This morning, I lit up my Facebook timeline and my conservative friends when I posted this simple and (I think) discussion-worthy question:
The responses and discussion is heated, and that’s OK. But a lifelong friend (a guy I grew up with) came into my inbox. Here’s the conversation. I have, of course, redacted his name and photo. I’ll be more respectful to him than he was to me.
My readers and my friends know I’m a Christian Lefter. Let me be clear: nothing will ever change that. I’m a person of faith and I have a right to that. I fully EXPECT you to be as protective of my right (to believe as I choose) as I am of yours (to believe as you choose).
I also have a right to question people who use their own faith to try to violate MY rights.
I wrote an article a while back that went a bit viral. In that article, I laid out in detail why I no longer have discussions with my conservative friends and family. I think this incident clearly illustrates why.
I’ll miss you, Glenn. You are usually thoughtful and intelligent. And witty and sharp as hell. But I won’t let you disrespect me that way. I’d not (and have never) come into your inbox and treat you that way.
No, that’s not him in the photo. Just a photo of me at that age with another old friend. He won’t mind me using it. I don’t have one of me and Glenn. I guess I’ll see him in my old yearbooks.
