That it's understandable makes it no more excusable. The point made in the first letter is a valid one; I happen to be a Christian who believes gay marriage (in the sacramental sense, anyway) but I'm not out holding up signs stating what God hates or demanding Constitutional revisions. If the same is true of the person who wrote in, then most of the vitriol Savage expends in response is undeserved and misapplied. Fact is, I don't know--and neither does Savage, but that didn't slow him down one little bit.

Mainly, I think, because of the line of thinking he expresses in saying he's not sorry if the persons feelings were hurt because gay kids are dying. The two aren't necessarily related, except in Savages mind, where it's pretty clear that schoolyard teasing about homosexuality is a MUCH greater infraction than publicly condemning an entire religion in print.

I try, with mixed success, to encourage love and tolerance for everyone, especially those with whom I disagree, and holding me accountable for what Fred Phelps does is about as fair as me holding all gays accountable for what Jeffrey Dahmer did. I don't accept that kind of behavior, I do speak out against it when I see it (as a behavior, not a person) and I'm not going to apologize for the fact I don't abduct and restrain people who preach intolerance in the name of God. Meanwhile, it's hard to have a conversation about respect and tolerance with someone who refers to my Lord and Savior, Who died for me despite my sins, as my "magic sky friend. "