I resemble that last remark!

Azriel, JD, class of 1980.

Very well-said. You know, it's funny, but I suggest that everyone who reads this blog try not to use a profanity the next time you get into a heated dispute with anyone. Your anger and disappointment will actually be much more clear and powerful if you DON'T call your opponent a $#**%! I once did this to a meter maid who was giving me a ticket even though I was driving away before she could even get my license plate down on her notepad. I looked at her calmly and said she was "being evil." Now realize that this woman is probably called every four-letter word in the book 10 times a day... but that comment floored her. I thought she was going to cry and believe me, she was no rookie traffic cop.

Robert, look back up at the Seraphic Secret banner. Your tagline reads: "...by blogging his way to...what?"

I've followed your writing for almost a year and never before have I seen such a flurry of comments as your Jewish Press article post received. It's floored me, just as I'm sure the volume has stunned you.

It's not just the volume, it's the array of comments, the spectrum of emotions & reactions flying across the comments forum, the array of people these comments are coming from (one can link back to those who have blogs.) I can't help but wonder if a post like this one deserves a blog of its own, far removed from the familiar Robert J. Avrech, whose writing has become part of our daily reading, whose writing has played with our feelings -- instilling smiles, loud guffaws or genuine tears.

"...by blogging his way to...what?" Well, as that Hollywood post seemed to imply: "...by blogging his way to ALL HELL BREAKING LOOSE!

Just because things get spirited doesn't mean "all hell is breaking loose."

However, I am glad Robert and Karen set things straight....at certain times, rules are a good thing.

It's a shame you had to do that, but typing online tends to loosen tongues.

I can't count the number of blogs who linked to your Jewish Press article - it's a major sensation. I hope it leads to more readers for SS and more orders for The Hebrew Kid.

Good rules to live by. Is there anyone who isn't glad they didn't go to law school?

Oh dear, I hope it wasn't me! If so, I truly apologize. If not, thank goodness. It is your blog and I think that you two should do what you feel is right and comfortable for you. I guess I should go read the uproar post?

JC: It's not you. Relax. We understand, it happens every once in a while, it slips out, gosh, you're human. This person, however, displays a pattern of vulgarity that goes way beyond the bounds of good taste.

I will blog about dirty words since it's another thing about Hollywood that absolutely drives me up a wall.

A non Israel bashing zone sounds good to me. It is refreshing.

There is a time and place for profanity, but it is best used sparingly, and reserved for very special occasions when it is really appropriate. I don't regret using it here for instance. But it is completely out of place on this blog, which is a warm, friendly place.

Er, I mean here

I was delighted to see your JP article reprinted at Frontpage Magazine. David and crew definitely recognize quality when they see it!

Sounds reasonable to me.

Robert, I tried to email you the following letter, but it keeps getting returned to me. What am I doing wrong?

Dear Robert,
I just wanted to let you know that I read your latest article and found it to be magnificent! You are the one hope for Hollywood, which I despise. But if you are there, there's still a molecule of decency there. I will thank God tonight that you are on earth with us.

I am sending you my latest article. I write unabashedly anti-Islam, pro-Israel, pro-America, pro-Man articles. Like you, finding publishers for pro-soldier books is impossible. I won't go into detail, but I've been trying to get a book published for 15 years about my dad's best friend, who died in the Korean War for the friends he loved. I've been told repeatedly that "men in war are not heroes, they are rapists and murderers, and everyone knows that." I told them I'd do it myself. But I have yet to find a financial backer, so for now, they win.

I am hoping to attend my friend Jeffrey Epsteins Islamic Symposium in September. Please try to attend; you can find the information at www.peoplestruthforum.com.

Keep the faith, bro, and in all things courage.

--
Resa LaRu Kirkland--Columnist/Writer/Speaker/Military Historian/The Anti-Feminist!
Agree with AMERICA'S WAR CHICK at: http://www.warchick.com
Hippies, commies, and femmies opinions altered here!!
Kim Jong Il, you're going down! Arafat, How's Hell??!
POW/MIA: Bring them home or send us back!

Robert, What is meant by "bashing Israel"?

Was the anti - disengagement groups not bashing the Prime Minister, and Israeli Democracy, as flawed as it may be?

It is OK, I have no problem w/ the aim, which is to create a private not a public park. A gated park.
Altho I would love to see a situation where the most rabid Anti Israel leftists or rightists for the matter, would have their arguments refuted, except that it is extremely difficult to argue Israel's position in the sense that warts and all will have to come out. Perhaps this is a situation unique to one who feels a special attachment to Israel by that I mean, one who has rights in the sense that he can move there in a matter of a couple of weeks if he decided.

I just never see a sufficient intellectual response to those who wish Israel harm and use the message boards to attempt to convince others.

I stand with Israel. The enemies of Israel have enough media on their side. You cannot reason with Islam or communism...so we don't need them here. Emotional hysteria is their only weapon, and being a woman, I get enough of that kind of thinking. I crave the logical sequences. That is why I'm on the side of Israel. Israel is right, and we should stop holding them back.

All right, but there is no harm in studying the issues, even if at the end of the day, you will continue to stand w/ Israel, no matter what. For example, many times I have seen alot of these anti Israel bashers claim that Israel started the 1967 war. Many are unaware that Egypt started a blockage of Israeli waters which is a recognized act of war. I never would have thought this possible had I not debated on various message boards the overall issue.

