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