It isn't the fact that you people critcize us that gets us so worked up, resonable people can debate and disagree on things and still be friendly with one another. What brings on this animus you see here is the way in which these "character assassinations" (an over used term to be sure) are continuously carried out. Anytime there is a popular personality who fights against a well-established liberal ideal, it seems the scandal-mongers immediately begin to harass the unfortunate soul until they acquiesce or go silent.
People as varied as Rush Limbaugh, Tiger Woods, Jim Robinson, Mel Gibson, and even a writer and friend of mine here at UT have experience this on a daily basis. For example, my columnist friend is a conservative writer who also happens to be a Sikh, and is having his reputation drug through the mud on account of some scathing but honest articles recently published in the Daily Beacon. His mail box is filled with hate mail full of insults to his culture and beliefs. A really good one is here on our College Republican website that was sent by one of his left-leaning liberal counterparts:
http://web.utk.edu/~crutk/archives/00000030.html This sheer hatered that much (but not all) of the left, the so-called "enlightend" of our civilization, espouse toward their opponents is a condemnation of that claim of truth.
I don't hate you. I don't hate those who agree with you. You might even be fun to have a beer with, despite the fact that I disagree with you. But this hatered is dangerous for anyone, no matter how "just" they believe it to be.
It will freeze your heart and eat your soul and make you everything you have come to hate. This is what will ultimately destroy the Republic.
Sincerely,
CXIII