Stile writes:
And I respect...
...and defend .... everyone's ability to pontificate about anything. I think it's important.
Two different concepts.
Sure defend the right to say stupid things. But as far as I'm concerned there no right - or need - to respect either the words or the person saying them.
Notice the difference - here you are disrespecting the ideas that Faith is discussing.
But the line I picked out from Phat's post was accusing Faith of "falling for" her beliefs - that is, it was disrespecting Faith herself for holding beliefs.
I disagree, the words spoken are not independent of the speaker.
It's not possible to respect the speaker of words you find offensive, dangerous stupid or all three. You might respect his right to say them - whilst holding your nose - but you can't dissociate them from the speaker.
Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
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