Going behind the scenes...

[Cubby]

Well Sam I am kind of offended. I think I am one of the "leftist" hacks you are referring to, although I didn't join recently. I sent you a PM asking for your knowledge about Texas counties a few weeks ago and you just ignored me. So I tried to have the kind of conversation you say you long for, but you just don't like me for whatever reason.

You have to understand the threat that I feel right-wing Christian Southerners pose to my way of life. You don't have to take my (sometimes comical) South-phobia personally. I know damn well Texas doesn't lynch people anymore, but behind my "elitism" is some fear.

I feel sad when long time posters announce they are leaving. I don't understand their frustration and annoyance. Keystone Phil and PBrunsel left for awhile, even though we never agree, they are smart posters and I'm glad they are back. Hopefully J-Mann, Dazzleman and others will come back too.

Part of the reason you are seeing so many leftists right now is because the Bush Administration is imploding before us and the Democrats haven't had such good luck since 1974-76. If the forum has too many "leftist hacks" (which I don't agree on), maybe its because the times they are a changing.

[Cubby]

I sent you a PM asking for your knowledge about Texas counties a few weeks ago and you just ignored me. So I tried to have the kind of conversation you say you long for, but you just don't like me for whatever reason.

That, quite frankly, is my fault.  When I saw the PM, I told myself that I was going to respond once I had some time to think about it, but afterwards I forgot.

I will respond to you tomorrow about that.  Once again, I apologize.

Okay then, no problem

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Well, first off, I would frankly tell you that there is no reason to fear right-wing Christian Southerners.  In Connecticut, gays pretty much have equal rights as straights and I can honestly tell you that right-wing Southerners have no interest in going around telling Connecticut what to do.  In return, right-wing Southerners would simply request that Connecticut not tell them what to do either.

You may point to the potential federal gay-marriage ban as right-wing Southerners telling gays what to do, but I can assure you that the ban does not stand a chance of passing unless the Supreme Court does something stupid (a la Roe v. Wade).  I suspect the Supremes have learned their lesson in this regard, as have most state courts.

Besides, the simple fact is that time is on your side.  Young people are more and more gay-friendly.  People look on gays as being abnormal less and less.  The end compromise will likely be across this country:  gays have civil unions, straights have marriage.  It may take 50 years for it to get everyplace, but that's what it is. 

The only thing that will halt this is if studies come out showing negative consequences about gays raising children, homosexual behavior in general, or the stability of gay relationships and possible effects on heterosexual relationships.  Right now, we're in such virgin territory that the answers to these questions scientifically are still not ascertained.  Give about 30-50 years, and we'll be there. (maybe less)

Besides, if you really fear certain people, you should decide to live among them.  I have spent the last 10 years of my life living in the most liberal, homosexual friendly places in the towns that I have resided (Houston, Baltimore, New York).  You learn a lot about other people when you actually talk to them. 

Good points, although its not just gay-related issues that trouble me, its their wanting to put prayer in schools, Focus on the Family having so much influence; abortion too, even though it doesn't affect me, its religious zealots telling Americans what they can and can't do with their bodies. How far they want to turn back the clock on society is the big question.

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Maybe.  But I would advise that partisan enjoyment and "yucking it up" does not necessarily create better solutions and it certainly does not create better conversation.  Besides, good times can change awful quickly, lest I remind you where we were in 2004. 

Trust me, we're not gloating, we're still getting used to being in power. 2006 was the first happy election for us since 1998, its a new feeling.