Re: inclusion

["Ted Moffett" <ted_moffett@hotmail.com>]

Visionaries:

This post by Mr. Westberg (re-posted below) posed an interesting question to 
a vision2020 participant who has asserted that so called "liberals" practice 
exclusionary tactics towards certain viewpoints.  Noting how willing a 
person is to accept friends and associates with widely varying viewpoints 
does seem a relevant indicator of how much, at least on a personal level, 
someone does follow what they preach on the exclusion or inclusion of others 
who disagree with them.  I realize this question skirts the boundaries of an 
argument ad hominem approach to this issue, but part of this issue IS 
personal conduct in the political arena by individuals who represent groups 
in Moscow, either "liberal" or "conservative."  If someone passes judgment 
on certain groups in Moscow that they are "exclusionary" while engaging in 
similar tactics .... well, I'll let the reader draw whatever conclusion they 
wish.

Ted

>From: "Carl Westberg" <carlwestberg846@hotmail.com>
>To: Vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: inclusion
>Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 08:04:08 -0700
>
>
>Last night on the News Hour on PBS, there was a segment about two academics 
>with dichotomously opposing viewpoints on the stock market, and how to 
>invest in it.  Both have best selling books,with totally different ideas, 
>yet rather than being at each others throats, they are the best of friends, 
>and have been for 35 years.  I realized while watching that I, an agnostic 
>liberal, have made and maintained friendships with conservative Republican 
>Mormons, Catholics, atheists, Jews, and possibly people who believe that 
>God is made of pepperjack cheese and lives on the moon.
>                                                                          
>Yesterday, Doug Wilson made a comment about "university town liberalism and 
>provincialism" or some such twaddle.  This leads to a question.  Doug, 
>among your circle of friends, do you have any that do not cleave to your 
>religious or policical views?  Or do they have to pass a litmus test before 
>being included in such a no doubt exquisite group?  I rather think they do. 
>  Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I'm right about this, what right have you 
>to accuse others of exclusion?                                              
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
>            Carl Westberg Jr.
>
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