In writing a column about the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, it was not my intent to suggest that I don’t care about the fate of Haiti, or that I am not sympathetic to the people who make up the huge numbers and heartbreaking images we see flashed across our television and computer screens.
Instead, my goal was to question the psychology of donating, the way we react to natural disasters and the nature of responsibility leading up to and immediately after those disasters. Regardless of the outcry that followed, I think I did those things.
When I wrote about the responsibility borne by the Haitian people for their circumstances prior to the earthquake, I did not make clear that I understand that outside influences have played a large part in determining those circumstances. However, I maintain that much of the responsibility (not all) for one’s fate – or for the fate of a group of people – lies with that person or with those people. I understand that dire circumstances can make taking the yoke of that responsibility very, very difficult. But to assume that the Haitians’ fate was not at least in part their own responsibility is to insult that group of people even more. It rationalizes much of the United States’ past meddling in the affairs of Haiti. But most of all, it shows even less respect to the Haitian people.
I’m disappointed that some outlets chose to extract segments of my column, framing my opinions in their own. Many readers were going to disagree with my opinions regardless of the context in which they were presented – that was, in some ways, the point of writing them. But when they were enticed into reading the piece by potentially inflammatory bits that were taken out of context, readers had little chance to look at my views with the proverbial clean slate.
While I will not apologize for writing my column, I do accept the repercussions associated with writing it and hope that some good may come out of those repercussions: that people will stop and think about their own motivations for giving and that someone else might be inspired to come up with a better way to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters like the one in Haiti.
Thanks for reading.
Paul
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P.S. Please ALWAYS wear a condom. For the sake of the humans on this earth, please do not propagate.
Paul-
You have courage to speak your mind. Bless you for that. To the emotional retards who can’t stand that someone else doesn’t think the same or react the same as them: Grow up.
paul shirley is a genius i am now going to be an avid reader of his!!!
That letter is amusing as it highlights what a total piece of human trash Pual (who i never heard of) is..
But whats really sad is that someone who lives in such luxury could write something like this while hundreds of thousands of people are dead and dying. He should be publicly beat for being such a social reject…
I dont even want to guess what ol Paul thinks about the holocaust.. guessing something like “the jews made their bed…”
Paul, please go away. far, far away.
“Maybe your dad should’ve used a condom Paul”. Someone said that in the other blog, Jesus its SOO true :D
Dearest Paul,
I don’t think you are a racist(an arrogant ignoramus but not a racist) nor do I feel that you need to apologize. You feel how you feel. After reading your response, it’s obvious that while some people dig themselves a deeper hole in dirt, you on the other hand have sunk yourself deeper into quicksand–of your own doing.
Instead of basketball, let’s talk baseball.
I read your piece ON THIS BLOG (the site I went on provided a link to the FULL POST) You really showed some manhood by closing your letter with “the rest of the world” instead of oh uh–PAUL SHIRLEY. So much for that personal responsibility that you’ve been clucking about–
STRIKE ONE!
You then state that some media outlets “extracted segments, framing my opinions in their own.” Once again evading personal responsibility–STRIKE TWO.
You state that you “hope that some good may come out of those repercussions: that people will stop and think about their own motivations for giving and that someone else might be inspired to come up with a better way to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters like the one in Haiti,” as opposed to saying “MAYBE I SHOULD STOP AND THINK…” Lacking the use of first-person singular and evading personal responsibility–STRIKE THREE!
Lastly, If I have to choose between donating what little money I have (and that our country has)to organizations like Yele Haitiand Doctors Without Borders, versus my (our) tax dollars paying for a war that was based on damned lies about weapons of mass destruction and into the pockets of organizations like oh uh BLACKWATER and Dick Cheney’s side hustles (Please post links to your criticisms of putting money into that fiasco of a war) I choose the former two since I’ve actually seen where that money went and it was unfortunately was destroyed by the earthquake.
God gave us two eyes, two ears, and one mouth for a reason. Now marinate on that!
Shudder to think Paul the narcissist’s opinion of the holocaust.. Paul is an ego-centric waste of space that deserves the same fate as his fellow half-blood monkey ancestor, a forgettable memory of the past.
Lets all go back to praying for those hundreds of thousands of people dying and dead. And the poor children..
Paul — You played at Iowa State and are from the nearby state of Kansas. Why didn’t you write a similar piece to the people of Parkersburg, Iowa after the tornado ripped through their town? You know the area well and know that they chose to live in a part of the country that is vulnerable to tornadoes … and that they put themselves and their children at risk doing so.
