Good morning Dave! Dave Laird wrote to Frank Reichert...
> I admit openly and without prompting on anyone's part that I have been > re-reading much of what has transpired over the last week, as I have > missed so much of it, due to being out of town. Having said that, at the > end of a conversation I caught you when... Oh crap! Did I screw something up again? Probably so. Frank Reichert previously wrote: > > Admittedly, my present wife seems to put up with my dogmatics of > > non-compromise much better than the other two were. To which, you replied: > I perhaps allot a different meaning to the phrase "the dogmatics of > non-compromise" than perhaps you intended, Frank. Or perhaps you were > merely alluding to the connotation I give to the phrase. In my tepee of > many colorful women, past and present, the dogmatics of non-compromise has > the meaning you take no hostages. That might apply in some marital > communities, but perhaps yours is different. <giggling with glee> [Frank bolts quickly to the kitchen for another mug of industrial-strength caffeine...] Maybe a couple of qualifications need to be made, one of which is that a marriage relationship has certain trade offs that must be made in the course of everyday life. Such is likely in most cases not ideological tradeoffs, or compromise in the sense of a particular dogmatically held principle. The second of which is that in terms of principle, dogmatics change, or at least they should change over time. Admittedly, for some people that doesn't seem to occur, and therefore no growth takes place insofar as 'principle' is concerned in some individuals. I do know that my own dogmatics have changed over the years, for example: 1. There was a time when I really did believe that the Vietnam War was a just war; I have long since taken the reverse position; 2. There was a time when I really did believe that marijuana and other drugs, prostitution, gambling and other 'vices' should be illegal and such activities vigorously prosecuted by the state; I have since taken the reverse, and opposite position; 3. There was a time in which I believed in the two-party system in this country, and for years I vigorously supported Republican candidates for public office; I have since come to believe that we live in a one-Party-controlled State, in which the issue is between ultimate totalitarian 'statism' versus the self-government by each individual over their own lives, families and property; and as such I believe in the political philosophy of the Libertarian Party as the best expression of my political orientation now. Of course other dogmatics have changed in my life as well, but the above only illustrate that substantial changes in my life have occurred over time. Such changes in personal dogmatics have occurred as a result of dialogue with others, and listening and participating in the debate process, including those which regularly occur on Liberty Northwest and other such venues. When I have become convinced that a particular position that I had previously believed was the correct one is neither tenable or correct, then I look at other ideas, and eventually assume one that I believe or become comfortable with that is a better course to follow and promote. The above does not suggest that I have become any less dogmatic, only that certain dogmatic principles have changed, or even in some cases, reversed themselves. I will admit however, that dogmatics are often difficult to change, since usually they are strongly held with tremendous conviction. It takes a very strong and convincing argument to alter such personal convictions in such a way that anyone, myself included, have to agree to be open to other such arguments, and, better yet, even participate in them. As for the relationship between myself and my wife, my wife and I have a very different attitude in terms of the importance of political dogmatics, and I might suggest that she is really more apolitically minded than political. On the other hand, during my 2004 State Representative race, she was my strongest supporter, and accompanied me to all the forums, and countless hours, days, weeks and months of shaking hands and putting up campaign signs. Kindest regards, Frank _______________________________________________ Libnw mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] List info and subscriber options: http://immosys.com/mailman/listinfo/libnw Archives: http://immosys.com/mailman//pipermail/libnw
