Dear Examinator,

Thank You for sharing some of your family history
with us on OLO.

How on earth can any one judge others without
knowing the circumstances and context in
which events took place? As you pointed out -
things are never simply black or white.
Yet condemnation is so easy.

What happened to your mother is tragic - and is
part and parcel of the bleak history of World
War II.

Have you ever tried to find out what happened to
your half brother - or if he's still alive today?
You don't have to reply if it's too painful or
personal.

I'll understand.

Take care.

Wow your hatred of Howard is certainly a long bow.

The information provided does-not tell us enough to judge her negatively. Therefore, the tolerant position is to choose to give her the benefit of the doubt.

foxy,
No it isn't painful at all, having had no contact, there is no bond as such.

*I tend to be able to step outside feeling at times and just look at topics as that*. That is, beyond the innate concern for a human. Therefore no biggy.

As stated, I was trying to point out to Col, runner, hasbeen et al that their often black or white moral pronouncements were/are fraught with credibility/sensitivity/equity problems.

As for is he still alive....I have tried, but some years ago he apparently wanted to disappear and as such he has been successful as is his right. Evidence gleaned, was that he was in the 80's a homeless derelict who had suffered the ravages of alcoholism. However, this hasn't been confirmed If the information is correct, he'd be in his 70's (give the extreme alcoholism reported, unlikely).

The story was on 'Can we help' a few years back. I was pretty much edited out because I refused to answer questions like how do you feel but chose my customary "more thought required type response....not "good" teary..."oh my god", ratings grabbing response. So much for my TV career :-)

This came to mind as I pondered a new half niece(from 1/2 brother)that has just appeared (two days ago).

It also occurred to me that the half niece( 1/2 sister deceased) didn't know I existed, she'd been told that there was one pregnancy (the abortion) caused G/mothers death.

I reasoned that the brother might be resentful of me depriving him of a mother/family.

I thought the topic was a good practical object lesson, one that added extra meaning to the lives of the departed. i.e. albeit somewhat a long bow.
Beyond that it is one more interesting influence (story) in the life of examinator ant

Runner,

As usual my ecstatically myopic, you missed the point.
Angry at Howard? nah sad that he like you seem never understand anything beyond your own limited life experiences.

That ok for you but Howard's predilection for rigidity in his dogma IMO rendered him an also ran PM rather than someone who deserves more than a by line in history. He came, he did nothing lasting and went.
Not a leader but a second rate manager.

Dear Examinator,

Thanks for explaining.

I guess some things in life are beyond our
control at times, and one has no choice but to move
on.

On the plus side - you've got a wife, family,
and other relatives that are there for you.

Plus of course - you're a highly regarded,
respected, poster on OLO - who regularly
enriches our cyber space.

Big hug.