Did you disagree with the relief efforts and their choice to rebuild their town? Shouldn’t they have pulled up stakes and moved to … wait, what region is it that is invulnerable to natural disaster and large-scale tragedy again?
This explanation of your position is as much of a steaming pile of stupid as the original article.
If you were trying to cement in our heads how much of an arrogant and ignorant gasbag you are, mission accomplished.
At least we can all be happy that your career as a writer is over.
Paul, again you have done nothing wrong. I guess today in America saying what you think and speaking the truth are not allowed. The leftists in this country want to sugar coat everything. People give money with no strings attached and then wonder why the money is stolen or misused. Our welfare system operates under this method. These fucking Haitians might have been oppressed in the past but they have done nothing to help themselves. All our aid does is prolong the misery and allow these people to produce another generation of poor and destitute people. Enough is enough. If they want help then there has to strings attached to the aid. All you liberal fucks need to stop getting your news from CNN and all the other left source. There are a lot of videos on the web showing how much these people care about eachother and the aid they are receiving.
My Dear Paul,
I think you have made your points quite clearly, bravo and wild applause!
Thank you for having the wisdom, knowledge and intestinal fortitude to say what an all too silent group of true-blue Americans, who believe in taking care of themselves and their own, are thinking to themselves. Thinking only because of the loud, proud, boastful, quick to judge, naive and overly emotional mushrooms, with loose purse-strings and bricks of gold buried in the back yard, would swear the true-blue were the spawn of the devil for speaking up!
I know you have caught more than you share of flack over this but keep it up! You never know, you might actually break that Technicolor bubble the mushrooms are living in by pointing out the obvious over and over again. Kind of like telling someone the frying pan is hot and use a potholder, they grab it anyway over and over again and expect you to pay for their hospital bills, all their time off work. OH, and I almost forgot, take care of their lovely children and/or pets too.
Again, keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Republican in name ONLY
and wouldn’t be caught died or alive as a DemoRat
Read Paul Farmer’s The Uses of Haiti and you will understand everything you need to know about Haiti’s past that led to the position it was before the earthquake. Before you start blaming people you should actually understand the history. Paul Shirly… Douchebag Extroadinaire
Hey Paul, never been a fan of your column due to musical differences but I fully understand and agree with your opinion on this. Shame on ESPN for firing you over this when Jemelle Hill can equate the Celtic’s to Hitler and only serve a suspension. Never mind the other quite questionable garbage that makes it’s way via ESPN columnist. Hold your head up and know that ESPN has taken a turn for the worse with what and how they spotlight stories. I’m not happy to see you be let go under this reverse racism firing, but in the politically correct bubble that others live in, I somewhat understand it. Aloha brah.
I know why your are talking like that, you are cursed and before you die you will repent from all those vain speech that you spoke against the Haitians people because you dead will be full of sorrow just wait and never forget this message.
Good bye.
I laugh at the ego-centric maniac’s that go about bashing and wishing harm and ill-will towards Paul for casting an opinion, then finish it off with a ‘God bless’ or ‘let’s pray for the Haiti people’. How clueless and shallow of a person are you to judge and cast aside one of God’s supposed children? Is that not sinful to judge and condemn? I’m sure glad that’s not a disposition I will ever find myself in – being a sinner I meant.
Some good will certainly come of this. Your columns will never litter espn.com again.
Hey Paul. I am glad that you have the freedom to speak your mind.
I do think that many of the problems that Haiti has had in recent history are deeply rooted in its past. A past that was intertwined with ours and more specifically with Thomas Jefferson. When Haiti achieved independence from France, Thomas Jefferson refused to recognize Haiti as a country and therefore the United States did not conduct trade with them. It took about twenty years for the United States to finally recognize Haiti as an independent country. Since then there have been several U.S. occupations, coups, and even a genocide by the Dominicans. Lastly a huge part of why the country has not become as developed as possible is because of the Haitian diaspora. There have also been a few times where the United States has stepped in during elections or regimes that they weren’t too fond of, more recently the “Uphold Democracy” project during the Clinton administration forced the leaders of Haiti out of the country. In more recent years since then there has been some upheaval and the U.N. peace keeping forces have had to step in and occupy the country. I feel that this country has never had the chance to develop itself naturally, mostly because of the involvement of both European and United State’s involvement in it’s government and politics.
