[Carolyn Duncan]

The fact that something like this is what has to be my first post in so long saddens me. The fact that there are people narrow minded enough to cause one of the nicest and most accepting people I know through F.I.R.S.T. to drop so much because no one realzed how dangerous threads about politics, personal views, and morals can be.
Anything posted with any type of "my thougths are better" attitude rather than "this is what I think/feel/believe" and why will, and has, very honestly already caused a large riff between people. Things like this are what cause bad feelings when everyone comes together for competitions. The people who say "oh, you posted this on Delphi and I don't agree so I'm not going to be kind enough to lend you something you need. I want you to lose because you said that."
The whole F.I.R.S.T. organization has grown very considerably and things have changed with growth. One thing that I don't think anyone wants to see is the quality of the program going to pot because of something like this. Forcing the veterans to leave and preventing the newcomers from feeling like they belong unless they start bashing as well is, in my humble opinion, WRONG. Losing someone as talented as Joe is not something anyone who has met him wants to have happen. For those of you who haven't met him you are greatly missing out. There are plenty of other people who are becoming more and more frustrated by the turn that the program has begun to take and are looking for other comperable programs to help promote. Experience is somethng that no one in F.I.RS.T. can afford to lose, not even Dean.
If you think I'm wrong then fomulate a post. But before you click the button to make your words public reread what you have typed and decide if you are about to prove my point for me or not. There are 2 things I have learned to go by when I make public statements are "If ya can't say nuthin' nice don't say nuthin at all" and If it's something you would say with your grandma in the room then kiss her afterwards you're prolly safe." Of course, these are all my opinions ad I mean not fr them to be forced upon anyone who reads them but merely to inspire thought provoing conversation that is not bashing anyone or causing such frustrations as are already brewing. If we all begin to dislike each other now what happens when we all get together to enjoy the fruits of our labor? Why should our eustress of competitions become stress?
Ok, enough from me now. That's more than I deserve already. Try not to prove my point for me, this is one thig I'd like to be wrong about.