A gentle suggestion

I think you are also right on Mike. I have not got involved in any of that stuff for this
very reason. I also don't think it is the place for it. Politics & Religion can get anyone
into trouble (including seeing Married Men) So been there done that & was not going
to open up any more bad feelings over any of this by dsying something that would P***
someone off.
Thanks for your post Mikey.
Ladybug Marilyn

Mike, I'm writing this without having read any of the other responses - will take that time in a moment but wanted to tell you this - I'm sorry. It occurred to me what happened yesterday was this - you took the time to write this very thoughtful, important post - a post that surely must have been difficult for you given the sensitivity of the subject matter. I in return responded in a rather flippant (tried to be humorous) way - in no way was my intention disrespectful or sarcastic - but flippant, yes, in my own attempt to lighten the mood, I suppose. I'm not going to justify my response post to you - I only want to say I'm sorry - and to ask that you accept my apology - will you do that? Maureen

And my passion on this subject is rooted in my own personal belief that this is the most important election in at least my life time - I am terrified for my kids, your kids, shoot - I'm just plain terrified. But Mike is right, I'll take full responsibility to say I got carried away on this board - so no more! I'll put my energies back where they belong ... posting on topics that matter to us all, keeping us all healthy and happy in our WLS journeys - I hope you will all forgive me!! Love, Maureen

Hey Partner;

I'm not going to forgive you for the simple reason that there is NOTHING TO FORGIVE!!!!  We had a misunderstanding......nothing more. I was concerned because it seemed to me that a lot of regulars on this board were being very quiet throughout this political thread and I was concerned that some of us might be alienated by it. As Marilyn so wisely reminded us......Politics and Religion are very sensitive subjects. Let's face it..... with the exception of economics (need for natural resources etc.), most wars have their genesis in Politics and Religion!!

As I stated in my original post, I'm not trying to stifle Off-Topic discussion. I just want everyone to consider the "Other side of the fence" and remember that other people's opinions are just as valid as our own. So please, Maureen (and everyone else too), don't limit yourself to health issues, just be mindful of the toes you may unintentionally step on when discussing hot button issues!

Like you, I consider us a large family. Unfortunately, we are  not able to sit around a big dining table and argue, yell, laugh, and cry together. If we could, we could read facial expressions and body language and know when someone is serious or just "pulling our chain".

Well, I guess I stirred up a little more trouble than I expected with this post, but let me conclude by saying that I love you all lots and hope that like a family, we can disagree and still remain a family.

Mike

I tried to sit on my hands to keep from typing any more posts (sort of like trying to keep my mouth shut!!!)  but can I just say one more thing? This whole thread has me thinking about two totally different families in films - "Ordinary People" way back from the early 80s, Mary Tyler Moore played the mother, Timothy Hutton the really messed up son; and "Moonstruck" with Cher as the adult female protagonist, and Olympia Dukakas, the matriarch head of this kookie Brooklyn based Italian family. In "Ordinary People" they never talked to each other; they sat at the dinner table, and went through the motions, polite, using all the right forks and knives, napkins, knew when to ask to be excused, never ventured into complicated, potentially combustable conversations. Everything was Safe. And they were all dying on the inside. Timothy Hutton's teenage character was suicidal. In "Moonstruck" they all talked over one another, very loud and boisterous and opinionated and they hurt each other's feelings and stepped on each other's toes (literally and figuratively) and got furious with one another and seemed to always manage to move on - maybe not always kiss and make up - but move on. They didn't always agree but they always liked - if not loved -each other. I like to think we're this kind of family together, and this thread about politics led me to this conclusion. Ok, I'm done, I really, really am!  Except to say one more final, final thing.  IT'S ALL CONNIE'S FAULT!!! And because you couldn't see my face when I typed that ...