Give you a headache?
Conservatives believe what they believe. Liberals believe what they believe. It seems that this board is overrun by the "fringe" on both sides.
What would it take to have a rational, informed "national discussion" about the real issues our country is facing?
Is it possible to dialogue about the "Mosque at ground zero" without emotion? Can we debate the meaning of the 14th amendment without bigotry? Are folks willing to discuss so-called "gay marriage" without a religious bias?
I'm not asking if people can ignore their values or beliefs. I'm asking if it's possible, in this time of immediate opinion overload, if we as Americans are capable of having a logical, rational discussion about the issues, and if people in general are willing to agree to disagree.
It just seems to me that the old saying "I don't agree with what you say but I'll defend your right to say it", has degraded into "I don't agree with what you say, and I'll do what I can to stop you from saying it".
What say you? I'll defend your right to say it, even if I don't agree. All opinions welcomed.
@ Andy: Is it more fun "in real life"? I have found that same exclusionary attitude there as well; people too closed-minded to practice the art of debate. How does that help, in "real life"??
At least in Y!A, we get points, and as we all know, whoever has the most points, wins, right? LOL
Conservatives believe what they believe. Liberals believe what they believe. It seems that this board is overrun by the "fringe" on both sides.
What would it take to have a rational, informed "national discussion" about the real issues our country is facing?
Is it possible to dialogue about the "Mosque at ground zero" without emotion? Can we debate the meaning of the 14th amendment without bigotry? Are folks willing to discuss so-called "gay marriage" without a religious bias?
I'm not asking if people can ignore their values or beliefs. I'm asking if it's possible, in this time of immediate opinion overload, if we as Americans are capable of having a logical, rational discussion about the issues, and if people in general are willing to agree to disagree.
It just seems to me that the old saying "I don't agree with what you say but I'll defend your right to say it", has degraded into "I don't agree with what you say, and I'll do what I can to stop you from saying it".
What say you? I'll defend your right to say it, even if I don't agree. All opinions welcomed.
@ Andy: Is it more fun "in real life"? I have found that same exclusionary attitude there as well; people too closed-minded to practice the art of debate. How does that help, in "real life"??
At least in Y!A, we get points, and as we all know, whoever has the most points, wins, right? LOL