>I've come to the conclusion that the world view difference is that I'm the one looking with my eyes actually open...ha. There is an old saying that says "put yourself in the other guys shoes" which is something I've always tried to think of since I was a little kid (I was raised that way) - and I think that is kind of what he was saying - which is good advice.consider in most cases. As matter of fact that's probably why I got into the discussion to begin with. Put your self in a gay or lesbian's shoes. You're minding your own business, hurting no one, raising a family just like everyone else - but then someone with Rick's "worldview" says you're not worthy to be an equal member of society.

Been there for a much smaller reason. Wearing long hair wasn't forbidden, SFRY of late sixties and later was actually rather liberal in many ways, but it was officially only frowned upon (and the police handbooks weren't much different from FBI's, classifying us as suspects for all the wrong reasons). It was from the hands of common people that I had ugly encounters - to the point where I'd try to hitchhike, and a guy would stop, drive 100m in reverse, only to yell at me to cut my hair, and then would leave with tires squealing.

Had my bright moments there as well... once dad and I went to a junkyard to get some (s)crap iron to use as reinforcement for some piece of concrete. Came out quite dirty-handed, and went across to the gate of factory where dad worked. The guard said something like "hi, boss, that your daughter?". I retorted with "I'm not the bearded woman, I'm her sister". A couple of years later, I was the classmaster to his daughter. I could see him sweat in the back during the PTA meeting...