OK, I have learned from the feedback, as well as other sources and am radically altering this diary in hopes of better communicating what I feel to be my underlying message.
It is clear that progress has been made through our truth-telling, and I would like to see this trend of our increasing effectiveness to continue. Imo we can benefit from moving beyond a psychology of "winning arguments against right wingers", and begin to genuinely dedicate ourselves to communicating universal values in such a way that all or most of those who hear may begin to see some light, without feeling that they are being disrespected or despised because of cultural differences, a lot of it having simply to do with the role models surrounding an individual from childhood to early adolescence. To be truly effective in this "peaceful war" for the "truth as we know it", supporting rational and humane policies, we need to see beyond our own cultural limitations, our own bs, our own dogma, even, to embrace a broader agenda of treating each person as a brother or sister no matter what they say, and even some tolerance for what they do. These are the teachings of Gandhi and Jesus, which I have yet to see surpassed. Which isn't to say that we put up with bs or lies, but that we understand that fear & lies are more of a disease, and that in compassionate reason we truly make an impact on the flock. If we can bring light and truth into the heart of even one person in this confused nation, in the course of a lifetime, we can count ourselves victorious in all that is all that is really required of us. This isn't touchy-feely hippie new age naivete, but the truth of what works in discourse and society. Unfortunately, we are often so blinded and overstimulated by an incredibly materialistic media, that we forget that there is an actual truth available to us all...we can find evidence of it in family relations, true friendships, and the highest religious and spiritual works and activities.
Admittedly this is all quite abstract, and I know that in order to really convince anyone on this side of the wall, I will have to be more specific, to demonstrate my beliefs and philosophy in word and deed.
In the meantime, I'd like to simply draw your attention to a truth teller of centuries past, whose writings on slavery in the days of British Empire I find amazingly pertinent today. Taking into account his own cultural biases and those of the day, he seems to be a pretty good model for what I'm espousing, at least in this literary document:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/...