I didn't make fun of Mr. Mason's names. I made fun of myself, for I noted to myself that I referred to him as Mr. Tyler and then Mr. Mason and then realized I was muddled because his first name is also a last name and his last name is also a first name: I think that's cool and tried to tell him so.

Now, let's examine what you wrote: "Holly you are right, my use of the word "stupid" to describe anyone who expects the Romneys to publicly call themselves cowards was inappropriate and overly combative. Your own descriptor "naive" would have been a much less loaded and less inflammatory word to use. "Stupid" is not constructive, I apologize."

Thanks. Apology accepted.

Matt again: "Also, your arguments thus far have been much more based in emotion than reason."

Oh, yeah, I'm surging with emotion, but don't assume that emotion and logic are mutually exclusive.

Matt again: "If we assume that you are right that all of us who allow the war to proceed either through overt support of it (ala the Romney family) or by not actively opposing it (ala almost everyone else in America) are cowards, then your singling out the Romney boys for criticism is more than a little unfair."

It only seems like I'm singling out the Romney boys because I'm trying to avoid hijacking this thread. I have equal disdain for everyone who voted for this president and, by proxy, his war, and yet refuses to pony up their children or enlist. The troops are exhausted. They want to come home, but they can't come home until those who allege that they support the troops relieve the troops.

"You don't like Mitt Romney and you don't like the war, I get it."

Sorta. I don't support Mitt Romney because he supports the war. Additionally, I loathe his homobigotry, but that's another thread.

"I don't like the war either, but your condemnation of the Romney sons on the basis of a stupid comment makes no sense and just comes off as partisan hackery."

Maybe. I certainly can be a partisan hack.

"Also, I don't think that you have really responded to the substance of my argument, rather you seized on the word "stupid" in order to discredit everything else I said and invoked the missing limbs of American soldiers as if that trumped any possible response."

Sorta. It only seemed that way. In my head, I didn't discredit everything you said. I just detest invective. It's ruining discourse. It's dividing us.

"And finally, you ceded the moral high ground that you claimed by criticizing my use of the word stupid when you made fun of Tyler Mason's names."

See above. You misinterpreted. Now, I'll go back and give your other comment its due.

"Yes children do go to war because their parents influence them to go, but only in those cases where the family has a long tradition of military service. Those families should be honored, but the reason they should be honored is that they are extraordinary."

Honoring one doesn't replace limbs and Matt, most aren't honored. The next time you pass a homeless person, remind yourself that they're disproportionately vets. And visit a V.A. hospital. They're Hell. Truly. If Bosch were alive today, he wouldn't have to bother imagining Hell. He'd just have to visit a V.A. hospital. So, they aren't honored. Those "I support the troops" stickers, which are taken from the "yellow ribbon" song about a criminal, are pathetic.

"And honestly, I don't see how anyone can realistically hold it against Romney if he didn't force his sons to join up at gunpoint."

That's hyperbole, right? You don't think I'm suggesting that, do you? I am suggesting that every parent who believes in imperialism should raise their children to believe that service is their duty. With such parenting, you'll find high percentages of rich, conservative offspring enlisting. You don't, therefore they're being raised with other values: valuing their own limbs and devaluing the limbs of others.

"Romney made an ill advised comment, but the attempt to weave this into some larger narrative about Republican hypocrisy is simply overreaching."

Gotta disagree. There is a large narrative about Republican hypocrisy. This is why the neocons jumped on Pat Tillman's corpse and just never you mind that he was killed by negligence at best and fragged at worst.

"Holly, I have no doubt your argument is heartfelt, but the reality of the situation is simply more complex than you are making it out to be."

You bet. I'm simplifying it, but hopefully I'm saying some things that go unsaid, despite their merit. Americans might not be able to bear their indifference if images of V.A. hospitals were disseminated, if more stories of homeless vets were told, and if we acquired a collective compassion for people who happened to be born in Iraq.