Re: [A-List] Melvin

["Henry C.K. Liu" <hliu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Generally speaking, unsubscribing anyone from any list loses more than
it gains.
Freedom of speech must be absolute for any self-respecting institution.
Filtering, let alone censorship, should be left to the personal
discretion of the reader.
Most forms of behavior are reactive and are not one-sided
responsibilities.  Moderators can perform a useful service in cooling
uncontrolled flames by halting particular topics temporarily, until
reason rises above passion.  But removing a subscriber from a list is
damaging because it confuses fleeting passion with defining
personality.  Melvin is a valuable list member not only because his
shares with us a point of view uniquely linked to his background and
race, but also because he has the courage to share vignettes if his
personal life as an anchor to his views.

The Stalin-Trotsky issue is far from definitively resolved.  We must
take care that the term "sectarian practice" is not turned into a left
McArthyite tool. As for unsavory language, it's all culturally relative.
While I myself employ language very different from that used by Melvin,
I have never found his use of profanity offensive.  On the other hand,
every time I hear Donald Trump uses the word "amazing" on television, I
cringe.

My suggestion is:  Bring Melvin back for the benefit of all of us.

Henry C.K. Liu

Sabri Oncu wrote:

> I cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour on this list. I was waiting to hear
> from Micheal and James to take an action but the situation deteriorated so
> bad that I feel that I have to take an action by myself.
>
> As of this moment Melvin is not a subscriber of the A-List.
>
> Sabri