I also feel you made suggestions that the United States is not even practicing. Not just with what happened in New Orleans, but also that we don’t even grow the right kinds and amounts of food that could sustain our country.
In the future I think you should check your history books before making accusations and suggestions. History has a lot to teach us about why things are the way they are.
It is amazing to see the number of people rationalizing selfishness as some kind of patriotic streak.
Pat on the back, Paul. You make a point that, while clearly it’s not popular, is very, very true and very, very necessary. We continue to hemorrhage resources into countries where the majority of the population are clearly NOT trying to improve their quality of life. It seems that, at 20, I have a clearer view of the world than people twice (and more) my age, but it’s nice to see that all is not lost among the older generations. I don’t think you are “cursed” (as Anonymous stated). In fact, I feel that all those that promote individual independence and living life conservatively will do rather well in the end, and self-made people have the right to hold onto every last penny they have earned, rather than been handed by our government. Thanks for saying what needed to be said, and I will be linking your article to all!!
-Chelsea
Dear Paul,
There is a saying that comes to mind: “an empty barrel makes the most noise.” And another that begins “it is better to be thought a fool…”
The more you write, the more you reveal your abject ignorance of the history of Haiti. Any implication that the Haitian people are singularly or primarily responsible for the poverty of their nation, the weakness of their structures, or the plight of these times is completely bereft of any historical basis. Many people have suggested reading material to you, and I will do the same: “An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, From Revolution to the Kidnapping of A President.” In there, you will find actual truths that will hopefully begin to fill the gaping void of information that exists in your brain.
Stop typing, and pick up a book, for once in your life. You cannot learn anything when all you do is talk. It was a blessing that ESPN dropped your blog, for now you have time to actually learn something before speaking. I beg you, make use of it, and stop trying to cover for your lack of knowledge. You are the poster child for people who say that athletes/entertainers should stick to their profession.
But I’m sure you will not heed these words. The root of ignorance is, after all, stubbornness. You will believe you already know everything you need to know about Haiti, no matter how unread it makes you look.
As always, I can only bid you, God bless.
J.Meade
Still a dick. Hard to imagine what being around a self-centered, smug, unempathetic ass of this magnitude could possibly be like.
Oh, and I love that one conservative tea-bagger after another steps forward to stand with this guy. The lines couldn’t be anymore clearly drawn. The Right Wing in America have got to be the most authoritarian, narcissistic, loathsome, ignorant fucks on the planet. They cheerlead wars against the innocent; are too terrified to bring those they torture to trial; deny the basic right of health care to others; and bemoan endlessly the unfairness of their situations (while at all times telling others to stand on their own two feet). A more worthless and compassionless collection couldn’t be imagined. So I guess it makes sense that they think a jackass like this guy speaks the truth as he sits in front of his computer boasting of his unwillingness to alleviate suffering.
I’m aware this isn’t exactly the right forum, but was this really the worst opinion piece ever written? I certainly didn’t agree with the general sentiment of it and didn’t find it particularly original or insightful, but most of the comments smack of the problematic culture that has developed where any commentary that one doesn’t agree with is immediately dismissed as being ‘stupid’, ‘racist’ or ‘douchey’.
The majority of the history buffs out there seem to be ignoring the fact that the vast majority of international aid that has been sent to Haiti has by and large been wasted by misuse, greed and corruption. This isn’t to say that donating to Haiti isn’t noble or worthwhile, but I don’t think that some of what Shirley is saying in terms of there being a problem with simply throwing money at a problem can be completely dismissed.
Had it ended with him stating that there needs to be better oversight and education along with the giving, would there have been such a vitriolic response? I don’t know that he would have necessarily disagreed with that.
I really do think that all the ‘higher than thous’ out there should sign off with the amount they’ve actually donated to the effort in Haiti. I’m a bad person so I’ve only given $10.
Oh, I almost forgot… I’m a douche.
Katie babbles: …we don’t even grow the right kinds and amounts of food that could sustain our country.
And you have the temerity to tell this guy to check the history books?
THE USA FEEDS THE F***ING WORLD!!
If our farmers only grew enough to feed the US population, more people would starve to death than ever in recorded history.
For instance, in 2007, the USA produced 9.32% of global wheat supplies, was responsible for 30.69% of global wheat exports, but had only 6.74% of global wheat stocks. (from the USDA).
The United States is not only the world’s top corn producer, but also the top exporter. On average, about 20 percent of U.S. corn is exported. During fiscal year 2006 (October-September), the United States exported 56 million metric tons (2.2 billion bushels) – accounting for 68 percent of world corn exports.
