An olive branch?

Last week, I wrote about one of my most faithful readers, Jim Martin of Fried Green Onions, who frequently attacked some of my posts both in comments on this blog and in commentary on his own blog. While I welcome passionate debate about any given issue, I took issue with the manner in which he disagreed, especially the prevalence of vitriolic ad hominem attacks and extremely personal aspersions.

Yesterday, Mr. Martin seemed to offer an olive branch of sorts with this post:

Yes I am a daily reader of the Brad Neese…living large in Oklahoma site

I find Brad to be the most articulate spokesperson in Oklahoma blogging for his current view of things politic.
I think he will go far in liberal progressive circles.
The vast divide that separates us can be measured in years (perhaps 40 years between us). The vast difference between those reared in Tiny Town or Urban Utopia could figure in to the equation.
Brad really believes almost opposite to the views I hold. Unlike the other liberal bloggers I run across he appears to have no personal axe to grind other than his belief system.
I count him along with Oklahoma Lefty as a Worthy Adversary.
God bless and keep our country free!

I am grateful for his kind remarks. I certainly welcome respectful, reasoned discourse and disagreement about the issues we face here in Oklahoma, in our nation and in the world. It is indeed possible to have a great divide in political positions and yet respect and even admire our political opponents. And it is possible to have honest disagreement without making it a bitter war filled with animus, insults and slanderous insults. I would hope that we can have this type of dialogue here in the Oklahoma blogosphere as well as the American and worldwide blogospheres.

For the record, I do want to respond to a few of Mr. Martin’s comments in his blog post to help clarify my position.

1. While I will not deny that many will classify my views as liberal and/or progressive, I do not allow that label to define me. I am a radical Independent. I have no allegiance to any political party or any ideological movement. My only allegiance is to my faith in Jesus Christ and to his principles. I love this country, but I do not swear or affirm a blind allegiance to it. Where it is wrong and conflicts with the ideals of my faith and beliefs, I will criticize and oppose it. I am a fierce defender of the First Amendment and I strongly believe in honest dissent. I hold each and every administration accountable for its actions, regardless of whether its Republican or Democrat. While I supported Barack Obama in this most recent election, that will not preclude me from holding him to the same standards I have held the current occupant of the White House and its previous occupants.
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   Social justice is a fundamental plank in my personal political platform, which I firmly believe reflects the ministry and teachings of Jesus. This guides my views on politics and government policies. If that makes me a liberal or progressive, so be it. But I certainly have no aspirations to “go far in liberal progressive circles.” I simply want to be a voice in the overall discourse. Whether anyone listens or cares is entirely out of my hands.
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2. I will agree that there is a great age difference between Mr. Martin and myself (although it’s measurably less than 40 years), however I don’t think this alone accounts for our “vast divide” in viewpoints. I have several friends of similar (and some even greater) age whose viewpoints are not so dissimilar from my own.
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3. Similarly, I don’t believe our “vast difference” comes from where we were reared. Unlike Mr. Martin’s assumption, I spent more time living in one “Tiny Town” or another than I have in “Urban Utopia.” While it is true that I have spent the last 15 or so years living in the greater Oklahoma City metro area (including living in Norman, Oklahoma City proper and Edmond), I was raised most of my young life in rural areas and small towns, from South Carolina to Kansas to Illinois to Indiana to southwest Oklahoma. My grandparents were farmers in Illinois, so I’m certainly not unaccustomed to “Rural America” — or as Sarah Palin calls it, “Real” America. I understand rural/small town values and issues. The reality is that my social justice beliefs were shaped as much by these experiences and values as they were by my “Urban Utopia” experiences.
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In an upcoming post, whether later today or later this week, I’ll expand even more about my background so that readers will possibly better understand where I’ve come from and who I am today.

But for now, I sincerely appreciate Mr. Martin’s gesture and goodwill in his post. I look forward to more spirited discussions in the future. “God bless and keep our country free!” Indeed!