I understand that Open Salon is committed to the First Amendment, and I believe that this is what they need to do.  Open, as Larry pointed out in his latest blog, is about everyone.  But where two or more are gathered, it is a community, and I believe Open also means acceptance, and that Salon has the connotation of a civil room of discourse.  Hence, I give you the words, and you know the music, of the great Rogers and Hammerstein, written during WWII,  I trust it will ring true for all of you, and help to keep our discourse civil and open.

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear
You've got to be taught
From year to Year
It's got to be drummed
in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught
To be Afraid
Of people whose eyes
are oddly made
And people whose skin
Is a different shade
You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught
Before it's too late
Before you are 6 or 7 or 8
To hate all the people
your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught

Let us put away childish things, what ever toxins were carefully drummed into us, let us keep them out of this world of OS so that all may thrive, grow and learn to care about this great world of diversity and strength.