FW: [at-l] Hikers for Bush [OT] er... I mean Hikers for Kerry

[the_rev_mrf at kingcon.com (Martin Fors)]

Dear AT hikers,

I sent the below post as a private one to Weary.   Now, as I have just received the digest, I see that his message wasn't privately sent to me but to everyone, so I'm attaching my 'private' post below to the whole list.  

However, I see the continuing non trail related issues as nothing more than another form of SPAM.  Posts on the hurricane and other caring type posts are fine, as well as good humor, informative, product reviews and experiences and other type posts, but the name calling and the thrashing of one because of his or her political alliance demeans us all.  

Yes, back in 1999-2000, there were some heated political statements on this list but those do not even come close to what is happening now.  There have been numerous anti-Bush, anti-Republican political comments [rants] which have deserved a direct, blunt, refutation accompanied by hard data that many of us have let pass, simply because of respect for AT-L's overall purpose.  Others deserved a reply or two.   One example:  Recently a general statement was made about veterans.. which may have been true for the great State of Georgia.., but absolutely were not true for vets in other states [not even Vermont.]   As a combat veteran I felt that some of my vet comrades were being misrepresented which evoked my post.  Grey Owl, also a veteran, responded clearly that veterans are a mixture of all political persuasions.  

Of course, there are trail related, political issues that need discussion.  But instead of discussion, one is called an idiot or other name [such as liar] accompanied by a rant because of his/her political party affiliation.   The trail issues at hand are complicated.  These belong on this list.  The international issues are even more complex.  Do both belong on this list?  I think not.

There are plenty of political discussion forums and lists.  Why not state your points of view on those?  On the other hand, if the majority on this list desires it to become a high jacked DNC dumping ground, fine.  We could even take a vote.  We could even could take a hike and start another list.  Blessings.  rusty
  


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2004 11:51 AM
To: ellen@clinic.net
Subject: RE: [at-l] Hikers for Bush [OT] er... I mean Hikers for Kerry
[private]


Weary,

I send this privately as I will refrain from making any further comment that smacks of politics on AT-L.  

God doesn't speak to me in those terms. I think that you misunderstood me.  My position is that AT-L should not be high jacked for election/political campaigns.  Discuss and debate elsewhere, in my opinion.  Yes, the trail was a result of a decision in Washington, but it wasn't an election campaign decision.  If there is a specific AT trail issue that the Kerry or Bush folks advocate or dis-advocate, fine, address that.  But keep the Bush and Kerry campaign issues, war in Iraq, the Democrat Governor of NJ and his fetish out of AT-L.

My point to Hummingbird was:  The Hikers for Kerry folder on a DNC web site will only have slap-on-the-back Kerry fans talking to each other.  rusty

-----Original Message-----
From: ellen [mailto:ellen@clinic.net]
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 8:18 PM
To: Martin Fors; at-l@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [at-l] Hikers for Bush [OT] er... I mean Hikers for Kerry


Ah. Marty. God does not speak in equally plain words to all of his children. God gave us minds capable of thinking. Therefore some of us require discussion and debate to decide. 

However, I agree with you that a separate list for such discussions is not particularly useful. The trail was a product of political debate. It will survive as a result of political debate in my opinion.

If you have evidence to the contrary, I would welcome hearing it. Somehow I doubt if I will hear that necessary debate on a "hikers for Kerry" site, but again, your insights are both welcome and needed.

Weary

> ------------Original Message------------
> From: "Martin Fors" <the_rev_mrf@kingcon.com>
> To: at-l@backcountry.net
> Date: Fri, Aug-13-2004 5:53 PM
> Subject: [at-l] Hikers for Bush [OT]   er... I mean Hikers for Kerry
> 
> Yeah!  Sure!  Thank you for that!  It'll be fair and balanced I'm sure.
> 
> Love you, Hummingbird!  rusty
> 
> 
> 
> -----------------------------
> 
> Message: 20
> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 11:39:05 -0400
> From: <athummingbird@dnet.net>
> Subject: [at-l] Hikers for Kerry
> To: <s.landis@comcast.net>, <at-l@backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <019401c4814b$ab5f5b20$1582cd41@linda>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> 
> http://forums.delphiforums.com/KerryEdwards/start
> 
> I just set up a new folder called Hikers for Kerry.  Please come and 
> join us
> there and we can keep the political discussions off the list.
> 
> Thanks!  Hummingbird
> 
> 
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