Having some policy continue from one president to another suddenly become "the worst thing ever" because the new President wasn't your choice in the election shows to me that people don't really care about the issue concerned so much as they want to use it as a political football.—Simon
My frustration, Simon, is that I will take as much time as I can to carefully craft my post so that it is specific to an issue. I don’t see any point in fighting about left and right Democrat and Republican.
I posted a remark not long ago about the distinction between past presidents and the border and the recent policy of separation of families—as you mention above. But a reasonable comment is largely a waste of time. A thought that can’t be used as a target or as cannon fodder is pretty much ignored.
The issues of immigration, incarceration, radical Islam are topics that concern me. But the overall value of sharing information and thinking about these subject in this forum is compromised critically by the rapid conversion of the OP into a match between the righties and the lefties. I object!
I have looked back at old old conversations some present others not...and the difference is night and day. heartbreaking and beautiful to read the kindly and yet strong exchange of posters long ago.
What happened to us?
Certainly common courtesy is so rare now that when there rises such behavior it stands out as a remarkable event. Truly.
The only time in recent memory that l recall such courtesy was crusty cofty in his upright manner asking that l verify the source for a strong statement l had made. When I complied he simply posted “Thank you for that” —a courtesy so remarkable in this present climate as to be heroic.
l have had moments on this board when l have changed my thinking on certain very important topics or belief. (That’s kind of amazing.)The verbal combat was, well, combative. Because it wasn’t a play game sometimes there were terrific injuries. But the points were fairly made. The points hit marks without the poison. These discussions burned long and hot but were valuable in that they allowed for digression enough to be thorough but they kept to a point. They let you think.
Just as poison arrows are used when the hunter is not able to strike the vitals. l have discovered a viewpoint delivered with toxic rhetoric and insult have not the power to strike the heart of a matter. If the speaker relies on poison to destroy another’s thought it prejudices the matter in my mind.
I guess l have said plenty even if l do have a lot more l would say. But l have to say this:
l have spent a good deal of time on this board searching through others thoughts and my own since l arrived after I left the Watchtower. I never was just killing time —l have waitied out a cancer treatment here , sorted my religious belief one winter/spring and now recently l have been rebuilding life after a violent assault in the family that may finally have divided us forever. But the board doesn’t feel as safe to me anymore. Boohoo, right? I say l am shameless but l am not without feelings.
I will watch to see what develops. Certainly with the ups and downs l have had in family life a moment when so many others have stepped forward with their concerns is rather a moment of hope than otherwise. It is an opportunity for a good turn to come.
We certainly need it.
l do love you all.
Maeve
