Come: Let Us Reason Together

[Greg Montalbano]

Now that the flame wars are dying down, I would like to enter a plea for
understanding and forbearance among the members of this list.  These are
particularly tense times;  here in the US, having an imminent election
certainly isn't helping.  Frustration and rage are always just below the
surface;  it takes very little, these days, to bring it erupting to the surface.

One of the greatest strengths of this list is the diversity of the members --
I defy you to find, anywhere in the web, a list that contains a wider (or
wilder) assortment of ages, races, nationalities, educational backgrounds or
temperments:  you won't find it on the FRIENDS chat-line; you won't find it
on the GAY WEREWOLVES FOR CHRIST newslist.

You'll also be hard pressed to find a better selection of erudition than here.
I would like to propose that we all start using that quality a bit more.
I would NOT like us to agree on everything (not that we could);  I
understand that there are some issues in the world of humans that will NEVER
go away, that
DEMAND our attention, and that DESERVE to inspire our anger.  My problem is
with the way we've been dealing with those issues recently.

Let me give you an example from my life that illustrates my point perfectly
(and demonstrates that I am not the one to cast the first stone):

Affirmative action has been under fire here in California for some time;
here at the University, it has been a particularly sore subject.  A couple
of weeks ago,
as I was walking down the street one morning towards my building (your
typical corporate monolith), I spotted a rather ill-at-ease looking older
gentleman holding a sign saying something to the effect that "UC
Discriminates against white males", or some such hogwash.  Already in a
pissy mood, I ran up to my office, quickly scrawled out my own sign (which
read "this man is an ASSHOLE") and ran back downstairs, where I stood next
to him for about half an hour.
We glared;  we exchanged pithy comments, slogans, and thinly veiled insults.
Eventually we both gave up and went back to our lives.
I submit this display on my part as a perfect example of WRONG ACTION;
inspired by rage and frustration, fueled by anger, I accomplished ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING (except to provide some co-workers with a few morning giggles).  If
I had simply said "This man is WRONG", or "I am a white male, and I disagree
100%", I might have made a point without turning it into a pissing match;  I
might have engaged him in dialog, using some of the facts that I, as a
twenty year employee of the UC President's office, have acces to (eg:  the
entire black population of UC is a mere FOUR PERCENT of the undergrad class;
the "admission by execption" program -- aff act -- makes up a grand total of
only about 4.7%, not only black, but white, hispanic and other;  and that
the MAIN REASON white males are doing so poorly in UC admissions these days
is that
they are facing COMPETITION, for the first time, by women who score higher
on their S.A.T.s .... that being the MAIN criterion for admission to our
school).

I indulged myself in anger.  I accomplished nothing;  I didn't even feel better.
My rage and frustration remain;  that elderly gentlman surely hasn't changed
his mind ... since I GAVE HIM NO REASON to change it.

I guess what I'm asking you all is :  please don't be like me.  You are all
intelligent;  you all have a great gift of communicating through WORDS.        
Use it.
  
  Greg