As for checking the profiles of whom one is responding to on. I didn't realize there was an etiquette for that.

I would never have 'A Boy Named Sue', and I wouldn't expect people to check his origins and sex before communicating with him on an elementary level if I did.

Aside from that, a name itself is supposed to represent you and your sex to some level (as it has since the beginning of time). I thought the only guys who chose girl names on the Internet were cre... OK.. forget all of that. If trans-gender communication is what blows your dress up, then more power to you.

I've had a much more productive discussion in the aquatic and alternative energies forums that I frequent.

Perhaps I should have begun my thread with...

'MY MONITOR IS ACTING UP!? It keeps displaying these unintelligible messages!? Have any of you seen this type of thing before?'

Impaqt... Thanks for the understanding.

God bless our troops... God damn those who sent them. ?!? What on earth is that really supposed to mean!?

I'm as peaceful as the next guy... Actually a lot more peaceful than the next, but I recognize a problem and understand that dealing with them in an ongoing and effective manner may not always be the popular way, but often the effective way will ultimately be the course of profound change. And don't even say it's not up to us to decide they need to change. It's not even close to being all about that.

It's amazing how many people can come up with a Bush Bash, but they can't verbalize one thing that Kerry is going to do for them if elected to the office of President of the United States of America.

Please.. Please.. Tell me what you think Kerry will do for me!? Rather than insult my intelligence, why don't you try to educate me and change my mind!?

I'm a register voter for the God Damned President!?

Tough talk for an SGI Buddhist.

Thanks and Thanks and Thanks again to you all.

Jay,

Why are you criticizing people on this forum? Don't you realize we are American's? And that by criticizing American's you are being un-American? How do you think you can criticize us but still call yourself a proud American?

Are you a communist?

Holy smokes, Jay, take a valium.

I don't like Bush, but I have no desire to convert you. Read back over the thread... I stated a few of my opinions, and never once knocked yours.

And, DEB are my initials. Don't care what they may spell.

This quote came to mind when I read this post:

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.
--Theodore Roosevelt, 1918

I'm proud to be an American, and I'm thankful that I can criticize the prez, and anyone else I don't agree with without fear of being run over by a tank, or some other dubious end. Further, I believe that by holding our elected officials collective feet over the fire, we are strengthening our brand of democracy.

People criticize me all the time, like my wife for example. I don't take it to mean that they necessarily don't like me. Maybe I'm just naive...

Like most of the rest of you, I don't think this post is in the right place. It's just darn hard to resist!

Doug, my initials are also DEB. I spent a day in high school detention because one of the school's Debbies wrote deb in the drying cement around the new pool.

Thanks for quoting that. It's one of my favorite quotes.

I agree with all of you that my comments may be off the mark and I certainly don't mind getting under a little skin to hold my ground a bit, but you're absolutely right with that quote.

Sometimes it's effective to make people think a little rather than run with the masses as most people are guilty of. IMOHO. Anyhow.. I'm just glad there's a little heated debate.. Just a little is fine with me. We can't all feel the same way, or be right or whatever. I hope my feet don't stay in the fire forever...

Again it's because I enjoy everything you all have to say that I even bring something like this in the first place.

I've been thought poorly of for my opinions long before this thread ever started.

Right on, Jay in Chi town, say whatever you think, wherever you think it. That's what it's all about, baby!

Even though I detect a wee bit of sarcasm... I agree.

No sarcasm intended. Meant to be enthusiatic. Agree 100%. Let all the bed wetting, hand wringers move to Canada.