[Vision2020] Divisivness Must Stop (2)

Jim Meyer m1e2y3e4@moscow.com
Tue, 11 Nov 2003 11:05:23 -0800


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All,=20
It seems there is confusion about the meaning of my post.=20

My point is that there is a "small but vocal part of the group" that =
makes the whole group look bad. My point is that the entire group to =
needs to make a choice about whether to support views that are entirely =
offensive to many in the greater community of Moscow.=20

There are many substantial, wonderful people in the group as a whole, =
some I know personally. I think we can all get along fine if reason =
prevails and the "small but vocal part of the group" does not. Note that =
I am not suggesting boycotts or other forms of wall building. I merely =
ask that reasonable people prevail.

To those of you who take offense about "appearance" being more important =
than the "truth," --think about it. We are talking about opinions and =
feelings. I only stated what many people in Moscow feel, is that not a =
truth? You might argue whether the term "government school" is a =
recently coined term or not. You cannot deny that use of the word is =
divisive. You might argue whether certain people actually are racist =
deep down in the inner recesses of their mind or not, but you cannot =
deny that publicly writing or saying words that a large proportion of =
the population will take to be racist is also divisive and should be =
repugnant to those on both sides of the issue.

Finally, to all those I may have personally offended, I apologize to you =
directly, especially to Doug Wilson, who receives attention only because =
of his public views and position of influence. My purpose is not to =
offend any particular person, but to increase understanding, suggest a =
solution, perhaps help limit an increasingly destructive polarization in =
the community.


Sincerely,=20

Jim Meyer


 =20

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>All, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It seems there is confusion about the =
meaning of my=20
post. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>My point is that there is a "small but =
vocal part=20
of the group" that makes the whole group look bad.&nbsp;My point is that =

the&nbsp;entire group to needs to make a choice about whether to=20
support&nbsp;views that are entirely offensive to many in the greater =
community=20
of&nbsp;Moscow. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>There are many substantial, wonderful =
people in the=20
group as a whole, some&nbsp;I know personally. I think we can all get =
along fine=20
if reason prevails and the "small but vocal part of the group" does not. =
Note=20
that </FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am not suggesting boycotts or =
other forms=20
of wall building. I merely ask that reasonable =
people&nbsp;prevail.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>To those of you who take offense=20
about&nbsp;"appearance" being more important than the =
"truth,"</FONT>&nbsp;<FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2>--think about it. We are talking about opinions =
and feelings.=20
I only stated what many people in Moscow feel, is that not a&nbsp;truth? =
You=20
might argue whether the term "government school" is a&nbsp;recently =
coined term=20
or not. You cannot deny that&nbsp;use of the word is divisive. You might =
argue=20
whether certain&nbsp;people actually are racist deep down in the inner =
recesses=20
of their mind or&nbsp;not, but&nbsp;you cannot deny&nbsp;that publicly =
writing=20
or saying words&nbsp;that a large proportion of the population will take =
to=20
be&nbsp;racist is also divisive and should be repugnant to those on both =
sides=20
of the issue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Finally, to all those I may have =
personally=20
offended, I apologize to you directly, especially to Doug Wilson, who=20
receives&nbsp;attention only because of his&nbsp;public views and =
position of=20
influence. My purpose is not to offend any particular person, but to=20
increase&nbsp;understanding, suggest&nbsp;a solution, perhaps help limit =
an=20
increasingly destructive polarization in the community.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Sincerely, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jim Meyer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp; </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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