Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!

One of the funniest posts around here in some time.

I don’t know why you can’t log on to my site to comment. First time I’ve heard of that problem. So for the rest of you, let me apologize for commenting about my work on this site, but it seems this is the only way I can respond to Karen’s comment.

You are correct in what you say, Karen, in that I shouldn’t blame myself for what happened. My mind knows that, but my emotions tell a different story. Grief does that, especially with suicide. The anniversary has just passed so all sorts of emotions came back. That’s why I got caught up in the depression. But the sun always comes up tomorrow so, like David said in Psalms, “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Good advice there. And that Essay was a great purging of my grief so I know I’m already on my way out of the “anniversary” depression, taking better care of myself, laughing a whole lot more, hanging out with friends, &c.

I debated for quite some time if I wanted to publish that Essay, but eventually I realized that…Well, I’m hoping that maybe it will help others see what suicide does to those left behind.

Thanks for your concern, Karen. It is greatly appreciated.

My particular sympathies over the loss of your friend. (((

One thing I noticed is that at one point in your essay you try to persuade some others not to blame themselves for the terrible things that have happened but that are out of their control. But then you turn around and seemingly blame yourself in some part for the suicide of your friend.

I think you should take your own advice. You provided a safe space where she could talk about her past, and it sounds like that was something rare in her life. You were also there for her whenever you could be. None of us can expect to do more than is possible for us, and it sounds from your story that you did your best.

Please do not blame yourself or beat yourself up, NorEaster. What has happened, has happened, and letting your own life be consumed by grief and blame simply won’t undo the past. Your description of your own situation is worrisome. It sounds to me like you are in a serious depression. Please seek out some professional help.

I saw your statement and I simply disagree. You said:

“Where we must draw the line is where one belief affects the rights of one person or group of people”

Okay, so what about the person who believes that invisible unicorns live in the forests of Borneo? What about the person who believes that crystals contain special energy and healing power? Or that vortexes exist in “sacred” parts of the earth where the mystical world intersects with the physical world?

Technically, these beliefs don’t seem to deprive any individual or group of any particular rights. Are you saying that I have to respect these beliefs, despite their obvious silliness and completely arbitrary nature?

I think you’re saying that if it doesn’t hurt someone, we need to respect it. No thanks, not for me. As I said above, I will defend the free speech right to express even a belief that is objectionable to me, but I don’t feel any obligation whatsoever to respect a belief that is blatantly ridiculous just because someone holds that belief dearly.

“Where we must draw the line is where one belief affects the rights of one person or group of people”

I agree you shouldn’t respect racist’s views because, as I said, these views affect the rights of one person or group of people.

I don’t respect neo-Nazi’s views, nor did I state that I do.

Apart from taking a few sentences in isolation and running with them, did you agree or disagree with the rest of my comment?

No, you have to respect a belief simply because it’s a belief. If a belief is treated as fact, and no other beliefs are tolerated then that is unacceptable.

You must respect other people’s beliefs, whatever and however extreme they may sound.

Sorry, but – no. I don’t have to “respect” the belief that black-skinned people are inferior and sub-human. I don’t have to “respect” the belief that disabled people committed bad acts in a previous life and are being punished in this world by god so they shouldn’t be helped to find cures.

Not only do I disrespect those beliefs, I abhor them and I hope that all decent, thinking people would do the same.

I think what you’re doing here is leaving out an important distinction between “tolerance” and “respect.” Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This becomes a freedom of expression issue. Do we hate it when neo-Nazis want to march with their message of anti-Semitism and racism on Martin Luther King day? Of course, we do. We don’t respect their beliefs.

But if we are supporters of the First Amendment, we can’t censor their right to express their beliefs, no matter how abhorrent they are. Of course, we may feel a responsibility to counter their arguments and educate people about how wrong they are, but if we believe in free speech we support their right to march.