One can be true to their convictions without acting like an obnoxious jerk or a freak. Or do you consider good manners incompatible with being a Conservative?
I am not going to allow myself to become offended because someone else may have been offended by actions that someone else became offended by, whether it be perceived racist, insulting homosexuals, Femi-Nazis, or even Conservatives.
I'm not offended by the blackface because others were offended. I'm offended by the blackface, myself, because it is offensive. It is as offensive as a Crucifix in urine. A Crucifix in urine isn't offensive because it offends Christians. It is offensive because it is rude, obnoxious, and in bad taste. Using your logic, the offense is never the fault of the offender and always the fault of the offended. I suppose this is where the "Libertarian streak" comes in since Libertarians seem to desire a world where everyone is free to offend and the offended can do nothing about it. Yes, some people are offended by anything but I see a distinct difference between being offended by the truth (unreasonable) and being offended by rude behavior that looks pretty darned racist to me (reasonable).
Since I've never owned a slave, harrassed a homosexual or a Femi-Nazi, I feel free of guilt. However, I do admit to offending liberals in general with my words.
I'm not asking people to feel guilty. I'm expecting them to show some character and class.
I feel pretty comfortable about that.
Do you also feel comfortable with the fact that 90% of blacks vote for Democrats when at least a third of those would probably vote Republican if they didn't believe it was the party of racists?