response 368 of 526:

Mar 4 00:29 UTC 2006

Re resp:335: I don't know about this.  A part of me thinks, "Okay, if   
they want to build a Catholic-only enclave, that's their right."  But I   
think I'd feel differently if someone decided to built a town only for   
whites, or only for men, or only for tall people.  And then I realized   
that there's no reason I should feel more charitable about the idea   
just because it's based around a religion instead of some other "us vs.   
them" distinction.   
   
Is it illegal?  Maybe not.  Is it right?  I don't think so.  But one of   
my biggest problems with organized religion is how exclusionary it is,   
and that's one of the reasons I stopped going to church.   
   
   
Re resp:362: So every time you see the ACLU take a position you   
disagree with, you use it to confirm your preexisting bias about them.    
Every time they take a position you don't have a problem with, you   
regard it as some kind of plot.   
   
I hope you realize that this is not a way to make any kind of rational   
decision about something.  It's pretty clear that you've started with a   
stereotype about the ACLU's motives, and are only interested in   
evidence that supports that stereotype -- or that you can twist around   
in your mind to somehow support it, like assuming they're only   
supporting Rush to embarrass him, or only defending the KKK to somehow   
try to link them to conservatives(!) and draw attention to them.   
   
I don't really expect you to ever be an ACLU member.  You clearly have 
different views than they do, and that's fine.  I'd like you to 
consider, though, that most of the people involved with the ACLU are 
doing what they do out of genuine conviction, not because they're 
trying to stick it to one particular political party.  Even when they 
do things I'm not thrilled with I can at least see the principle 
they're trying to uphold. 
 
The politics of the last few years has made a lot of odd bedfellows.  
When a conservative group who I normally oppose happens to see a 
situation where its interests align with mine, and supports something 
that I favor as well, I'm grateful for the help.  I don't regard them 
with suspicion and try to figure out what sneaky trick they're trying 
to pull.