Processed soybeans are the largest source of protein feed and vegetable oil in the world. The United States is the world’s leading soybean producer and exporter.
The United States is currently positioned as the number two producer and number one exporter of sorghum on the world market. The United States’ share of world trade in sorghum has not dropped below 70 percent in more than a decade. The USA is THE global supplier of sorghum, providing 89% of exports for 2005-2006.
That’s just a few grains. We are a net exporter of most every category of agriculture.
As the sign says “We Farm, you eat”.
-Not a farmer, but I sure respect them.
Wow, now we have two classless posts from Paul Shirley.
Why even bother writing this second one? You offer no real knowledge or insight into the psychology of giving/donation. All you offer is a perspective of someone who has no idea of how hard life can be outside of his own. You want to discuss the psychology of giving but it’s pretty clear you don’t understand the concept of giving out of sheer compassion and nothing else.
How about for one second, you think what it might be like to be trapped under piles of rubble for days, your country in ruins, friends and family missing or homeless. Maybe then you’ll get over yourself.
Why do some people get so angry when they hear a bit of common sense? Of course people have to take responsibility for themselves. And then teach their children to do the same by their own example.
Those stupid Jews never should have put themselves in the position for the Holocaust to occur. I am so pissed that the US Military donated thousands of soldiers to rescue these people from the disaster in Europe. Throughout generations, Jews have lived in a way that causes people to detest them, and now that they are being persecuted they want us to bail them out? Think about where that help is going…we’ll set them free and they will just go out and make themselves detestable some more. There are much better causes to donate our troops to and I hope we choose differently in the future.
(Note: This post was written in a sarcastic tone, and it is not my intention to make light of such a tragic situation that occurred during World War II)
Imaginary discussion between rescuer and man dying under concrete:
“HELP!! I AM DYING”
“yeah, but you do understand it is your fault, you CHOSE to live here”
“I AM DYING!!!”
“I know my friend, but sorry, cannot save you, if I save you, you will go build another hut down the road again, and in 10 years I will be back saving your arse again”
“ARRHGHGGHH! my kidney just collapsed from dehydration!!!’”
“shit… that is too bad… you might die soon you know… but sorry, not saving you really teaches to you and your dead son next to you. This lesson is: Don’t be poor in a poor country.
“….”
Find a rock and crawl under it…
Clearly, you’ve never dealt with senseless tragedy in your life. May you continue to be so lucky. But, if for any reason, you do (which I’d never wish on anybody), I think your opinion would change. As someone who used to work in the World Trade Center, I’d hate to have your logic extended to the many former coworkers who lost their lives.
Mr. Shirley needs to realize is that he (and the rest of us born in the States) hit the birth lottery. By sheer luck and good fortune he was not born in an undeveloped and poverty stricken part of the world. If he had been, perhaps he would have a different perspective on how much control these folks really have over their circumstances.
To borrow a line, he was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple.
The sad/funny part of some of these comments is where people are saying “well, good thing you got fired at least”, as though it’s some kind of punishment.
Unfortunately, Paul Shirley just wrote his way to becoming significantly wealthier. Watch for book deals, TV roles, and other moneymaking ventures to come his way in no time.
America celebrates and elevates its assholes like no other country on earth, irrespective of which side of the political continuum they land on. Look at Rush Limbaugh, Eminem, the Jersey Shore fuckwits, Simon Cowell (a Brit with US-style asshole chops), Joe the Plumber, Paris Hilton, and on and on. Why you do this, I’m not sure.
So while I don’t think it was calculated – he seems like a genuine asshole – Shirley just created his own massive pay increase.
Funny, but Paul basically wrote what this guy wrote on his blog in an article called “Fuck Haiti”.
Imagine if he wasn’t cowering under a pseudonym. Go Paul! You’re my hero.
I doubt you read these replies, but here goes. Just the fact that you state you will not contribute one penny to those suffering from this cataclysmic tragedy, an act of nature, speaks to the kind of human being you are.
Haitians were already mired in desperate poverty, and most had very little in life already. They were born into it by chance, just as you were born into privilege by chance.
I just came back from Haiti after 15 days, starting from 24 hours after the quake. I was up close to the suffering, in and amongst the rubble, awakening at night to the sounds of moans and prayers of dispossessed, wounded and hopeless sleeping on the streets, seeing and smelling the carnage, hearing the pleas for help as they tug on my arms, and also seeing their resilient spirit as they try to overcome more than you would ever have to in a thousand lifetimes of your privileged world.
