Rev. Vince wrote: I note no one else has jumped in to say a word for me. I now get to go to work with a new and painful burden in my soul. In fact I am now late for work because the pain of this has caught me in a way that I did not expect. In that we have reached a point where a discussion of historical fact leads to charges of my being vehemently anti-Catholic then whatever I am doing here is not doing any good, and the attacks by this friend and silence of others tells me that it is time for me to go. I am making no contribution in here if *this* is how what I wrote is interpreted. Speaking to Vince first: Because we do have a friendly acquaintance here and to some degree off list, I am hurt by this reference and I am also sorry for you. My silence is due to my atheism and my perspective on the Catholic church, which I have mentioned before is not held in the highest regards by me personally. I have no desire to get into it with people over this issue. Vince, I choose not to get in the battle cause you are saying pretty much what I think of the Catholic church or what I know to be true about it. Please do what you must perhaps take abreak, but please do not leave. FOR ALL: I find many of these overly factual references by several folks, on any subject and from either side of the aisle or extreme to be getting somewhat self indulgent. It's becoming who knows the most - who's the smartest - who's got the most facts. Well the sheer length of some of these posts is somewhat cumbersome. I often rely on my opinion, this (an opinion)is a thing that has some personal experience or perspective thrown into the hopper of facts and VOILA! -an opinion is born. Personally I love a good friendly argument. But these things seem to drag on and on and on. It's becoming a tit for a tat. As I mentioned earlier you and I and others who have spoken up here agree quite a bit. Yes in fact I did speak up for Kakki in earlier posts, but my GOD (did I just say god?), she's up there with Joan of Arc after the beating she's been taking here. The fact is, as I now echo redundancy, Kakki and I are more often on the opposite side rather than the same. But that's not a bad thing, cause she has always handled herself with respect & regard for the opposing opinion. Some folks here have sounded pretty condescending at times. See for me, the good part or the common thread is more important than winning every fecking point. I think for the most part here most people are feeling the same - frustrated, confused, angry, depressed, sad and scared. Where is our compassion? Where is our levity? Where do the heavy handed posters expect this to go or to end? We are caught way up in semantics and egos in some cases here, get to your points. I can't help but understand some people leaving. I wish you all wouldn't - this too shall pass! I do not usually write such long posts. I do not feel I am as articulate as some here and I also would rather speak less, but say more, than enjoy the very sound of my own voice or keyboard, as it may be. I learn as much here from people I don't agree with as I do from those that I do. People ... instead of pointing fingers and waving them in each others faces ... Let's get ourselves back to the garden, we are way over due Peace Much Love & Plenty of Tears on this post Susan Guzzi
