> Perhaps I wasn't clear.

> What I meant to say is that I want OlyBlog to be an alternative to the
> views that are all too often espoused and supported in the mainstream media
> environments, views that substantiate the notion that the President is
> protecting the American people from harm. When in reality, the President is
> actually enabling and creating an environment where people all around the
> world want to do harm to the "America" that we all love (albeit to varying
> degrees and in varying ways.)

> President Bush is doing harm to America.

> I don't like to see the hateful, racist rhetoric of "global police agent
> 'America'" espoused on OlyBlog. It is all too present in other places.

> That's all I am saying. I don't want to offer that view point any further
> degree of legitimacy.

> Further, I have concerns about Jeff Brigham that I am purposefully
> choosing not to discuss on this list - and that I would prefer to raise at
> an in person meeting.

> Obviously my dealings with Jeff come with a certain amount of bias. It is
> my belief that his activities are antithetical to the purposes of
> understanding and community. Jeff's apparent belief that "might makes right"
> runs counter to the vision of an intentional and inclusive community, and
> his participation is divisive and harmful to the purposes of constructive
> dialogue.

> Personally, I think these concerns are adequate to launch an investigation
> into banning in re: the OlyBlog user account of Jeff Brigham.

> Sincerely,
> Bert

> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Rob Richards <tornd...@gmail.com>
> To: olyblogdocents@googlegroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:50:16 PM
> Subject: Re: commentary, criticism, banning, etc.

> I will never support taking action against a blogger because of who they
> quote or where on the spectrum their opinions lie.  I want to make that very
> clear.  I mean it when I say I'm not biased.  I mean it and I live it.
> Disagreement is not a violation of the social contract no matter how fierce
> it is.  Abuse of others is.  JustPlnOnry is an example of someone who is
> abusive to others without contributing anything to the blog.  The Fire
> Inside is an example of someone who contributes a lot to the blog, and has
> different values than I do.  Jeff Brigham is kind of towing the line, he has
> definitely been inappropriate, but so have I, and so have you.  He also
> contributes content to the blog more than other users do.  We've always been
> forgiving of slip ups if the person is generally not abusive and contributes
> more than just comments, that's how I would describe Jeff.

> I feel that to carry the title of docent, you MUST put your personal
> beliefs aside and look only at behavior.  Perhaps what you wrote here was
> out frustration, but I feel you're, in a way, at risk of becoming what
> you're railing against.  At least that's what I'm getting out of it, I'd
> love to hear some clarification of things I may not be reading correctly.

> RR

> On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 12:36 PM, Robert Whitlock <
> robwhitlock1...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > not it - but I am in full support.

> > I am opposed to Jeff's obfuscation and abusive rhetoric and advocacy of
> > violence and militarism as a means to resolve differences.

> > For example, his signature line is a quote from President Bush. This is
> > not something that I am interested in having representation for on OlyBlog.
> > I want OlyBlog to be an alternative to the media status quo - I don't want
> > OlyBlog to be a place that facilitates acrimonious and divisive/derisive
> > debate.

> > Dialogue is good. Fierce and unreasonable disagreement is not.

> > Jeff's advocacy of the rhetoric of a war against terrorism is not
> > constructive to a dialogue that seeks understanding and nonviolent
> > solutions. The rhetoric of a war against terrorism is essentially racist and
> > classist, seeking to pit the global haves against the global have-nots.

> > We live in an age of globalism. Let's (as a nation) start acting like
> > global citizens, not global bullies!!!

> > Bert!

> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Rob Richards <tornd...@gmail.com>
> > To: olyblogdocents@googlegroups.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:27:36 PM
> > Subject: Re: commentary, criticism, banning, etc.

> > OBTW,

> > Did anyone change Jeff Brigham's status so that his comments have to be
> > moderated?  He's asking me about it and I don't anything about it.

> > RR

> > On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 12:15 PM, Rick McKinnon <
> > mckinnon.r...@comcast.net> wrote:

> > > Agree on all points.  That time and place works for me.

> > > Cheers,

> > > Rick!

> > > Robert Whitlock wrote:

> > > > Dear Docents,

> > > > I just want to add my 2¢ that I don't think it's constructive to
> > > > participate in debate over the decision to ban members based on
> > > their
> > > > demonstration of repeated abusive, disruptive, dishonest (etc.)
> > > behavior.

> > > > Also, I think it's okay to mark objectionable content as spam and
> > > > delete. For example: http://olyblog.net/so-long-chris#comment-58324

> > > > Thirdly, are we going to re-schedule a meeting for this (next)
> > > > weekend? I propose Sunday, April 27th: 10AM at B&B (Capitol Way
> > > location).

> > > > Bert!

> > > --
> > > Rick McKinnon, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
> > > Learning Specialist and Educational Liaison
> > > phone: (360) 359-2208
> > > web: rickmckinnon.com
> > > book: www.talkingwithtoddlers.org
> > > email: mckinnon.r...@comcast.net