This is the part of living here that I dispise:

[Ilsa]

I thought discussion of this letter to the editor fit in GD more than in Ed.

http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/opinion/letters/story/1419664p-1671715c.html

Editor, the Advocate:

This letter is to the offended souls who seem to be unable to handle pointed, meaty, accurate wording in these letters, people who cringe when truth is highlighted in a strong manner.

I realize there is a lot of pressure in the popular culture that says we must all just get along no matter what. That to call somebody out in a pointed way is nearly criminal. Then to actually label a person, even accurately, is over the line. The pressure is pervasive in our culture to adopt this approach of feelings first and logical thought last. It's sometimes subtle, sometimes direct, but always in the mix.

Don't fall for this, Mr. Welton and clones, because there's something far more important than not hurting feelings or not labeling someone - and that is truth and accuracy - especially biblical truth and accuracy.

snip

Comment:
People here seem to feel that the Bible entitles them to mean-spiritedness and name calling. When they cannot advance an argument based on fact or logic or critical thinking skills, they resort to petty insults, trying to justify it in Jesus' name. The minister they are dogging is mine, the one that wrote the letter to the editor endorsing Harry Potter and questioning authority.

Blech. Damn sheep.

Can't easily move. My husband's job is here and my children are doing well in school here.

[Beer Snob-50]

I think that Jesus tended to

endorse questioning authority while here on earth. And regarding Harry Potter, I think some people need to get a life and get a grip. Great reading and my children are not becoming devil worshipping cretins because of it. (Although they want to go into the woods on Holloween this year and sacrifice squirrels......)

[alexwcovington]

1. He wants mean-spirited discussion?

Send in a heated letter of your own! Don't take that crap from him. Not that he'll print it -- but then >:-) you can organize a boycott until he does.

[Beer Snob-50]

2. YES!!!

You should send in your own letter to the editor.

[sybylla]

3. What an unbelievably ignorant man

He hold up Truman and others for calling a spade a spade, speaking truth to power and not conforming yet he blasts Welton for doing the same thing. Religion wouldn't be half so bad if it weren't for all the loonies it attracts.

[HFishbine]

4. Rebuttal

Not sure what the topic was, but I find that it's nearly impossible to make an argument with the Bible as justitification without also finding some scripture that contradicts.

At the very least, one can point out that if the Bible is used as the final word on behavior, that people who do so are being inconsistent in that the Bible also admonishes wearing clothes of mixed cloth, making a profit on the sale of food, charging interests on loans, and many other things that Bible-thumpers conveniently ignore.

When I see someone use the Bible as justification for condemnation of homosexulaity AND simultaneously condemn interest on loans, profit on food and wearing poly-cotton blends, than I will at least not dismiss the person as a hypocrite.

[paradisiac]

5. some people confuse

Some people confuse verbal aggression with logic and/or truth. Being able to speak/write in a "pointed, meaty" manner does not mean that your beliefs and views are automatically true or correct. It doesn't mean you are a more logical and rational person either.

[TrogL]

6. John Wayne?!?

you've got to be kidding.

But today, great men like ... John Wayne would be chided for being so direct and mean-spirited.

John Wayne was an actor. But then again, repugs worship actors. Wierd, eh?