Because we all believe in our civic responsbility to be involved in the decisions that affect us and the world around us. Because engagement is always better than estrangement. In some ways you have been the conscience of the group, and that is a valuable perspective to bring to the discussion. Vivec (and others) have added another valuable perspective - the perception of the U.S. from people outside the U.S. Everyone here who agrees to the basic rules of engagement adds something to the discussion. Sometimes things get out of hand, and we all have our moments of pique, but mostly things sort themselves out and reasonable discussion resumes.
I think this kind of forum goes to the heart of how open societies govern themselves. Two hundred years ago the discussion would have been at church or in the town square, and the members of the group would have been members of the community in which they all lived. Today, we're all members of the same community, but we are geographically dispersed, so our discussion doesn't happen around the counter at the local diner as it might have fifty years ago, it happens in forums like this one. For my part, I am glad you have you around, even if I disagree with you on many issues. Cheers. On 5/17/06, Dana wrote: > > > I'm pretty burned out of the political threads here too... I think > politics are important, but if nobody changes their mind or learns anything, > what is the point? > > -- --------------- Robert Munn www.funkymojo.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:206968 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
