From: decay@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (dean.kaflowitz)
Subject: Re: The March in D.C.?
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 16:28:15 GMT

In article <63@devl3.UUCP> root@devl3.UUCP (Super user) writes:
> In article <1992Apr08.162313.825@sdd.hp.com> regard@hpsdde.sdd.hp.com (Adrienne Regard) writes:
> >In article <1992Apr7.214014.10886@cs.dal.ca> franklin@ug.cs.dal.ca (Steve Franklin) writes:
> >>YOu guys are realy immature you know that? When the tough gets going,
> >
> >Steve, I happen to think that your religion is a sack of shit.  I happen to
> >think it's pure drivel and foolish, and backward, and idiotic.  And I'm
> >entitled to that opinion.  But being a tolerant, fairminded soul, I decide
> >it's really YOUR OWN BUSINESS what you believe.
> 
> Sorry Adrienne. You get an F in tolerance *and* fairmindedness this quarter!
> Your assessment of Steve's and my religion is anything but.  It's pejorative
> and anti-social and intolerant and close-minded.

Sorry, Steve, but Adrienne is being tolerant and fair-minded.

I thought The Fisher King stunk.  I think it was over-rated, over-
acted, and full of pretensions.  But, being a tolerant and fair-minded
individual, I mind my own business.  And if people want to see
The Fisher King in the movies a dozen times, buy the video, and
hunt down Robin Williams for his autograph that's their business.

By your reasoning, Steve, I am intolerant and unfair because
I have a negative opinion of something.

Now I have experienced Christianity in its many flavors as
an observor, which is a valid position from which to reach
an opinion on something.  One need not be an golf pro to
have an opinion of Seve Ballesteros' swing, and one need
not play for the Red Sox to reach conclusions about Wade
Boggs' fielding abilities.  Adrienne, I suspect but do not
know for certain, was likely raised in some Christian denomination
or other.  So you have two, inside and outside, opinions,
and we agree.  I am tolerant and fair-minded.  I don't
try to convince others that Christianity is worthless, and
I don't really care at all if you want to worship Jesus
or J.R. "BoB" Dobbs (although if you worship Jesus you
want stand a chance when the X-ist ships arrive).  That's
what being tolerant is.  I don't try to pass laws to
make you not worship and you don't try to pass laws to make
me worship.  That's tolerance.  We can have very negative
opinions of each other's philosophy, but tolerance means
you can discuss these opinions as long as you're not trying
to force an opinion on anyone.

Now here's the controversial part:  many Christians are very
intolerant and judgmental.  That's okay.  They're only
people no matter how religious they may be.  Many atheists
are very tolerant and non-judgmental.  And many atheists,
or secualr humanists, or Satanists, or pagans, or what-have-you
are very tolerant and content to live and let live.

Frankly, there'd be a lot less trouble in the world if
Jesus had said "Live and let live" rather than "Love thy
neighbor." " Love thy neighbor" doesn't seem to work out
with enough people, and it's awfully pushy when you come
down to it, but I think a lot more people could get
behind "Live and let live.

But now I'm rambling.  Anyway, you're wrong, Steve.  Adrenne's
statement reflects tolerance and fairness.

Dean Kaflowitz