Fred2Blue is a new site for me. The commenter, J. Tyler Ballance is not. He has commented on this site and others. So when Fred2Blue decided to treat Ballance as a troll (see here), I was somewhat taken aback. Ballance takes strong positions, but he is not rude or threatening. He merely has his own opinion. Nonetheless, Fred2Blue worries a strong difference of opinion is sufficient to classify Ballance as a troll.
OMG! Hard to believe there are still people like this in Virginia.
So again, we ask: Should we have published this? What would you have done?
Discuss.
Unfortunately, this “defensive” behavior by Fred2Blue is not uncommon. Throughout history people have treated what they regard as heretics with ridicule and disdain. This sad state of affairs continues even in our relatively liberal and progressive society. What is different is that we no longer need or want state organs such as the Gestapo, the KGB or the Inquisition to deal with heretics. Instead, most people tend to regard mere differences of opinion as a minor matter.
Why? Why do we regard differences of opinion as not terribly important? Well, in a free society, in a society where the government does not run everything, the mere fact your neighbor disagrees with you does not make a difference. In a free society, people can make their own choices, and they live by the consequences of their own decisions. Differences of opinion only become important when others can force their opinions on you.
So what is Fred2Blue worried about? Why did Fred2Blue play the troll against J. Tyler Ballance?
We are out here in space, on our own, on a little blue marble of a planet, at one far end of a rather average galaxy. Since we are alone out here, one would think that we could do so much more if we could find common ground areas upon which to work together and simply respect the opinion of others when differences arise.
I wasn’t aware that the term Troll meant anything other than a cute fuzzy-haired doll, until Fred2′s post.
Anyone who has read my blog comments knows that I don’t intentionally try to provoke a response from others, (maybe a little satire once in a while), so the tag offered by Fred2 doesn’t fit.
However, I do have a theory on why some of my thoughts and ideas seem so shocking, thought provoking or even agitating to some.
I stopped watching TV back before the 9/11 vandalism/murders. As a consequence, I have not been subjected to any of the political correctness conditioning that most other citizens have suffered. I probably use some terms, or take some positions that others have been conditioned to fear, or simply reject as not PC.
Since I don’t rely on the idiot box (TV) and especially not “talk radio” to tell me what to think, I must rely upon what I read, or from my own experiences along the trail out in our communities, followed by most citizen-activists. I actually attend a good number of political events, observe our courts and visit our elected bodies as they come up with myriad ways to stick-it to our fellow citizens (like the RTAs and “abuser fees”).
I know that I don’t fit into anyone’s convenient political category. I have volunteered on behalf of Republicans, Libertarians and Democrats over the years, from Barry Goldwater, Reagan, to recent local candidates such as Tim Kaine and John Miller. I try to help good candidates who still seem to like our fellow citizens and who will genuinely try to help the average Joe.
I have previously worked for environmental groups, such as Campaign Clean Water, Ecos and the Sierra Club, but I am in favor of developing our own energy resources, including nuclear power, so that we can leave our kids a Nation that is energy independent. I served on nuclear ships as a Naval Officer, so I do not harbor fears shared by some about the limited use of nuclear power to produce electricity.
All of my opinions and positions stem from the basis that all of our citizens are granted the same inalienable rights by God, and I try to advocate for equal treatment for all of our People, including the almost born. Back in the 1990s, I worked with Ralph Reed’s Christian Coalition, even though I am Jewish. It was good to get people of faith working together.
I oppose state sponsored murder, just like a growing number of Republicans do, and believe that this is one of many common ground issues where good Democrats and Republicans can work together to make a more humane sentencing policy.
Other areas where there is common ground are restoring our strategic manufacturing base (thereby creating more domestic employment), and establishing some form of cost mitigation program to help contain or reduce health care costs and improve access.
I do not support race/gender quotas, but instead advocate for a return to a MERIT based society, because I believe that rewarding MERIT, is the core basis of America’s greatness.
I also share the view that MLK was not a hero to all Americans, but was more like his current day political disciples, the race extortionists, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Others are free to differ, all I have asked is that people interested in the Civil Rights era, review the unedited video of King’s speeches and review the White House conversations with Kennedy and LBJ before making-up your mind about King’s contribution. Then read about other Civil Rights leaders like, James Farmer, to get a better perspective on the other advocates for racial harmony during that time. Make up your own minds, but don’t rely on what you were fed in school or from TV.
I agree with those who called for the impeachment of George W. Bush, because he so egregiously ignored the Constitution and turned the national intelligence assets against us. I also oppose the use of any form of torture, by our government. I hold these positions, yet I remain an active member of my County Republican Committee, because I believe positive change in the GOP must come from within, by the hands of a new generation of leaders who are just now emerging, men twenty years younger than me.
In summary, I take the time to post on a few blogs now and then to advocate for a return of our government to within its Constitutional limits and to encourage our fellow citizens to return to a society where ideas of every stripe are welcomed into the public square, and that each idea is allowed to be heard and judged on its own merits, so that a well informed citizenry may again successfully self govern this, our Republic.
I have had many comments from J. Tyler Ballance on my blog and the difference between J. Tyler and a troll is that he actually states his P.O.V very well, in a succinct manner and rarely dives down in the drivel of name calling. Although, I think we would (or do) rarely agree on most subjects, I welcome the debate. I champion the freedom of speach above all else and that means not censoring opinions that you disagree with since that only means some one will attempt to censor you eventually……