Guest blogged by Robert C. Koehler | originally published at CommonWonders.Com

Nothing like a little intimidation to liven up my ongoing meditation on a just society. To be threatened with e-mail violence by a Marine Corps major (ret.) steeped in righteousness — wow, how deliciously personal and unfair. What a lovely mixture of bile and adrenaline it sets to bubbling. What a temptation it creates to respond in kind.

Instead, I’ve decided to make this conversation — about violence, ignorance, idealism — public. This is bigger than both of us, sir.

Guest blogged by Robert C. Koehler

INTRODUCTION {by Winter Patriot}: If you thought there were no brave and honest journalists left in America, you'll be happy to know that you're wrong. Bob Koehler is living proof of that.

In true blogger style, he sent these with the most recent piece first, the oldest last. But he'll probably forgive us if we walk you through them in chronological order. Our story starts here: