If you actually listen to Mr. McBerry without preconceived notions, you would find that, while he is prepared for the worst, he agrees that war (and secession for those who think he is of that mindset) is the last resort.

I can deal with disagreement, that really isn’t a big deal to me. As far as people not knowing your name: You would be surprised how far your name can travel without you ever actually going anywhere. It was a lesson I learned early in life, and it is a lesson I try to remember at all times.

However, even my position is not spineless. Instead, it is born out of the realization of just how horrible war truly is. We Americans have truly been blessed – we’re one of very few places on this planet that hasn’t seen war on our own soil in nearly 150 years now. The day may come when we have no other choice, but even then I refuse to fire the first shot, nor will I advocate that those who agree with me on the issues do so. As things currently exist, there are simply too many tools built into the system that liberty advocates can peacefully use to change the way things are, and therefore to call for war, or to even push us in that direction, is folly.

That said, my reply was poorly worded. I should have said you position was spineless, rather than you yourself. I thought that was implied, obviously it wasn’t. I did not intend to make any personal attacks on your character, particularly since I don’t know you.

I completely disagree with your position, and that was what I intended to convey. I apologize for my poor wording.

Not everyone is forced to immunize their children in spite of the huge public benefit that has been proven over the years…waivers are given for religious reasons, for example. There are many diseases that have been eliminated from our society because of these mandatory immunizations (e.g., polio, smallpox). Measles and mumps, which are very dangerous, especially for kids, are making comebacks because people have refused to vaccinate for whatever reason, usually due to unproven (by any rigorous scientific study) fears about possible side effects.

We simply do not have to live with these terrible diseases, or even think about them very much, due to mandatory vaccinations. I can appreciate the basic philosophy that if the government is forcing me to do something, then it must be wrong. (If I’m over-simplifying, then I can stand to be corrected). My main point is this: I believe the gov’t has an important role in protecting the public health from these dread diseases.

I’m with Wilson. If you can show where people who get their water from private wells are forced by government regulation to also chlorinate their water, you MAY have a point, but for now the issue of chlorinated water vs mandatory vaccinations is apples v oranges.

I had a much longer reply and lost most of it, but here is the piece regarding you calling me ‘spineless’:

Let’s see, since 2004, when I was your age, I have fell flat on my face for a year and built myself back up, taught in the classroom for a year, been featured in articles in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Albany Herald, and the Lee County Ledger, been featured in at least a couple of reports on regional news television here in Albany, operated a political blog which I created where I’ve written nearly 400 posts under my own name, ran for City Council, organized and founded a local affiliate of the Party I most believe in, been elected to the State Executive Committee of said Party, attended local City Council and County Commission meetings – and wrote about my thoughts on them, spoken at said meetings, developed professional relationships with a wide variety of politicians and political activitsts of nearly every political persuasion, and even managed to have a personal life throughout all of that where I’ve achieved everything I ever wanted outside of having a child. I’ve done every bit of that under my own name, where people can know me and attack me face to face.

Yet you, Ms Brown, try to hide online under the moniker ‘apacheangel’ because you are too afraid to stand up and be counted. So you sit back in your relative online anonymity and take pot shots at people you disagree with, whether they be politicians, bloggers, or simply private citizens. I see that you are just as crazy as Jenny Hodges, Bobby Franklin, and Ray McBerry, who you clearly idolize. But what makes them better than you is that at least they have the courage to stand for what they believe under their own names in public – even when they know full well they may be the only ones there with the beliefs they have.

I’ll leave you with this line from “A Few Good Men”, since I think it applies here:

“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a [wo]man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to. “

You dared to call Jeff “spineless” because he doesn’t want to go to war the the Federal Government. Agree, disagree, whatever. But Jeff posts opinions on local politics in an area where everyone knows everyone. He posts opinions that aren’t popular, even with some without our own party, and he does it using his real name. Disagree all you want, but to call a man spineless because he disagrees with one thing like war is pathetic. Especially when you enjoy anonymity that Jeff, Bill and I forsake by writing for this site.

Make no mistake, Jeff and I both want all our rights. But war should be the last resort, and neither of us believe we’re at the point where that’s necessary.