I could explain why I am not replying to Shetterly's comments

[james_davis_nicoll]

But frankly coffeeandink did it better than I could.

sparkymonster's contribution is also of note

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

People are more complex than you think they are, and many of the things you cast as opposites are not actually in conflict.

Moreover, even when they are in conflict, they coexist in myriad ways for miscellaneous values of coexist: we live in a paradoxical universe, and are multifaceted, and changing constantly (including both progress, and backsliding). One can be of two minds about something, else what is cognitive dissonance for?

For example, trivial exercises in research will turn up racist things said by Lincoln. Which "proves" Lincoln was as racist as his times, nothing more -- but if you have an axe to grind, it is easily misrepresented ...

And so on.

So, yeah -- what you said.

TSM_in_Toronto