Comments on: Mere words? Mere common ground? http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ThurmanHart http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground/comment-page-1#comment-3179 ThurmanHart Wed, 20 May 2009 20:42:24 +0000 http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground#comment-3179 Thanks for the comment, Erin.<br><br>I appreciate your point of view, and I'm all for continuing outreach efforts. But I think we have to make clear who we are reaching out to. The extreme fundamentalists that I know, and have had many discussions with, are not going to be interested in distributing condoms, even discussing sex outside of marriage, or adopting as a means of reducing abortion. There are, however, a wide range of people that fall short of that level, to varying degrees, that will find different stretches of common ground with us. <br><br>In short, the people protesting against Obama being at ND are not going to find common ground with anyone. That's why they are such a distinct minority. While we can remain civil with them (until we reach the end of our patience) we shouldn't expect them to change too much. Thanks for the comment, Erin.

I appreciate your point of view, and I'm all for continuing outreach efforts. But I think we have to make clear who we are reaching out to. The extreme fundamentalists that I know, and have had many discussions with, are not going to be interested in distributing condoms, even discussing sex outside of marriage, or adopting as a means of reducing abortion. There are, however, a wide range of people that fall short of that level, to varying degrees, that will find different stretches of common ground with us.

In short, the people protesting against Obama being at ND are not going to find common ground with anyone. That's why they are such a distinct minority. While we can remain civil with them (until we reach the end of our patience) we shouldn't expect them to change too much.

]]> By: ThurmanHart http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground/comment-page-1#comment-2824 ThurmanHart Wed, 20 May 2009 14:42:24 +0000 http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground#comment-2824 Thanks for the comment, Erin.<br><br>I appreciate your point of view, and I'm all for continuing outreach efforts. But I think we have to make clear who we are reaching out to. The extreme fundamentalists that I know, and have had many discussions with, are not going to be interested in distributing condoms, even discussing sex outside of marriage, or adopting as a means of reducing abortion. There are, however, a wide range of people that fall short of that level, to varying degrees, that will find different stretches of common ground with us. <br><br>In short, the people protesting against Obama being at ND are not going to find common ground with anyone. That's why they are such a distinct minority. While we can remain civil with them (until we reach the end of our patience) we shouldn't expect them to change too much. Thanks for the comment, Erin.

I appreciate your point of view, and I'm all for continuing outreach efforts. But I think we have to make clear who we are reaching out to. The extreme fundamentalists that I know, and have had many discussions with, are not going to be interested in distributing condoms, even discussing sex outside of marriage, or adopting as a means of reducing abortion. There are, however, a wide range of people that fall short of that level, to varying degrees, that will find different stretches of common ground with us.

In short, the people protesting against Obama being at ND are not going to find common ground with anyone. That's why they are such a distinct minority. While we can remain civil with them (until we reach the end of our patience) we shouldn't expect them to change too much.

]]> By: Erin Kotecki Vest http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground/comment-page-1#comment-2821 Erin Kotecki Vest Tue, 19 May 2009 13:30:16 +0000 http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/2009/05/19/mere-words-mere-common-ground#comment-2821 I appreciate you writing this post. But disagree with many of the things you say (of course). First of all I think it's important to point out that I also think everyone else should be OUT of the debate. Just as you and your wife and health care provider had made the decision, and you and your daughter did, the last people I want in that conversation are judges, lawyers, activist, or the government. <br><br>I do take issue with the idea that we can't find common ground on reducing abortions and on adoption. Access to health care is of course key, but so is real sex education. Which is PROVEN to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. And while there may be many couples willing to adopt, many of our children remain in the foster system and stuck in red tape for too long. <br><br>I don't ever believe common ground is possible on abortion. It's the issues surrounding abortion I think we can work on. I appreciate you writing this post. But disagree with many of the things you say (of course). First of all I think it's important to point out that I also think everyone else should be OUT of the debate. Just as you and your wife and health care provider had made the decision, and you and your daughter did, the last people I want in that conversation are judges, lawyers, activist, or the government.

I do take issue with the idea that we can't find common ground on reducing abortions and on adoption. Access to health care is of course key, but so is real sex education. Which is PROVEN to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. And while there may be many couples willing to adopt, many of our children remain in the foster system and stuck in red tape for too long.

I don't ever believe common ground is possible on abortion. It's the issues surrounding abortion I think we can work on.

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