Have you been blocked? Punished for your principles or punished for your impertinence?

I've been blocked. I've been blocked for my principles. I hold some strong beliefs and am not shy about defending them. I've been blocked for my impertinence. Apparently holding strong beliefs and defending them is viewed as impertinent by some.

I've been blocked, but I've never blocked anyone else. I've been given enough reason. No, I'm not put off by anyone holding contrary beliefs and not being shy about defending them. Bring it on. That's how we learn from each other. However, I'm sure that I would be excused for blocking those who attack me personally for the single sin of disagreeing with them. Some have even called me defective, a “retard” for holding an opposing view. Why would they do that?

I admit that I'm tempted to block those who hide atop the fence. You know. Those who are “reasonable” unlike those of us who are argumentative. They keep to the middle of the road. Does anyone really walk or drive down the middle of the road? The only ones I've seen are drunk. Sitting on the fence makes you a target for anyone sitting on either side. Isn't that where we placed our empty beer cans and whiskey bottles for target practice?

A person who attempts to portray themselves as “middle-of-the-road” and politicians who claim to “govern-from-the-middle” are pretending to have abandoned all principles. I'd far rather deal with those who have the courage to openly agree or disagree with my principles than those who hide theirs, wouldn't you? Wasn't it the middle of the back where soldiers were branded with a painted yellow stripe when convicted of cowardice in the face of the enemy?

Am I against compromise? Absolutely. I can't imagine compromising my principles. Can you? Those who accuse the opposition of obstructionism are merely trying to embarrass them into abandoning their principles for the sake of avoiding the name-calling. “The Party of No!” How dare they? They dare because they believe that the majority are on the highway to hell and they are attempting to save themselves.

Do you disagree? Then tell me. Don't block me. Anyone who fears to engage me in respectful conversation isn't going to convince me of a thing. Will they convince you?