> They cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally.

And in that case you cannot respect those opinions?

There are just some issues, though, where it's extremely difficult to find middle ground.

Look at gay marriage. There are large percentages of people in the US who would like to return to a time when gay marriage was illegal. If you were married to a same sex spouse, do you think you'd be able to say "oh, that's OK, I respect your difference of opinion." No, you'd do everything in your power to protect your family from being attacked.

I mean, just imagine how straight people would react if the government tried to invalidate their marriages.

If you were married to a same sex spouse, you may feel personally atacked if your opinion that same-sex marriage should be legal is questioned.

I thought the parent comment suggested that the opinions of those who cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally, are less respectable.

Not if their opinions are of the flavor of: female genital mutilation is acceptable; there was massive election fraud in the US Nov. 3 election; the earth is flat; etc.

At some point you need to draw a line.

I misunderstood. I though the problem was related with people feeling attacked when their opinions are questioned. That can also happen with acceptable opinions.

Not to dispute your core point, but it's odd how circumcision rarely gets brought up in the context of female genital mutilation.