Got into a debate with a Lib about mussie atrocities and he had to reach way back in history and came up with “Well what about the Crusaders?” First time I looked like a deer in the headlights ....
For example, in Israel, many Lefties (those that are still around) used to harp on Bibi Netanyahu's policies. In arguments where they were bested, they'd immediately jump to attack his wife and how ugly and stupid she was, (she is considered his soft underbelly for criticism).
So, when they have no serious argument they attack his wife's purchase of a lawn furniture set for example or other unrelated issues. The Israeli press does this frequently. Whent they have no dirt on him, they go after his wife, Sarah.
Now once I cornered a Lefty about Bibi and she said in anger and frustration, “Oh! and how he smokes that damn cigar”!
He is known for smoking one every now and then but what she was really saying was, is that he acts like a fat, Capitalist, tycoon type elitist. I asked her what the connections from the cigar to his policies are and she had no answer.
Here's the answer - this is what you should have said:
"Yes, at various times in history some "Christian" groups were taken over by evil. Evil is real. If I was back in that time I would be speaking out against that evil and would probably be burned at the stake. But I'm not 'back in that time' I'm in this time. In our time the primary evil we're dealing with is Radical Islam - in all it's filthy forms... from ISIS on down." Then look at the person and ask, "are you willing to stand with me against the evil of our time?"