One of the talents I have, if you can consider it a talent, is the ability to learn.

Don’t laugh, a lot of people can’t. Once you have established certain prejudices they often become set in stone and people are unwilling to let go of them, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Look at the advocates of Gun Control. No amount of flawless logic will budge them off their dime.

So, I’m always willing to be taken to school. I’ve had a debate about the medical profession with a wide number of people, and frankly, no matter how anyone tries to portray the medical profession as a whole in a good light, they prove and prove again my contention, that the profession is inadequately monitored, improperly established, and sufficiently powerful, and embedded, to be practically unchangeable. A lot of people see this attitude I have, and assume I mean that doctors are bad, which of course means they have utterly missed the point. Most doctors, I believe, are good people, and just as much victims of a horrible system as their patients.

likewise: Kim Gun Guy comments in the post below:
“I’m not interested in the “Muslims are assholes, based on my experience” first-person thing” And he’s absolutely right. I have met some muslims that were assholes, but that is completely anecdotal. I’m neither interested in stories about muslims that are peaceful. I’m sure there are many of them too. The lady at the corner store by mom’s, for instance, seems a very nice lady. I have no issues with individuals, I have issues with the culture.
So, I’m gonna try something I’ve never tried before: an actual online debate. The rules are as follows:

1: don’t be an asshole. That’s enough. If you don’t get that, your posts will be summarily deleted, no matter what you say, if it supports my resolution or not. Be nice. Be factual. Cite sources. Be prepared to defend those sources- and frankly, the New York Times is pretty much an indefensible source.

The debate will be in two posts, and the threads will take place over the course of two days. Day one, today, will consist of arguments supporting or disagreeing with the resolution. Day two will consist of rebuttals. Anyone may participate. If you are a dipwad who has been banned from here already and you think you can contribute in a decent manner I will unbann you if you email me, mhardig at aol dot com. You will be on notice, and you will have one and only one chance to be nice.

This is not about personal attacks. This is not about “My cousin knows this guy”. This is about verifiable historical evidence that Islam is, as Mr Porretto puts it, toxic to human life.

Hope as many people as can participate, do. Thanks. Take me to school- I’d LOVE to be proven wrong. Hell, I’d love to find someone who can prove Mr Porretto wrong; I’d take bets it’s not possible.

Lest anyone accuse me of intolerance or religeous prejudice or having some kind of a christian based hatred for islam, let me assure you: You can search all your life, and you will never find anyone who is as theologically tolerant as am I. And I will back that up anytime, anywhere. This is not about christianity, or for that matter, even religion.