<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2719.2200" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" = text=#000000 bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Very well said Dave</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I agree with you on that</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Elian</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=dm.porritt@verizon.net = href="mailto:dm.porritt@verizon.net">David M. Porritt</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, September 15, = 2002 19:25</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Politics & = religion</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Dearest List Members:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have the widest possible acceptance for topics both on topic = and off.  We are, as it has been pointed out many times, both piano technicians and human beings.  We discuss things in our lives = that interest us.  This includes many topics not involving = pianos.  ok.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Two topics that NEVER convince anyone in an argument are politics = and religion.  I have never been persuaded in either topic by an argument.  If anyone of you has ever changed your mind in either = of these areas because of an argument, please let me know.  I've never = seen it before.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The one thing that can be assured when either of these items come = up, is an argument, then a fight, then a war.  I am personally a man = both of religious faith, and political persuasion.  I'm not embarrassed = by the discussion of either.  However, on this list it always = degenerates to name calling, denigration of character, and verbal assault.  Some = are hurt, no one is helped.  Temperaments might bring on harsh words, = but at least they are on topic.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>dave</DIV><PRE>_____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>