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On Mon, 2 Dec 1996, Dennis D. Martin wrote: > And why can't someone who thinks sodomy is wrong say so without being > called a bigot? Why can someone who thinks sodomy is right call someone > who says sodomy is wrong a bigot, ignoramus etc. without being ashamed of > his incivility? I think the answer is, Dennis, because we [= the listmembers, and = the world in general] are all engaged in struggles over power. People's opinions have different consequences and political bedfellows. In this country, a few centuries ago, devotion to images of Saints would have landed you in trouble; this is, at the present time, unlikely to happen. However, only 45 years ago homosexuality could get you rounded up along with the Jews and the Gypsies; and homosexuality NOW can still result in violence against your person. We are enmeshed in struggles of power, and sometimes civility is not the best rhetorical position. cheers john arnold Centre for Medieval Studies Kings Manor Exhibition Square York YO1 2EP ENGLAND (01904) 433948 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%