As you have, no doubt, already discovered, this blog is not intended to be confrontational or controversial.  It seems to me, however, that it is not possible to deal with this subject matter without some controversy.  The result may be that some will find offense and some may be inclined to attack.  Please resist the temptation.  I seek open, honest discussion of the hard questions that we all face from time to time.  Shouting at each other, hurling epithets and engaging in ad hominems is not conducive to open discussion.

I will allow a great deal of freedom in the comments but there must, of necessity, be at least a few rules.

1.  You must register to comment on this blog.  I am the only person who will ever see your registration.  I will not use your email address or other personal information for anything unrelated to this blog.  Your information will never be sold, rented or otherwise use to market anything to you.  It will only be used to administer this site and contact you should there be a problem with a comment you make here.

2. Please refrain from excessive profanity.  While I recognize that the subject matter will evoke passion, it should be possible to express that passion without resorting to a myriad of objectionable terms and phrases.  Try to speak as if you were doing so in front of a room full of people you respect and whose respect you would like for yourself.

3.  Try to stick to the subject.  This is not a political forum.  Politics will inevitable enter the conversation but this is not the place to castigate parties, candidates or elected officials.  I am as prone as anyone (see Ron’s Musings) to engage in that but this is the wrong forum.

4.  Try not to take offense or be offensive.  Again, passions will be aroused with this subject matter.  But because you disagree with something I or someone else says is not a reason to resort to personal attacks.  Indeed, when you resort to ad hominems you leave the impression that you have no argument against the point your opponent has taken so you are left with a personal attack.  If you have an argument, please present it.  If you don’t have an argument, consider keeping quiet until you do.

5.  By commenting on this forum you give you explicit consent to allow me to use, edit or delete those comments.  While you retain ownership of what you write, the act of writing it here gives me an unlimited license to use what you write.  If you can’t agree to that, refrain from commenting here.

6.  Finally, I am the final arbiter of what is appropriate and what is not.  If I decide that your comment needs to be edited or deleted I will notify you of that fact.  If anyone refuses to abide by these simple rules I will ultimately ban you from further comments.  I don’t not anticipate ever having to take such action but I retain the right to do so should I find it necessary.