If that closed heart really does belong to you, please don’t write about it. Just let it be. No need to try to sway others to close their hearts along with yours. It just may be the lowest thing you will have ever done in your life.
You have done an excellent job of exhausting any redeeming qualities you may possess by this pathetic response. I will not read another thing by you. It is actually embarassing that I spent 15 minutes of my life on this. I will never get that time back and I felt my IQ drop as your words hit my brain.
A note to Paul Shirley,
“Dear Paul,
Kudos to you for expressing your opinion about the Haitian disaster. I trust that your informed and highly intellectual views were developed after much study regarding the history and political economy of Haiti and what actually caused it to exist as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.
If they were not, might I suggest starting with some study on pre-colonial rule, exploitation of the land and people, and debt in the amount of 21 billion dollars the country was forced to pay which was to be an indemnity for profits lost from the slave trade. You may want to then compare their history with the history of your own country, the U.S., and consider what caused differences in development. I don’t recall the U.S. having to pay the equivalent of 21 billion dollars to its former colonizers for independence. And, if you’re feeling really adventurous, take a look at some of the theoretical underpinnings and philosophies that look to understand why some countries are developed while others are not. Karl Polanyi’s, The Great Transformation, is a great place to start. From there, you might want to look at Foucault and his theories on discourse and power and also structuralism/structuration theories that consider the role of structure and agency.
As we prepare to forgive your asinine remarks, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you refrain from making opinions about the nation and all things global without some informed study? Maybe pick up a history book or even try a simple search on google if it’s easier. And, if you choose not to do so, could you refrain from using your celebrity status and the resulting media outlets it allows you to use from making comments about which you know nothing about? And could you sometimes maybe keep your comments only on basketball and sports related matters once in a while?
Sincerely,
The Rest of the Intelligent World”
As someone who’s also suffered the consequences of saying what needs to be said, my heart goes out to you, Paul. Thank you for refusing to apologize. You are my hero :)
I wouldn’t clarify for the words THEY put in your mouth. I read your original blog and you are 100% right!
Wow! I should read your blog more often! You really may just be a clueless blowhard! Thinking that people just read little exerpts from your post and took it out of context is way wrong. The whole thing is just as stupid from start to finish as any exerpt could be. The tone of your post was whining, self-indulgent, and incredibly ignorant.
Dude, at least be honest about what you wrote. Nobody misinterpreted you. You’re a bitter has-been. You look for scapegoats to blame all your unhappiness on. In Nazi Germany you would have blamed the Jews. You’re a jerk and everybody knows it.
I read the artical Paul Sherley wrote, and his response. I also read many of the comments sent on this topic, many of these people were happy about Mr. Sherley being terminated from ESPN. As I read these comments, many were full of venom and distain of Mr. Sherlys veiws and oppinoins of the Haiti relief. I relized that not one of these people said, implied or suggested that the income Mr. Sherley would have earend this year, and in the future be donated to the Haiti relief????
Also, why to you have a pretty picture of a sunset on a shoreline accompanying this piece? Is that your view of the world? Why not be honest and post a photo showing the death and widespread devastation…rather than sugar coating it.
This is what it looks like…
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100125/481/f51d7f5be2c946f58cf1f79dd9527e82/
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100124/481/597b765842574a2fa771903661ba2401/
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100126/481/f85275ca43344ad4b4b6c0fb3840ac89/
PAUL: You words are my words!
It does not work to give unconditionally and it is not my responsibility either.
I cannot believe the kind of personal attacks that you are getting because of the simple fact that you expressed your opinion in a free country, it’s terrifyng.
You have put words to this feeling of discomfort I’ve feeling as I look at every one giving “no questoins ask”.
If you have a family that builds a house on a hill in California and no one knew that mud slides were highly likely and their home is indeed wiped out by a mudslide, then that’s unfortunate and what insurance is for. Hopefully the family has enough sense to know to do things differently next time. If not, the insurance company will probably not insurance the home again, because its very likely to happen again very soon. I understand that natural disasters occur and cannot be prevented, but some sense and caution must be exhibited.
