Do you accept cultural forbidding the discussion of Politics & Religion?

It works well for whom? Name calling in the written form is libel. With true freedom comes also being responsible for one's actions. A lot of this anonymous "culture" on the web needs to stop. Personally, my-Lot handle is SteveSlaton and guess what? I am Steve Slaton of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. I take responsiblity for what I say and write. I mostly agree with your views except I think our system works quite poorly. It only works well for the powerful.

The number of times I have heard people called racist because of one policy or another is astounding. It works quite well to silence a point of view rather than have the debate. Here are four examples with real consequences. 1: COnfirmation of Sonya Sotomayer, There has been more focus on her seemingly racist comment than her actually decisions. If we focused on actual rulings we would have a better idea of if she would be good for our country or not. 2: Immigration: People who advocate closed border policies are often labled as racist and the debate ends up being termed anti-hispanic rather than an issue of security 3: Reform of the lending system (fannie/freddie) A number of years ago (long before the whole thing blew up) It was forcasted that the current system would explode because the government was pressuring the banks to lend to people who were unlikely to be able to repay the loans. The proposal to allow banks to make their own assesment was labled as racist becuase it was assumed that limiting lending to low income people would affect minoritys disporportionately. The proposal would have of course saved us from the recent financial mess, but because people were so afraid of offending people and limiting loans to the lower classes we continued to make the loans 4: The whole affimitive action debate- both sides spend more time calling eachother racist than looking at statistics.

On your four points, honestly I have not closely followed Sonya Sotomayer's nomination hearings, etc. Reverse racism claims, as far as I am concerned are still racist. Personally, I am a Caucasian, male, mostly European descended American apologist. As a demographical group I belong to the wealthiest, highest paid, most powerful group on Earth all through making bullying legal. An early USA Libertarian Party principle was to minimize government with the vision of a World without borders. I think that way. The main reason, as I see it, for people to want to emigrate legally or illegally to the USA is because there is so much money here compared to peoples' homelands that they are fleeing. It IS a desperate move to give up all that makes up home: family, friends, community, geography, climate. Part of the emigration/immigration debate should be: what can we do to transform the world where people are free everywhere to develop to their potential. While some racism is still stupid, ignorant, and blatant like that recent red-neck murder in D.C., overall racism is getting smarter... Which mean vigilance, courage, and tenacity needs to be the rely. Choose your battles. I've spent much of my activist periods in my life "reacting." Those in power have chewed up and spit out some many activists who were reactionaries. I suggest to people to get a clear vision, be proactive for it, which is a positive energy way of living, and accept what progress you can make. How's that?

Excellent! Nice metaphors. Think about all these "talk" shows that have people being uncivil, not allowing a person to finish a thought, rudely interrupting, and shouting each other down. No wonder most of our kids are growing up without manners. We have a bullying culture that favor bullies. Right?

This is true..and it is my opinion that it doesn't take much brains or intellect to call someone a name...especially a dirty one. We do live in a culture that favors bullies..we even elect them to office. :)

Hey Steve..guess what? My real name is Debra K. Carey...lol Never did see the need to hide my real self.

Thank you for the input. We are My-lot friends & I just checked your page that says you are a 34 year old female from India. I can and do appreciate the need to be entertained and unwind. One does not have to allow another person's words or actions of anger escalate into you yourself being angry. One can choose to deescalate relations and be a calming presence. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh owe their National States to the wise, non-violent, loving leadership of Mahatma Gandhi whom I have studied a bit. Yet India and Pakistan "relations" are a simmering state of Hate! Think about this: Who benefits from this mutual hate? The test of freedom is not majority rule. The test is how majorities treat the weak, the helpless, and their minorities. The British were not even gone from India and the Hindu and Muslim civil war erupted. (I actually do not know if your history labeled these events as a Civil War...) The result was most surviving northern Hindus heading South and most surviving Muslims heading North and India splitting. Now citizens of both countries are not really very free by the standard I just proposed. Think and teach love, not hate. Choose to relate, not retaliate. Stop! Before it's too late, I pray. Life is a test. Be blessed. Take care. Your friend, Steve Slaton Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, Mother Earth

Many of the "people" who get angry at me are really "sheeple." Sheeple would rather believe the lies that wolves tell them, keep their heads down grazing, until... Well we all know what happens to sheep. The lucky ones are only sheared.

Any their deaths are blamed on their behavior often times...

And then you have the sacrificial lamb...the one that's expendable and no one cares if it's killed.

All good points. By and large I agree with you. The hardest behavior to tolerate is intolerance. Also, the biggest reason we live in a crazy world is that the powerful ARE crazy! Most of the bullying and intimidation is sick. And bullying people into being afraid to discuss ANY topic should be suspect, me thinks. Thanks.

I noticed a few typos, sorry guys. One of the lines should say "accept that even then they might be shrugged off". The other is "teach younger generations". :)

Atta girl!

Agreed. Family bullying is more personal but still should no be tolerated. Likewise if a family member of mine behaves as a sexist, bigot, or racist I call them on it. Some of my family shuns me and that's their problem. Saves me wasting my time on lost causes... Some of my family are sane and we're close. Thank you.

I understand. If you do get cornered by somebody pushy (like me) and I tell you my views of God and politics, you could try saying or writing: Let's move on by agreeing to disagree. Try it. This sentence has been one of civility that deescalates tense situations for a long, long time.

Well said. I have interrupted a number of people in my day and said I have the freedom not to listen to you, so go away.

When it comes to religion, I generally practice as you do, except... When people try to impose their religious beliefs into secular law I take no prisoners.