The Catskill Chronicle

By Grayce Goin

DATELINE: Qinhuangdao (Cheen – hwong – dao), China – August 20th, 2012

On July 2nd in the Port of Los Angeles I boarded a cargo ship for China to finally meet my grandson and daughter-in-law.

There were two other passengers on the ship, retired men who had served together in the U.S. Navy in  the ‘60s and who were off on their own adventure.

One, a retired banker was from south Texas, very conservative, religious and opinionated. The other, from North Carolina seemed to be every bit as conservative but considerably less vocal about it.

The comments from Mr. Texas brought to mind a previous column concerning arguing politics with those who will not tolerate listening to a differing opinion.

One reader accused me of running away from an argument adding that it is time for a crash course in good manners. It is not up to the considered debaters to teach anyone civil behavior. The problem started with our politicians and we should be forcing them to stop the name calling and outright lies they tell about each other.

Nothing I could possibly have said about his racial and political bigotry – had I talked for thousand years – would have put a dent in his "rightness."

Mr. SC had a talent for throwing the barbed comments, and frankly, I was glad to have a foil.  Unfortunately, there was one problem, he couldn’t handle return fire and ended up ignoring my existence. 

People like these two, regardless of which side of the aisle they stand on, have no interest in listening to anyone who doesn’t agree with them. If you don’t agree with them you don’t matter and if you are foolish enough to get into an argument with them, well there goes your blood pressure.

My point: Trying to intelligently discuss political issues with some people really is like trying to teach a pig to sing, particularly in an election year.

Please keep your letters coming as I will be answering them from China for at least the next several months.

Be well,