“We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.”

This quote bothers me and I agree up to the first comma. It's like a KKK clansman says publicly, "blacks are entitled to the same rights as me", while scheming privately with other clansmen to murder blacks.

Beyond the limit of respect, Mencken still includes respect and there is no implication of prejudice or hate. He is simply being realistic that respect does not mean agreement.

Yeah Joe, sometimes I think you're crazy man.

Not often do I agree with Dick but, 'yes'.

Pretending to be agreeable but not agreeable.

H.L. is one of my favorites and he hits the nail on the head.

;-)