Ashton7@aol.com wrote:
The concept of empathy really seems to be eluding some members of this list. I don't know how I can make it any plainer than I already have. A number of people certainly didn't like it when I freely expressed *my* opinion of *their* religion... even though it is my true opinion and I meant no personal attack on them on at all. Hey, I felt it "needed to be said" because it's the way I feel. If it's okay for others to attack *my* beliefs and traditions and lifestyle openly on the list, why do they feel that they are immune from hearing my thoughts on *their* beliefs and traditions and lifestyle in return? You can say anything you darn well please and I'll stand up for your "right" to do so. But please don't act all put out and surprised when you receive an answer IN KIND.
Well, not meaning to offend, but I am genuinely puzzled - do you not find there to be a difference between saying an _action_ is wrong, and saying a _person_ or group of people is sick? Because every time this sort of issue comes up, it just floors me. We all do things that other people think are wrong. If I cheated on my income tax, I'd consider that I'd done something immoral; I certainly wouldn't consider that I was sick. Those two concepts are poles apart to me.
As I sit here eating my turkey sandwich and reading my lyst mail, I come across a post from Neil. Now, I know Neil thinks it's immoral for me to eat my turkey sandwich - but I don't assume that he thinks I'm a sick and evil person because of it. He might, but I'm not going to jump to that conclusion, because it isn't productive, fair, or kind; and if I did jump to that conclusion, my upset would be my own doing, not his.
Mistral