Gentlemen,
Please be advised that this column is in fact a discussion forum for Political Issues of varying nature. I agree that this is indeed a Shotgunning website and forum (and a damn fine one), however it important that we discuss such issues as the one that has been posted.
We must all first step back and decide whether or not we are going to agree with every post on this forum, no matter what its subject matter. I would hope we all have the intellect and independence to make up our own minds regarding these types of issues. We must also have the maturity and tolerance to hear out different ideologies and accept the fact that perhaps each of us may not always be correct all the time, and even if we cannot bear the thought of agreeing with an idea that boils our blood, we must at the very least agree to disagree.
I tolerate many ideas, whether I agree with them or not, and this one is no different. However what I will not tolerate in my forum is for individuals to lower themselves to name-calling and other grade-school practices, so let it be heard that that ends right here, right now.
If any of our members ask me to censor such discussions, I am sorry but you will indeed be dissappointed. If you force me to begin deleting posts (a thought I dread), then you must ask yourself where the line is drawn. Once I begin, where do I stop? I could possibly delete every post that pays even the most remote disrespect for my hero Mr. J.M. Browning or disdain for the firearms his company produces, but my conscience tells me I cannot do that. And I will not do that.
For the record, the post by BJolly was indeed a "cut and paste" article, and for that matter about 95% of mine in this forum are, because what we try to do here is alert our fellow shotgunners to issues that may concern them, and that is done quite effectively by posting articles ensuring proper credit is given to the author as it was in this case. That is what I believe Mr Jolly's intent was in this case. Secondly, it was not a racist or hate-mongering post. It was actually well-written and thought-provoking. Thirdly, I believe I understand what the author was illustrating, and from my perspective it looks quite accurate.
I will ask a favor of all of you who frequent my forum. Let us not only disagree, let is celebrate our differences of opinion. Let us revel in the comfort of knowing that we still have the freedom to print text that is controversial. Let us agree to disagree, and most importantly: Let us do so intelligently and respectfully.
Regards,
Please be advised that this column is in fact a discussion forum for Political Issues of varying nature. I agree that this is indeed a Shotgunning website and forum (and a damn fine one), however it important that we discuss such issues as the one that has been posted.
We must all first step back and decide whether or not we are going to agree with every post on this forum, no matter what its subject matter. I would hope we all have the intellect and independence to make up our own minds regarding these types of issues. We must also have the maturity and tolerance to hear out different ideologies and accept the fact that perhaps each of us may not always be correct all the time, and even if we cannot bear the thought of agreeing with an idea that boils our blood, we must at the very least agree to disagree.
I tolerate many ideas, whether I agree with them or not, and this one is no different. However what I will not tolerate in my forum is for individuals to lower themselves to name-calling and other grade-school practices, so let it be heard that that ends right here, right now.
If any of our members ask me to censor such discussions, I am sorry but you will indeed be dissappointed. If you force me to begin deleting posts (a thought I dread), then you must ask yourself where the line is drawn. Once I begin, where do I stop? I could possibly delete every post that pays even the most remote disrespect for my hero Mr. J.M. Browning or disdain for the firearms his company produces, but my conscience tells me I cannot do that. And I will not do that.
For the record, the post by BJolly was indeed a "cut and paste" article, and for that matter about 95% of mine in this forum are, because what we try to do here is alert our fellow shotgunners to issues that may concern them, and that is done quite effectively by posting articles ensuring proper credit is given to the author as it was in this case. That is what I believe Mr Jolly's intent was in this case. Secondly, it was not a racist or hate-mongering post. It was actually well-written and thought-provoking. Thirdly, I believe I understand what the author was illustrating, and from my perspective it looks quite accurate.
I will ask a favor of all of you who frequent my forum. Let us not only disagree, let is celebrate our differences of opinion. Let us revel in the comfort of knowing that we still have the freedom to print text that is controversial. Let us agree to disagree, and most importantly: Let us do so intelligently and respectfully.
Regards,