10 mill being spent on Gaza celebrations, this is horrible too.

10 million? Man they stink.

Debate isn't the problem...the problem is liberals. They don't use logic or reason, so you can't have a good, civilized, or intelligent debate. They know that all they have is emotion, which they use to disarm the brain.

I had a history teacher in high school who told me that Israel had started the 1967 war. Ghastly.

Resa, What you say about liberals it comes out, that you are superior to them. The issues vary.
I don't personally believe in these labels, that defines the American political climate. The mind set is that you cannot think for yourself, you must follow the other conservatives. It's amazing and depressing to me.

The main issue today that divides people I feel is the Iraq war. But now it boils down to, do you support an immediate pullout, or by what near future date? This makes you a far out liberal if you do. Personally, I do not think this would be a wise course, but I can understand the position. Alot depends on how you understand what the insurgency is. There are many views but i think it is hard to sit in the USA and really understand this situation there. What we are seeing tho, is that it is still a bad mess there in terms of lack of stability and many attacks. But what is the goal? The goal is to install order and a democratic government. The problem for me is that I had this situtation imposed upon me and now for saving US face I logically support a normal conclusion, unless we are X number of years down the road w/ no change in the current mess. So that is why it is an emotional issue for some.
But what of other issues to do you refer to?
There is an extreme right as well, but they don't get covered that much, as much as Babs and her pals. This could be due to her recognizability factor. She will help sell. In general, these media outlets must sell air time, so if they build into the system many movie stars, look people love movies after all. Personally I don't go to them, not so much for religious reasons, I am not that religious, I really mean the word Hashkafic, which requires a translation, one could say I am Hashkafically frum, but practically, I am going to be working some on Shabbos soon, and I currently do travel a bit on this day. I mean a quality film I will enjoy, but the effort to see something comse comsa, is not worth it to me anymore. But you have right wing people who bomb abortion clinics, and who harrass, young teenagers isn't this cruel, she is going through hell, and some men have nothing better to do than to make it worse for her. So she should have the baby and ruin her life. Well there we go another can of worms.

I still don't get the anger that conservatives such as I am seeing on this blog have against people who have different thoughts.

Also in terms of the Jewish faith and orthodoxy which Robert is, I still don't see how rabid gung ho capitalism meshes w/a Jewish society that forbade rich people from bringing sympathy food baskets on elaborate gold and silver platters, while the poor brought the food in wicker baskets, and felt belittled. so a religious edict was made, no fancy platters. Or the girls on TU B'Av who all dressed in white so as not to shame the poor girls. How is capitalism expressed in these actions? Capitalism wouldn't give a damn about anyone's feelings, cap. would say, get over yourself I work hard.
There are many more such examples. Perhaps someone out there has a clue.

>>But now it boils down to, do you support an immediate pullout, or by what near future date?

It is 1943. We have been in the war two years now. Do we support immediate pullout, or set a date by which we exit no matter what?

What would you have said? I mean, we were losing FAR more men in WWII than now.

We have learned nothing about appeasement...evil can NEVER ever EVER be appeased, only destroyed. There is no time line on killing evil, only determination and vigilance. It will end when the wicked leaders are no more, and not a moment before that if we are wise.

Resa, As an American, I am not convinced that Saddam was a threat to US soil or interests. He was an ugly vile person, and there are many such dictators in the world, unfortunately we cannot
depose them all.

So why him? And why only him? Hitler was a threat to world order. Here the cost to take him out because he is a nasty dictator is too great. I do hope that it turns out good for the Iraqis, but I am concerned about the prospects of civil war there.

Resa, perhaps you could answer a question I asked in a previous post, the topic interests me greatly. You had stated that liberals are emotional and unable to discuss issues logically. What is this list of issues that you feel there is 2 such clearly defined points of view on?
I would like to cover everything or as much as possible.

I guess I can start. These are just some of the issues that strike me at most discussed. I am leaving out generic terms like Family Values.

1. Abortion. If ever allowed, when.
2. Death Penalty. Should it be used, when, why not.
3. Patriot act. Attack on personal American rights or not applicable to war time.
4. Iraq war, pro, con. Troops: Out now, out in 6-12mo, etc...
5. Gun laws.
6. Gay Marriage. Full, partial, never.
7. Enviroment. Mandate cleanup, leave alone.

What issue(s) do you feel the liberal position is lacking on facts, but is illogical?

I am speaking as one who takes a conservative position on some issue, but not all.

One thing we have to hand our (Robert's and mine) friend Levi -- an odd and somewhat disreputable character in the Pico/Robertson area -- he never uses even slightly salty language. And if I get careless and do so myself when there's a small child nearby, like at Starbucks, he makes polite shushing sounds.

I sometimes think I should ban people on my own blog for using certain words, but then I think, oh, what the heck. I'm probably too easy. But I did ban one guy for profanity. The only other person I ever banned was the psycho ex-teacher of my daughter's. That was for cyber-stalking, not profanity.

Cathy:

Karen and I don't use profanity in out home, or when we speak to each other. Seraphic Secret is an extention of that home. Maybe we're too rigid, but I don't think so. Thanks for visiting.