Disagree? Then Argue and Debate

By Ed Buckner | 14 November 2025
Letters to a Free Country

(Image by congerdesign from Pixabay)

I’ve had an unhappy exchange lately with a reader, and it reminded me of some of the reasons for my Letters and for my policies related to this Substack blog.

I’ll say more about those policies—what Jerry Coyne of Why Evolution is True fame calls “Da Roolz” (he writes from Chicago, home of Da Bulls, Da Bears, Da Ballet, etc.). But first, some assertions of opinion that I can use to make my points better, I hope.

I Think . . .

These aren’t really in any particular order—numbered here so I and you can refer to them more easily.

  1. There isn’t enough evidence or adequate logic to make believing in any god(s) reasonable.
  2. Men and women are different.

    a. Men and women, though different, are nevertheless profoundly similar.

    b. They all deserve, for example, equal political rights.

  3. Trans activism is problematic.

    a. Trans sexual statuses are real and very hard to cope with by some trans people.

    b. The political right has shamelessly and viciously—but effectively—exploited anti-trans attitudes among the (mostly ignorant and biased) public.

    c. Trans people should have full political rights and should not suffer pointless discrimination.

    d. Men should not compete in women’s sports nor be incarcerated in women’s prisons.

  4. People of different ethnicities or races are different—sort of.

    a. People of different ethnicities or races are not often readily divided into clearly different categories. Racial differences are generally spread out over continua rather than existing in discrete categories.

    b. People of different ethnicities or races all deserve, without exception, equal political and civil rights.

  5. It’s farther from the Earth to the Moon than it is from New York City to Albany, New York, as is clearly shown in this photo—
  1. “Mississippi” is based on a Native American word.
  2. Eggnog and vanilla ice cream make for a delicious dessert.
  3. Donald John Trump is profoundly dishonest.
  4. The attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023 was cruel, sadistic, vicious, and terroristic.
    1. The attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023 was not wholly unprovoked—but not justifiable nevertheless.
    2. The response to the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023 from Israel has not been entirely defensible—but it has been understandable and (mostly) justifiable.
    3. The response to the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023 from Israel has not been remotely “genocidal.”
  5. The Democratic Party in the US in 2025 is a better political party than the Republican Party in 2025.

    a. I agree with the policies promoted by the Democrats much more than those promoted by the Republicans.

    b. I disagree with some of the policies promoted by the Democrats.

    c. I agree with some of the policies promoted by the Republicans.

  6. Everyone is entitled to my opinions.
  7. Pit bulls are a dangerous breed—and should be phased out—not bred.
  8. The Earth is moving, Psalm 104:5 to the contrary notwithstanding.
  9. Atheists are, on average, as moral and decent human beings as religious people are on average.

What to Do About What You Think About What I Think

Despite opinion #11, no one anywhere is under any obligation to care what I think about anything. But some variation is likely. No one is likely to disagree with #5—or to care.

Some people may disagree with me about eggnog, but neither those people nor I are likely to care. My opinion about the origins of the word “Mississippi” could be wrong—and if someone knows that and tells me, my reaction will be, “OK—I thought I was right, but I don’t really care.”

And caring is often the point. Interesting opinions about matters we care about are the only ones likely to draw disagreement. Once in a long while I write about something I think is interesting that readers may not disagree about—but may not be interested in anyway. I wrote a Letter on the Erie Canal in 2023 that some readers liked while probably others didn’t—but didn’t really care.

I have no interest in writing things that everyone will agree with and then have readers say “agreed.”

My Rules (Enforced Reasonably, I Hope)

A. Keep it civil. Be clear about exactly what from me or others you disagree with. Avoid personal insults. Attack opinions or arguments, not people who disagree.

B. Explain the logic or provide a link to the evidence that leads you to a different opinion.

C. Aim for conciseness. Avoid paragraphs or pages of commentary. If your views require more extensive explanation, ask me if you can offer a guest essay—most guest Letters are on matters I agree with, but not all. I welcome civil, thoughtful, well written Letters that directly contradict my views.

D. Give your opinion—not your imagined summary of the other person’s view. (“I think that pit bulls are wonderful pets, because . . . .” instead of “You obviously hate animals or at least dogs, and . . . .”)

Conclusion

If you find what is presented here by me or others to be interesting, good. Don’t hesitate to speak up when you don’t agree.

Breaking my rules may get you chided. Breaking my rules repeatedly or egregiously (in my opinion—it’s my Substack site) may get you banned for 30 days or longer. Even forever.

By all means be sure to demand your money back if . . . . Oh wait.

Ed Buckner is an American atheist activist who served as president of the organization American Atheists from 2008 to 2010. He served as executive director for the Council for Secular Humanism from 2001 to 2003 and was once the Council’s southern director. He is the author (with Michael E. Buckner) of In Freedom We Trust: An Atheist Guide to Religious Liberty (Prometheus Books, 2012).

“Letter to a Free Country” by Ed Buckner (with Q&A)

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Arguing for Agnosticism? | Episode 610 | Closer To Truth

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