How To Respond

Snagged off Tumblr:

When you receive a message like this you can respond in a number of ways.  Because my writings tend to run a little hot I decided to base my response on a letter by Bertrand Russell

To you, and all the others that can only feel superior by insulting others because in reality they are too small to see the world beyond their little existence,

I have given some thought to our recent correspondence. It is always difficult to decide on how to respond to people whose ethos is so alien and, in fact, repellent to one’s own. It is not that I take exception to the general points made by you but that every ounce of my energy has been devoted to an active opposition to cruel bigotry, compulsive violence, and the sadistic persecution which has characterised the philosophy and practice of fascism, or whatever name you choose to call it by now.

I feel obliged to say that the emotional universes we inhabit are so distinct, and in deepest ways opposed, that nothing fruitful or sincere could ever emerge from association between us.

I should like you to understand the intensity of this conviction on my part. It is not out of any attempt to be rude that I say this but because of all that I value in human experience and human achievement.

Sincerely, archatlas