Personal attacks aside, one thing interesting from this morning's comments by Mr. Smith is the obvious assumption that only certain people are allowed to have an opinion on morals, government, and world events.

He's made that pretty clear and he's not the only one.

1/

I'm a retired Intelligence Officer. I spent most of my life in collection, processing, and dissemination of accurate and timely information in support of my nation. My job required complex profession skills, education, and experience. I have a couple of advanced degrees.

So?

2/

Nowadays, I do what I want. And why not? I managed to become a successful writer which mostly pays my bills, but I also enjoy woodworking and photography and a number of other things. The fact that I found a way to get paid for those interests seems like a bonus.

3/

But people like my critic seem to think what I do somehow invalidates my right to an opinion.

I see this critique very often with actors, singers, celebrities, creatives. You're an actor, stick to that, don't dare have an opinion on politics!

Right? You've seen this.

4/

You're an (x), stick to that, right?

And yet these same people hang on every word from folks like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Tucker Carlson, et al. What's THEIR qualifications? More than Mine? More than an actor with a degree, world experience, broad skills, and so on?

5/

It's the ultimate in arrogance to think that ONLY one profession can have a valid viewpoint, the ability to observe the world, the right to an opinion on their government.

6/

You have only to look at my timeline, to see famous actors, writers, artists, etc, and to see that these people are every bit as engaged, insightful, intelligent, experienced, educated as any lawyer in the Justice Department -- or a retired intel officer for that matter.

7/

When you start to think you're the only one qualified to be actively part of civilization, it's not all that far to the part where you're shoveling bodies into ovens because you don't think of certain people as having any worth.

8/

It's damned ironic that the guy coming after me sees himself as some great social media warrior who fights holocaust deniers -- but also sees himself as the only legitimate voice on the subject of morality, politics, and government.

9/

In the end, it doesn't really matter what you do for a living. It's what you do with it. What matters is how you see others.

If you want a better nation, be a better citizen.

10/10