I went to a continuing education course given by a well-known local specialist whom I don't particularly like personally, whose work is not all that great dentally, but is recognized throughout the USA for his dento-political work in organizations and he is also a member of the lucky-sperm club - his dad was also 'famous'. As many of our com-padres here are in the profession, he's Jewish. But that's incidental...or at least WAS until this meeting.

So the gentleman begins his talk by saying that it's great to be here in Philly with all the familiar faces blah blah blah, and then, accurately and humorously, stated that it is harder to speak in your hometown because everyone knows your faults intimately. Pretty self-effacing...and a 'good line' especially at these meetings...because it's TRUE.

At that point, this other dentist who happens to be professionally-politically connected but in different circles, said REALLY SNIDELY, and I'm quoting EXACTLY (because I'll never forget THIS), "Well, if you were a Christian, you would know that even Jesus wasn't welcomed in his home town."

The speaker to his credit, said, "I guess I'm going to have to catch up on my reading." and went on.

After the presentation, my Gentile buddy who came to the lecture with me started apologizing for what this moran said." I asked him, Did YOU say that crap?" He replied, "No..." So I said, "Don't apologize to me...go over and tell that putz that he was out of line, and that even if he were born again, that statement had no place in a secular public forum." Of course, that didn't happen.

In all these years of going to functions, I have never heard anyone say anything like that and believe me, we have our share of evangelicals and proselytizers. This country is collectively losing its dignity, its propriety, and its hesitancy to withhold racism and other forms of bigotry.

When I ran into the speaker a couple days later, I asked him it he thought that the moran believed that he was at the joint Session of Congress rather than at a dental meeting. OF course he gave me a PC reply, and said that he didn't take any offense. I responded by saying, well, you sure couldn't have come to that conclusion watching your eyes and body language at the instant it was uttered. He, of course, didn't respond.

So it goes...