I don't think anyone called another poster ignorant, I believe the deli owner was called ignorant?

I removed my response because I refuse to be drug into the same semantics argument with the same people.

__________________

I was actually being sarcastic, which I know it can not be conveyed in the written word. I was saying it tongue in cheek. I was in no way trying to argue with you or anyone else.

My comment wasn't directed at you, it was directed at the person who insists it's not insulting to call people ignorant. I give up!!

__________________

um, yep, someone did. I don't agree with calling anyone on here ignorant, but I see her point about the sign. It saddens me that so many think it is okay.

Um, yeah, she called me ignorant and that is okay, I understand that we need to agree to disagree, which is fine. I was trying to stick to the topic at hand the best I could, there are ALWAYS two sides to this debate. Doesn't mean that either side is right or wrong. If someone chooses to make a thread bigger than what it is, so be it, but don't call others ignorant for having a different opinion.

I find it amazing that the one person who has started several threads..."hey where are the big debates today, I am bored"..or whatever....has the gall to sit in threads like this and debate away, and call people on the opposing side, ignorant. Doesn't seem right. But whatever, this is a public board, and everyone is entitled to their opinions, or so it is supposed to be, right?

I still stand by every word I typed in this thread as my opinion, and my opinion only. I never said it was right, or that anyone had to agree with it.

And the only reason why I am posting this morning as opposed to yesterday, was to 1) walk away from this for a little while and 2) because my DS hurt his ankle at school yesterday afternoon and I had to take him to the Dr, to make sure it wasn't broken.

__________________
I've grown certain that the root of all fear is that we've been forced to deny who we are. ~ Frances Moore Lappe

Hey - wow. Didn't know you had "passive aggressive" in you.

I used the word "ignorant" to make my point and, again, it was missed. First off, I won't bother with semantics w/ Aliadam because I used it here for an entirely different reason than when I used it a few months back which resulted in that huge discussion on the word "ignorant". I used it here because several people keep making the same points, pointing to some minor aspects of the issue, while repeatedly ignoring the larger picture argument I've made more than once. It's like there is a major forest fire and some folks are simply talking about the lack of fall foliage.

I also don't see how my occasionally putting out a fun email along the lines of "I'm bored/let's talk about something interesting" has anything to do with my "having the gall to debate" when there is a debate. And Bucnspats, some aspects of what you and the others are saying I agree with 100%, it is the failure of you and the others to even acknowledge the bigger picture argument I've put forth that I find....."lacking", if I don't use the "i" word. Seriously, it's tiring to debate with people who don't seem to appreciate the issue or the arguments put forth.

Why keep pointing out "hey - it's his business - eat somewhere else." Does no one see the progession of allowing something like this highly offensive and discriminatory sign leading to signs banning people of certain faiths, "no children allowed", no blacks, no handicapped. The idea that people on this thread are not at all acknowledging that, but keep picking up on tiny aspects of the various threads is what is pissing me off. I remember a while back there was a restaurant that put up a sign saying poorly behaved kids were not allowed and the folks on this board were VERY ticked off. You'll get all defensive if YOUR kid was not allowed in a restaurant but a different class of people - immigrants who haven't learned the language yet - they are fair game. I think that's highly arrogant of Americans.

__________________

Bucs & I were able to play nicely off-line. She knows I was not calling HER ignorant, but was just frustrated that no one was addressing the core of my comments, but just side stuff. She's acknowledged that she DID understand and appreciate my argument, but felt it was a bigger topic than the topic at hand and should perhaps be it's own thread. We both agree we're smarter than a 5th grader. And, just to be clear, I do NOT think she is passive-aggressive. She might have been aiming at me with both guns, but that's just playing smart, as far as I'm concerned.

__________________

Thanks Calimari, I hate that term "passive aggressive". Since it has more than one meaning.

I have been gone most of the day today, and didn't see another thread that was started so I will share some of the things I said off-line.

I chose not to address the bigger issues, because we are not there yet. I do hear what she is saying, I do. Where will the line be drawn??

There are too many gray areas as we develop more and more as the "melting pot" of the world.

For instance, I agree with NO Smoking in restaurants, yes they (smokers) have a right to smoke, but don't we (non-smokers) have a right to not inhale second hand smoke?? (went with an issue that won't cause a HUGE debate )

I just think there are two sides to a LOT of things, and when one person "wins" someone else loses. If one person gets a "right", someone else suffers....and that is sad. It is sad that we can't respect each other (society that is).

So, there are problems that go WAY beyond what the government wants, or what business owners want...and EVERY situation is unique. How can you make a "law" that will encompass everything??

__________________
I've grown certain that the root of all fear is that we've been forced to deny who we are. ~ Frances Moore Lappe

I see this every day. I live in Puerto Rico and we have lots of people that move in from the US and somehow if we cant understand us they seem to think its our fault. They go into our stores speaking English and expect everyone to understand them because they assume that we have to know their language. But still most make absolutely no effort to learn Spanish.

[edited to add]

BTW when the US invaded Puerto Rico and took it away from Spain everyone here spoke spanish, but they tried to impose English as the official language. By the logistics of some posters, shouldn't they have learned to speak spanish if they wanted to live or own a spanish speaking island?

__________________