The United States is NOT an insurance company for every other country in the world. We sure as hell do not collect monthly dues. This country is in one of the worst financial states that is has been in its entire existence. Our national debt is to a figure that there is probably no chance of ever getting out of the red. Good jobs are getting fewer and fewer. It appears that all of these great new jobs being created are either temp work (i.e…Census workers) or Mc-Jobs. We have so much to take care of domestically; we can’t send all of our resources out to everybody but ourselves.
I do think in extreme circumstances, yes we should offer some sort of assistance; Man-power, necessary food and water, and medicine to HELP get through the current event. We don’t need to pump American dollars into this country again, because it’s not going to make a difference long term.
Do they have political issues and other factors that create the conditions of being the poorest country in the western hemisphere? Yes. BUT like Paul said, at some point they need to be accountable for their own.
I think credit should be given to Paul for asking the questions he asked. He’s not a villain. He’s not a horrible person. He’s looking at this objectively, and asking questions and bringing up points that need to be brought up.
Paul Shirley and Lt Governor Lauer are two men who have recently questioned topics that need to be questioned. The world isn’t bubble-wrapped. Everybody has to be accountable to some little piece of the overall puzzle. If we put our focus into propping people up because it’s the easiest way to make the “ugly” go away, it’s going to be worse the next time it breaks. People need to be responsible for their own, plain and simple. A hand up is ok, but continuous hand outs aren’t.
Thank you Paul for bringing light to this subject. Its unfortunate that ESPN took the chicken**** way out, but good writing is good writing, and your voice will still be heard.
The Haiti and New Orleans populations have much in common. They both have been trained to expect cradle to grave subsistance and emergency bailouts, and, have thus become unable to take responsibility for their own lives and living arrangements. That world governments continue to allow these catastrofic conditions to fester, speaks volumes about the failure of modern liberal solutions. So yes, goverments will continue to pour billion$ of “feel good” donations and taxpayer dollars, into these septic areas. And then, bemoan the tragedy of the children, when the next predictable disaster strikes.
Paul…you’re a piece of shit
Hey Paul – at least you have the support of all the haters in comments section.
YOU ALL SAY TIMES HAVE CHANGED BUT SOME OF THESES AMERICANS ARE STILL REDNECK RACISTS LIKE SLAVE OWNERS IN THE PAST. tHIS GUY pAUL SHIRLY HAS NOVALUE FOR HUMANITY. AND IS A STRAIGHT REDNECK RACIST TRYING TO HIDE HIS PATHETICNESS WITH FALSE PRETENSE AND CONFIDENCE
Without even commenting on what I believe about Haiti or about Paul Shirley’s perspective, there is a different issue that is apparent here that needs to be pointed out. Even if I disagree with Shirley’s initial post, it is incredibly frustrating that the attacks here–and make no mistake, the majority of the comments here are attacks–are ad hominen (or, aimed at Paul Shirley, rather than at his ideas).
Again, without taking sides (because I want to make a different point), the internet would be SO great if it were a place to discuss ideas (even radical ones) on their merit. If EVERY SINGLE PERSON disagreed with Shirley’s article, and each person wrote thoughtful comments on the actual opinions, this would be a fascinating discussion. But instead, nearly ever post is somewhere on the spectrum between sarcastic and mean-spirited, clearly NOT focused on the ideas, but rather on finding new ways to insult the writer (as opposed to the writer’s thoughts).
Regardless of sides, it is disappointing that people get personally angry or belligerent when someone writes something with which they disagree. I could attack THEM by saying something like “it is sad that people are so insecure in their OWN beliefs as to let dissenting views of others cause them to attack the person.”
So you disagree with Paul Shirley, do you really add anything constructive by calling him names?
Isn’t it helpful (for us to think about what we believe) to read a view that is NOT in the mainstream? I know when I read his column, I stopped, tried to wrestle with the point(s) he was making, and actually thought about them for a few moments.
I think both sides of this argument could benefit from slowing down from the rock throwing and actually thinking more about the arguments made by the other side.
For the purposes of my writing this post, it isn’t important what I concluded. If I posted my conclusions here, I’d simply be applauded by one side and ridiculed by the other, and I don’t care. But I do wish that there ways to constructively discuss ideas without it turning into a grade school name calling contest.
You people are pathetic! It’s called an opinion for a reason it’s his opinion. If you all hated it so much why did you bother to finish reading it. I’ll tell you why, cuz you were curious to see what he said. He got your attention, which is, to me, what a successful writer wants. Negative feedback is better than no feedback cuz at least it shows his work is being read.
So keep on commenting away at Mr. Shirleys opinion, I’m sure he isn’t minding it one bit…