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• Friday, July 4, 2008 05:55 PM

  AJCalhoun again

  "First, I'd just like to say I have admired you by way of your posts since I first found you here. I contiue to do so. Thanks for the intelligent and well-reasoned response. This is precisely what I was hoping for."

  Wow. I am flattered, but if you have read my letters, then you know that praise of me isn't warranted... I am neither well-behaved or entirely reasonable. Thanks nonetheless.

  As for your comments about use of the term "tolerance," I use it because conservatives do, usually accompanied by a smirk. It's standard practice on their part when they are faced with a liberal angry about some obscenity or another... they cock their heads and say "So much for being tolerant, huh?" It's how they try to defang us of of any justifiable rage we feel. Because, of course, rage is reserved for them only.

  "When blacks develop a Super Ego then they can talk. When liberals mature a bit then they can talk. When women stop thinking through their vagina then they can talk. Until then, leave Jesse Helms alone." -turnip

  So, AJCalhoun, the central question remains: How do you tolerate someone, like turnip here, who not only disparages and dismisses your beliefs, but disparages or dismisses YOU YOURSELF?

  Truthfully, I don't know the answer to that question. But I do hold firm to one principle; reciprocity. Regardless of beliefs, I do try to hear out anyone who addresses me as a person and tries to listen to me, if not accommodate me.

  I don't believe that Jesse Helms cared for reciprocity. I think he was one of many unreconstructed folks who was courteous and kind to those who looked like him, talked like him, and thought like him.

  To anyone reading this, let me emphasize: civility is not about being kind to those who are like you... that's just tribalism. It's about being decent to those who are different than you.

  I won't go into who or what I am, but I know if I was one of Jesse's constituents, those anecdotes about his approachability and courtesy wouldn't apply to me.

  So I won't be extended any sympathy for him this evening. My regards to his family, however.

  Sincerely,

  Diomedes

  —Diomedes Read Diomedes's other letters
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