I don't understand the people wanting to get rid of Booth for nothing. I've been as down on him as anyone, but he does have intriguing potential, and is a pretty adequate contributor compared to what's available.
Call me an ******* all you like, I believe that archaic and oppressive religious ideals need to be squashed. But thats neither here nor there, but its all you seem to focus on. You are the one who can't separate Booth "the hockey player" from Booth "the religious goon". I despise his beliefs but am still able to look at his game objectively (yes, I can still be objective and have a different view than yourself). You on the other hand refuse to admit that he's a one dimensional, power forward who brings very little to the table for $4.25m if he's not scoring...something he had trouble with last season, especially late and into the playoffs. You'd prefer to turn it into some sort of ficticious "personal vendetta" I have to get rid of Booth. Perhaps, this would clear things up (although I doubt it)...I would let the Pope coach our hockey team if I thought he would help us get a cup.
Honestly, I know where you are coming from with the "personal beliefs" thing and if you want to fight for their freedoms to try and feed god into our schools, governments and our lives in general, you go right ahead...I'm not that person. While you and others might find it intolerant of me, I'm fine with the label...I'm intolerant of ignorant viewpoints and I fight against that ignorance. You will not convince me that my position is wrong so messaging in regards to the topic will serve no real purpose...but if you wish to debate it, feel free...I always welcome debates on religion/beliefs, but I won't be initiating any.
And thats the LAST I will speak of "personal beliefs" in this thread.
For what it's worth, I agree with you completely. Prejudices and attacks on the uncontrollable should not be tolerated, obviously, but beliefs, opinions, behavior, and statements should absolutely be open to criticism and questioning. It shouldn't be something that we should have a right to be protected from and expect censorship from anyone who might offend you over, IMO. I personally believe that organized religion is an awful awful thing as well (and I personally think it's a tragedy that theism, which I find completely sound and fair, is attached at the hip to it). Separate that from how the person is, sure, but it's still something that's fair to point to as a negative, IMO, just like any other behavioral pattern or lifestyle choice that anyone disagrees or scoffs at, such as drug use, nihilism, misogyny, prostitution, general pessimism, selfishness, ego, attention-whoring etc. (some might say I'm picking horrible things that shouldn't be compared, but I don't see these people as necessarily directly hurting others or doing anything that they don't feel should be respected as their personal choice as well). Religion should be no more sacred, especially when it has so much power and manipulative control over how the world runs.
I wouldn't complain about Booth myself simply because 1) it's off-topic, and 2) for the most part, he's kept his religion mostly hidden and to himself, and it's tough to criticize what you don't see/hear, though.
Aside from it being off-topic, though, showing general distaste over someone's behavior and personal decisions (if you find them distasteful) should absolutely be fair game, IMO.
aaanndd hopefully that's the last thing I'll say about that as well (although I fear it might cause a reaction that might make that difficult).
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