johnhowellharris

Yes, absolutely 100% mandatory. We don't like it any more than you do, but rules are rules.

It depends on the black person.

I think that, in this day in age, with all the resources at one's fingertips, if you don't do your research or if you have a kneejerk response to something without really trying to understand it, you sort of deserve to look foolish.

Evidently, you either didn't read the content of my post, or—and to me this seems much more likely—you did, and are being difficult.

Personally? This:

"John, you're a disappointment as a son. I'm not sure why I decided to write this to you in a letter, because I'm standing right here, in front of you. Sort of seems like a exercise in futility, but I guess I'm this far along, so I may as well finish it up and hand it to you. The gist of the whole thing is really in the first line, anyway, so just focus on that."