I just did something I thought I would never do: I removed a post that was entitled Notes Between 
Friends. Here is why:
As one who has made his living as a writer for much of the past 35 years, including as a columnist, I am used to slings and arrows and encourage them, as I think we can learn from each other when we provoke thinking.
However, this post seemed to drive more emotion than reason, and I was labeled in some hurtful ways by readers who do not know me or my past. I left the comments up, including my responses, for three days. But I believe that posts should result in conversation around issues, not around personal attributes, true or false. It is a great opportunity to learn when we disagree, And offline conversations resulted in greater understanding between me and several readers, and that is gratifying.
But being called privileged (my father never made more than $40 a week when I was growing up and I once lived on the street), and having received implied and straight-forward messages of being anti-poor (I once served as a social justice lobbyist for the Archdiocese of Seattle, where my responsibility was giving voice to the poor), anti-immigrant (I have been arrested and booked twice for demonstrating for Latin American rights), and lacking in religiosity (I am a vowed Associate with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace) hurt me to the core and created a me that does not exist.
Forgive me, but I am not that strong. So the post came down. If that makes me a bad blogger or irresponsible, share that freely with me. If I have broken the unwritten code, share that as well. I accept that by taking the post down, I might have violated your trust. That is why I am being open and honest about doing it and giving you my reasons for the action. However, if by doing so you believe that I have damaged my credibility and you no longer can join me in conversation, I understand.
Blessings of Peace,
Lewis
