The post below refers to the discussion of the Military Commissions Act as a sparring match, but calling it a civil exchange comes closer to the literal truth. By now the notion that the blogosphere is filled with nothing but bilious tirades, vituperative name-calling, and scurrilous rumor has seeped into the national drinking water (to borrow a phrase from Jim Comey). But as the exchange with Rob from Say Anything shows, it’s still possible to disagree in cyberspace about some fairly profound questions without descending to the level of brutes (or trolls, as they’re generally called in blog vernacular). The unfiltered nature of the medium lets more people have a say, and some of them need to be pitied more than listened to. But as Rob’s version of the Serenity Prayer says:

Grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

It’s a good way to be.

Sometimes an ungent political passion skirts vituperation. If we feel things too strongly or with too much frustration, its easy to get carried away without realizing it. Forgive me if I do so, and believe that it is not for the purpose of stiring things up or hurting anyones feelings.

To be honest with you, I totally ripped that prayer thing off from Little Green Footballs.  But it’s still good advice.

I’m not always able to follow it myself.  I get a little frustrated at times.  As I’m sure you’re aware, when you’re exposing yourself and your opinions to an anonymous public every day you have to have a thick skin...but sometimes mine isn’t quite thick enough.

I do try though.

And I was actually thinking last night that I should do a post like this to point out to everyone that it is possible to disagree with certain points having to do with the war on terror without needing to get nasty.

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