# A salute to Libertarian **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 7, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567 "2003-02-07T21:30:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/1 "2003-02-07T21:30:43Z")
On 02-02-2003 07:49 AM, Libertarian posted the God-as-necessary-existence argument that we in GD have come to know very well. We may disagree with the logic involved, challenge the axioms upon which the argument rests, or question whether or not necessary existence is the same thing as He who is called, “I am,”, but, thanks to Lib’s literally tireless reiterations and explanations, many people now understand the argument then did before. Lib, you have shown patience, understanding, and an undying desire to show to others what you believe to be the Straight Dope. For that, I salute you. P.S. Chihuahuas shut up if you pet them. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/2 "2003-02-07T21:55:48Z")
Thank you, Robert! I am simultaneously humbled, surprised, disarmed, ashamed, proud, sorrowful, and delighted. I return your salute with an apology. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/3 "2003-02-07T21:59:07Z")
Are you two going to slow-dance now? I can dim the lights for you, if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/4 "2003-02-07T22:02:07Z")
Man, **Robert** , I was all ready to chew you out for fanning the flames in a third forum when I saw your title. Kudos to you for proving me a cynical, and mistaken, old bastard! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/5 "2003-02-07T22:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*Are you two going to slow-dance now? I can dim the lights for you, if you want. \*\* No. Leave the lights bright. A celebration of reconciliation calls for a lively dance. Of course, I’m old and fat, and I haven’t danced in years. But I can at least tap my feet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/6 "2003-02-07T23:09:30Z")
**Robert** , that was a wonderful thing to do, IMO! And I am very happy you opened this thread, for a personal, selfish reason. I have personal and quite concrete reasons to know that **Libertarian** is a man who lives out his beliefs, and does not just philosophize but shows with his person and affairs that he is in fact devoted to what he says in his threads. My life has been the richer, in many ways, for his friendship. And I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that before the entire board. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/7 "2003-02-08T02:53:10Z")
**Lib** has shown me tremendous comfort in my time of trouble via this limited medium for human interaction, and I will never, ever forget him for this. Bless you **Libertarian** , may you have all the peace and happiness you deserve, if such an amount exists on this world. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/8 "2003-02-08T03:11:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robertliguori \* > \*\*On 02-02-2003 07:49 AM, Libertarian posted the God-as-necessary-existence argument that we in GD have come to know very well. \*\* This piqued me and I searched. But I can’t find a post with that timestamp. Can someone link to the relevant post ? ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/9 "2003-02-08T03:40:29Z")
It’s [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?s=&action=newreply&postid=2956850) , I think, **Gyan9**. Perhaps a little of the sarcasm splashed and changed the 7 into a 2. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/10 "2003-02-08T04:15:52Z")
[Sorry.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2956850#post2956850) ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/11 "2003-02-08T04:23:55Z")
The most difficult and least common of the traits needed in a warrior against ignorance is the ability, and more importantly the will to fight one’s own ignorance. In this matter, **Libertarian** has been a sentinel for this board. Although there are a lot of us who are more ignorant than he is, there are few of us as readily willing to have it shown publicly, and still come back to the same thread to discuss the fact that we didn’t know that, thank you. If he is wrong, he will be the second one to tell you about it. 🙂 ## Tris “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” ~ Will Rogers ~ ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/12 "2003-02-08T14:44:52Z")
Good for you, **robertliguori**. [Clicks .sig box] There have been a number of attempts to talk about these matters. This time around (and it’s been going - as usual - in several threads) it’s been much better. Lib’s done better and those suspicious about what they’re signing up to have done better. Whilst **Libertarian** and I disagree on most things (and I’m talking really important things), I’ve come to respect him at a pretty basic level. I disagree with many of his opinions and much of his philosophy, and I don’t share his temperament or his prediliction to be decisive on difficult matters. What makes me think of him as a friend even when an opponent is that he is sincere and loves knowledge. He wants to inform as well as persuade and he wants to learn. And he works really hard on these boards, harder than I would if I were here all day. Some of this appears to have been enhanced by being on these boards. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/13 "2003-02-08T18:11:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > Thank you, Robert! I am simultaneously humbled, surprised, disarmed, ashamed, proud, sorrowful, and delighted. Ooh! I know this one, I do! You’re a psalm! ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/14 "2003-02-08T18:22:51Z")
Wa do, Libertarian. I value your contributions here, o-gi-na-li. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/15 "2003-02-08T20:21:11Z")
Yeah – I know that, while I disagree with you, **Libertarian** , both on basic politics and basic theology, you do prompt me to examine my beliefs pretty hard. I appreciate that, and I appreciate the sincerity with which you do it. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-salute-to-libertarian/153567/16 "2003-02-08T21:47:53Z")
Thanks a lot, everybody. I’ve had a lot of Pit threads, but never an appreciation thread before. At a time when I really needed it, you’ve really uplifted me! God go with you all, always. 🙂