slade7 - 10:15 pm on Dec 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

Everyone is a zealot or fanatic to someone... if you aren't, either you don't believe in anything very sincerely or you refuse to continue to believe in it when becomes unpopular to do so.

There are many situations nowadays in which to speak the truth (not to say that those in question DID) would be politically incorrect, or otherwise inappropriate.

Therefore, thank your lucky stars that those people are allowed to say what they have to say, because next time, it might be you. May you speak of your own unpopular cause with honor and grace - because that is what counts.

To illustrate I give you a couple of gems from a fellow whose name I could not mention without raising a few hackles, but who in my opinion was all things considered a very wise man, and just as flawed as any of us.

"...while good morals are all-important between the Lord and His creatures, what counts between one creature and another is good manners."

"Honor and honesty, compassion and truth probably will kill you. At any rate, you’ll suffer for them. All good men will suffer, early or late. It is probably better to learn of suffering early—it gives us more time to learn to suffer well: with intelligence, and good manners, even with charm."