Replies

Brian:

I defend my country; I happen to love my country, and you have a very bad habit of slandering it without anything to justify your biases apart from your own vitriol, and God knows where it comes from.

That is my issue with you. That is the only sticking point so far as I am concerned: you obviously define your patriotism in terms of defining other countries downward. I begrudge no American love of their country; what I object to from you is not only do you not begrudge me mine, you launch vicious, unprovoked and unjustified attacks on my country. And when I defend or praise my country, you accuse me of egotism.

And here I stand. When you're outrageous, I will say so. I realise this is an enormous source of frustration for you, but this is how it is.

As for me not having a "real job". Thanks, yes, I am unemployed. I am sure that you spotted that somewhere as I've said it on a couple of occasions. Your attempt to rub salt in the wound is not worthy of a response; it speaks for itself. It speaks of what kind of person you are that you would make such a remark. It speaks even more that you are not ashamed.

Ivan

<< ..... Your attempt to rub salt in the wound is not worthy of a response; it speaks for itself. It speaks of what kind of person you are that you would make such a remark. It speaks even more that you are not ashamed. >>

Dear Ives

Your presumption is showing. I had no idea about that and no intention to "rub salt in" any wound you may have suffered. I am sorry if that is what I unintentionally did.

I apologize!

But I must add that one of the aspects of your and my bouncing off each other, these past years or so, is demonstrated in the gratuitous insults that immediately descend from the false premise that you created from your incorrect assumption.

Your remark about the outrageousness of some of my comments is very true, however -- and I will do you the courtesy during this time of war of curtailing them. Don't worry, I am aware of the presence in the Gulf of Britain's Forces, many of whom I have worked with for years. I have been saddened by the losses they have suffered and I wish them all well.

I also note all of the rest of your remarks and respect them too. As I have mentioned to you many times before I am not at all "anti-British." I have no "vitriol," only an aversion to false claims, pompousity, a condescending attitude to My America -- and gratuitous insult.

At the risk of boring you I will remind you that I have lived in England and loved it very much indeed. As a child I was extremely proud of the fact that the map of the world was colored red pretty much from one end to the other and from top to bottom. True, that was before I began travelling and working around the world [Effectively 650 times around -- and counting] and seeing the effect of the end of Empire on the poor bastards impacted by it -- but I loved it back when. And my son lives in England and is in London right at this minute.

And when I next come to visit him I would love to meet you and visit for a bit and bury the hatchet. I will take the chance that you will punch me in the nose as I belive you may have threatened a time or two -- and will bet you we part mates.

Meantime, for statrters, thank you for your passion -- and your Nation for its support.

Best ones -- Brian