Right, left, or buffalo? A question of wings.

Ok...seeing as this blog resides in the public domain...I knew at some point I would be asked to define my 'position'. I just didn't expect that day to come so soon.

Sorry to be so blunt, but asking people how they label themselves (or are labeled by others) - while certainly faster and easier than actually listening to them and forming an opinion - is a lazy way to go through life.

I'm an optimist, though. I firmly believe that most people truly 'listen' when exposed to ideas and opinions that differ from their own. But to others out there, I can already see that I'm going to be a great big disappointment. You see, I don't fit many convenient definitions or labels...I sometimes even [GASP] change my mind!

Then, of course, there are those who take even a shorter view of the world...addressing each issue, out of any larger context (like shooting tin ducks at a carnival), and waiting for others to tell them how to think. This is also a lazy way to go through life. Not only do you not form any of your own opinions...you need some external source to tell you where you are at any given moment (kind of like driving with the GPS navigation system on all the time but gaining no lasting sense of how to get around). There is a great quote that speaks to this concept found in a book by Leonard Stern called "A Martian Wouldn't Say That", (a very funny collection of boneheaded statements made by various Hollywood big-shots), that goes something like this: "I don't know what I think about the script yet...I'm the only one who's read it". This kind of person is also going to be frustrated by this 'blog, since at any given moment, the author (yours truly) is conflicted about the topic being discussed and is writing in order to gain perspective and examine the issue.

In short, don't look to me for answers. However, if you're in the market for some good questions (and there are some GREAT questions out there); I'm your guy!