In search of an antithesis....

[imported_iluminado]

Good Morning everyone:

I hope all of you had a great weekend.

I have a question:

How can we revive the politics board if there seem to be no extreme right-wingers to argue against? Should one of us play the devil's advocate?

[Niquie]

Does anyone have a problem inviting Allen? Frankly, I thought it was appropriate and quite LARGE of him to post that apology. It was absolutely called for but it also seemed sincere.

BUT! No Friday! I have had enough of that self-loathing, foul-mouthed little sh!t. He brings nothing to the party but ill will.

And God help us if Toilethandle or Banned4LackOfBrains shows up. I know Jasper and you can more than handle them, but it leaves me feeling like someone picked all the bones from my body. I'm left feeling like one big lump of quivering Jell-O.

Would you like me to invite either allen or john? What do you think?

I actually invited bear but no sure yet he said he will look and if he likes he will join...so watch this space

[Niquie]

..........and he will add to the growing list of Liberals.

Allen is a diehard Conservative and it is THAT viewpoint we need as a counterpoint.

Well I need to email John anyway so I will tell him about here How about that?

[Niquie]

Ask him who else we could invite who doesn't think like us in the least!

We need some balance here.

but not the said before names and definilty you know who!!! perish the thought

[imported_iluminado]

Originally posted by Niquie
Does anyone have a problem inviting Allen? Frankly, I thought it was appropriate and quite LARGE of him to post that apology. It was absolutely called for but it also seemed sincere.

Niquie:

We may have to agree to disagree on this one. I am sure he's a nice guy, as you and others seem to value his opinions. I wouldn't have a problem with inviting him at all, because I like the opportunity to stand for my convictions and respect everyone's right to do the same. But I hope you understand that I reserve the right to give him a run for his money when he posts comments attempting to instigate. I am not one to shy away from a debate.

I do have to question the apology. That whole bit about how coming from the south he's very open-minded compared to most others who would just as easily deport all minorities, immigrants, etc... (don't recall the exact words).

It's an old trick...like me saying "You know, I'm quite a moderate liberal, most of the people in my community would like to see all the rednecks in Alabama confined to their trailer parks, but not me!"

See...I'm making an offensive statement, yet separating myself from it in a sort of unapologetic..."this is as good as it gets, take it or leave it"... kinda way. I don't buy it for a second.

And the scariest part is that I do agree with you...he seems sincere about his opinions.

Well, anyhow, I hope you understand where I stand on this issue. I don't expect you or anyone else to agree with me, but I do respect everyone's opinions.

In any event, I say...Bring it on!!

[Niquie]

And I do agree with you.

But I am just desperate to have some counterbalance here in this Forum. Sven is a good debater, but he seems to have disappeared from sweden.com altogether. I didn't see a post from since since before the elections.

Let's think of someone else.

[imported_iluminado]

Oh no...please... invite Allen! I'll debate him or anyone else all day long. I'm merely making it clear that even though he is friends with many of you who I have learned to respect...I hope that you guys don't get offended when I do defend my views against his...that's all.

[Niquie]

Those two amaze me! I cannot even THINK of being married to someone who is so diametrically opposed to my political viewpoint.

If Allen and I were in the same room with each other, you'd probably have to call the cops.

But this format makes it possible to chew someone out a little more than you might otherwise do in person and to be a little more resilient as well.

I just don't want to end up being a all Republican-hating liberal.

If I become the enemy, I will have to jump off the bridge.

[imported_iluminado]

Yeah...they're an odd couple, that's for sure. Although many think that Mary Matlin is not truly a conservative...they think it's just a lucrative "good cop-bad cop" routine.


Anyhow, I do think it possible. It just goes to show that love and mutual understanding mean everything. Indeed, the first woman I ever truly loved (one who I could have married) was raised in a very conservative home in North Carolina. I loved and respected her beyond measure, and she held me in the same regard. The time we spent together truly made me a better person...taught me to see life in many different ways. Again...it's not black and white...no matter how much we wish it were so. We must learn to put ourselves in other's shoes.

Diablita, hablando se entiende la gente

[Niquie]

I heard an interview with Orin Hatch today and I thought "Gee, I can't despise this man anymore." He's done so many things that I admire. His work with Sen. Kennedy is truly remarkable.

And you know what: He writes country and western songs under the name Johnny Trapdoors! Bono gave him that name.

Now, Iluminado, is that not a lesson in life AND politics?

I wrote to John and told him, he may have evn replied to me for all I know but I am having difficulty looking at my emails...so I don't know for sure if I got a reply from him

[allenb]

Guys, thanks for inviting me. Don't worry. I fully expect all of you to debate against me until your heart is content. (What fun would a Political debate be, otherwise..

Let's just establish one thing for future peace...
Nothing gets personal. I may hate your political views and argue against them feverishly, but that is as far as it goes.

Iluminado, I respect your reservations about me, but I look forward to debating with you just the same..

Okay...enough of this stuff....

On to the politics!

Allen B.
allenb@bama.ua.edu