Well, the pot's being stirred yet again...All this chest thumping bravado gets tiresome and does very little to either help us learn about anything or to educate us nor does it have anything to do with boating. We have some 2,000 people signed up as members of this list. I'm confident that in that group we have genuine heroes and draft-dodgers. We have people who have fought in many wars, people who have never seen war but who have put their lives on the line for the rest of us as cops, firefighters, paramedics, coasties, etc. We also, I'm confident, have people who have protested many wars as well as people who have a chip on their shoulder about the cops, firefighters, paramedics, coasties, and need to tell us all how tough they are, etc.. Personally I don't much care where any one of us lies on that continuum. I do care about this list and the good people I have met and come to respect through this medium. And, yes, there are those I have met and come to disrespect through this medium. I wish would we would speak and write with a little more restraint and respect for others and their opinions. Does anyone really think they are going to convince others they are wrong and about (insert passionate cause here:...) by going on tirades? Really...what is the point? (Stopping here, deep breathing, practicing yoga, meditation, having a beer, lest I go on a tirade.)