that they do, that they have a right to do so and learn to agree to disagree in ways that are respectful. If we don't, then we will continue on this very destructive path as a society.
Please remember that in my earlier post I wasn't defending either President Bush or Sen. Kerry as to their military service, I was criticizing those who sought to destroy their credibility by attacking their service record. I rarely take at face value what I read in books that are written by people with an ax to grind. The very fact that they have one discredits their words unless they are entirely documented with uncontrovertible proof.
Did Kerry make some big mistakes? Probably, but he had reasons he considered entirely loyal as an American soldier and veteran at the time. I can respect that. Did President Bush do his ivy-league white-bread best to get out of having to serve more than he did? Probably, but maybe he thought he had done his share already. I can respect that, too. Regardless, they served, and that is worth a lot to my mind. They were both much younger at the time, and neither has been in a position to speak candidly about how they really thought and felt at the time and how that might differ from their position today. I know my point of view has matured considerably since I was a young adult, and I imagine theirs have as well. I'm willing to forgive both for that reason.
Polygirl