Alex, I too respect your opinions and expressed thoughts about music and have enjoyed dialoguing with you on that subject. Â I have found you, first and foremost, to be open minded on the subject of music even while having well defined tastes. Â This most recent and minor (and it is, in the scheme of things) conflict is a perfect justification for my suggestion to O-10 and example of why we should stay clear of topics that are potentially provocative and not directly related to the subject of this thread. Â However, I find your reaction to recent comments both duplicitous and disingenuous. Â Allow me to explain:
I did not "take O-10's bait", I had no intention to get embroiled in another discussion about politics. Â I suggested that he refrain from his occasional tendency to bait and provoke so as to avoid precisely what is happening as I write this. Â Why duplicitous?
You object to my involving you in a another discussion about politics. Â If that offended you, my apology. Â However, I need to point out that you had already involved yourself with your "torture chambers in Guantanamo" comment. Â Although I doubt it, perhaps your comment was meant solely as humor; not a topic that has much room for humor. Â Not being from this country and perhaps because of your political orientation, you may not be aware of the fact that this is a political topic that is highly "charged" in this country; however, I am sure you are aware of this. Â I need to also point out that while you object to my involving you, you don't seem to mind, and conveniently overlook, the fact that O-10 first involved you; and, at the expense of other participants here. Â Why did you not object to that, Alex?
****Alex seems to be the least affected by the media hype, brain washers; by that I mean a person has to do independent research to find facts.****
Additionally, you went on to involve him with:
****Frogman, I am quite sure that Orpheus will giggle reading this, but if you have recognised the ’bait’ why did you have to answer it?****
Alex, I hope you can appreciate, on some level, the silliness of all this and how, if anything, it's just an indication of "thin skin" all the way around. Â Absent any further "proof" or valid retort from you, and given the obvious ambiguities and limitations of dialogue about complicated topics on a forum such as this, what is apparent to me is that the reason that you object to my taking those liberties and not to O-10 doing the same is that you and he seem to agree politically and you and I do not; not a particularly "deep" reason, imo. Speaking of "deep", or absence of it, this is what really matters (to me, anyway):
You may have noticed that my suggestion to O-10 was to not bait and to encourage "RESPECTFUL" dialogue about these topics if we choose to discuss these topics.
****I have come to the conclusion after our last ’discussion’ that (when it comes to politics) your perspective and opinions are not wide or deep (are that the proper terms?) in a way that your perspective is, or the whole attitude toward seeing ’bigger picture,’ when you discuss music.
That came as an unpleseant surprise****
So, my political views are not "wide" nor "deep". Â Hmmm, doesn't sound respectful to me, Alex. Â In fact, I find it rather arrogant on your part for being dismissive of the possibility that there may be a political outlook different from yours that may have validity; especially one held by someone who you acknowledge is capable of deep thinking. Â Outlook which is, in turn, judged by someone living in a different part of the world. Â Why make it personal? Â Alex, I have no desire to discuss politics with you here beyond cursory and causal comments because, as you point out, it is obvious that we are "far apart" on the subject. Â What I can tell you is I can accept this difference of opinion and not let it color my reaction to your comments. Â Frankly, I consider this a shame since I suspect that we could have some very interesting and intelligent discussions on these topics if we had a different setting. Â I would be most intrigued and interested in learning about your background, your heritage and culture and all that contributed to your point of view. Â Can you say the same?