[Grovenet] Never discuss politics?

[JBlair2154 at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/4/2007 2:02:42 PM Central Standard Time,  
grovenet-request at rdrop.com writes:

I  haven't ever lost a friend discussing politics. I have discovered  some
people who I thought were friends but who turned out not to be after  all. 




Amen to that, Brother Ron!  (grin) Until the last couple of  election years, 
I occasionally discussed politics with anyone who brought up the  subject, but 
the conversations were mutually civil and respectful and without  anger. 
Unfortunately, times have changed and eventually I was forced to switch  from 
avoiding controversial subjects to engaging in dialogues and then --  simply by 
failing to agree with things that were said --  became  a persona non gratis in 
certain circles. (The "either you're for us or against  us" mentality.) The 
most recent stage in my personal evolution has been to  comprehend, as you 
mention, that it is my responsibility to stand up for the  principles in which I 
believe, and to challenge any falsehood or misperception  that is presented to 
me. Silence can only be interpreted as  agreement...except in those rare cases 
where knowledge of a particular subject  or issue is too limited for any sort 
of informed comment or opinion. 
Joy
"We can disagree without being disagreeable."  (Barack Obama)