An Email from a concerned friend...

[JSojourner]

I just got this in my in-box.  I am part of a listserv involving people who collect Civil War items like I do.  I thought it would interest some of you...  (NOTE:  this gent's reference is to a request I made that all members of the listserv follow the prescribed rules of said listserv.  The topic is Civil War artifacts.  Not modern politics.  Not my rule, but I am glad it's there.  Anyway -- that gives his email some context....

Hello Jim,

I know I made a mistake one time and sent you something political.  You
wrote back asking that I not do it again, but this is a very important
time in the history of our country.  I hope you are wise to Obama, enough
to know that we can not allow him to become our next president.  It will
be the end of America as we know it.  Nuff said.  I hope you choose
wisely on election day.

I wanted to write back and say, "The America I knew ended with George W. Bush and Dick Cheney."  But I didn't.  I haven't and don't think I will respond.  One email leads to another and to another and then what?  Am I going to change his mind?  Is he going to change mine? 

What I wonder is -- is he emailing me because I live in Indiana and someone told him to contact all his Hoosier friends?  That's just good politics, btw -- I don't see anything wrong with it.  I am just curious what you all think...

[afleitch]

While I have no doubt this man is pretty harmless, I have a lump in my throat when I think of what lengths some people could be persuaded to go to ensure that 'we cannot allow him to become President.' The venom at a McCain rellay directed towards McCain for simply calling Obama an ordinary American citizen was disgusting.

Obama had better watch his back - literally.

[War on Want]

While I have no doubt this man is pretty harmless, I have a lump in my throat when I think of what lengths some people could be persuaded to go to ensure that 'we cannot allow him to become President.' The venom at a McCain rellay directed towards McCain for simply calling Obama an ordinary American citizen was disgusting.

Obama had better watch his back - literally.

I agree and it is all the more worrying when you experience it in real life.