[Kobi]

Many valid and thought provoking points have been made here. Some reactionary, emotion fueled ones have surfaced as well. All are understandable.

This is tricky and very annoying stuff. And everytime it rears its ugly head, I find myself grappling with the same issues:

1. I liked it better when I thought there were simple right and wrong answers to every dilemma. Today, I am pretty sure, there is no absolute right/wrong that fits every person and every situation. There are many points of view and beliefs and it behooves humans to find common ground on which to compromise so that a peaceful coexistence can emerge. It's possible but it removes the drama factor people seem to thrive on.

2. Diversity does not mean only that stuff that is acceptable. Diversity means differences, unlikeness, variety. As such the republicans and religious nutcases have as much right to their beliefs (as idiotic and contradictory as we might find them to be) as we do. If we cannot allow them their diversity, we are hard pressed to demand them to respect ours. I hate this cuz it causes me much grief but I believe it cuz of what I said in #1.

3. Groups that feel threatened act/react much like petulant 2 year olds. If we want to work toward a positive result, someone has to have the balls to put down the shovel, get out of the sandbox, and act like a freakin adult. Be nice if we could trade off on this now and then so all parties can practice being both kids and adults.

4. Ghandi, Martin Luther King......great leaders and thinkers knew hatred wasnt cured with hatred. This is fucking annoying yet true. We cannot fix republican religious hatred by making a mockery of their beliefs. Making a mockery of their beliefs adds to them feeling threatened AND it makes them look like they are being persecuted for their beliefs. This, in turn, makes them more ripe for a sympathetic following by people who ordinarily could care less.

5. Einstein said, insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result. Yet, we humans, try to solve things by employing the same strategies over and over again. Then we are perplexed when it doesnt work. I dont know what the answer is. But, I am pretty sure it is not going to be found in rehashing the same no-win shit/arguments/stances/strategies over and over and over again.