Can we get some love for Varkam going?

[John Gauger]

Varkam has shown himself to be a beautiful human being. Compassionate and courageous, he has brought us a powerful insight into the human condition. I just want to take the time to show my appreciation.

[progressoid]

1. Error: You can't recommend threads from this forum

Oh well, you get the sentiment anyway right?

[Pale Blue Dot]

2. Similar sentiments in the Skeptic's forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=247x17546

:thumbsup:

[trotsky]

3. Absolutely.

Stays level-headed and diplomatic. A true treasure!

[uberllama42]

4. luv 4 varkam- I haz it

We are all better off with him here.

[varkam]

5. I ain't no beautiful human being, that's for sure.

If I have any insight, then it was borne from the wake of mistakes that I have made and people that I have hurt. I'm really blown away by the response, though - both out there and in here. If what I wrote was helpful to anyone, then I think it was worth writing all that down.

Thanks, folks. It's a strange feeling, both appreciating the kind words of strangers and simultaneously feeling that I am undeserving of them; you have my gratitude, though, all the same.

[Synnical]

6. It was great.

That was a thoughtful and amazing post. My thanks to you for taking the time and having the courage to put it out there for all the world to read.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

:grouphug:

[kdmorris]

7. It really was very insightful, varkam

I could almost feel your journey toward insightfulness in reading your words.

I wish I could take back every single thing I ever did that hurt anyone. But all I can do is learn from them and try not to ever do them again, much the same as what you took the time to write out so thoughtfully.

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. We all make mistakes. I've made many of the same ones you have.

Very few of us can be honest and humble about them. That's where you rock.

[John Gauger]

11. I don't think that a man's flaws diminish his beauty.

What you have done here is asked us to stop and consider for a second the plight of our fellow human beings. I don't know, maybe those people are monsters, maybe they are pure evil. But you asked us to at least think about it. I think that's the central part of being liberal, or at least holding a liberal philosophy: thinking about people, and their histories, and their experiences, and the reasons why they do things the way they do. I think that's really important.

[varkam]

12. Well, I'll make sure to let my enemies know that.

:D

I don't think that the concepts of "monster" or "evil" are useful, because there's a built in moral judgment, sort of condemning the whole of the person. I think that some of the people who do these things probably are a significant danger, and will remain so despite any treatment that they receive (though, going on the data, they would appear to be a very small sub-group of individuals). I think that the best thing to do with those cases is to incarcerate them long term for the sake of safety, but I do wish that we could get out of the habit of wishing suffering onto one another. It does us no good as a people.

[Lost-in-FL]

9. That's very true

I have learn so much from being here and always look for what Varkam has to say.

:applause:

[Rob H.]

10. You betcha!

I always enjoy reading his posts. :) :patriot: