I once had this experience in a different context. I was called on to do a talk on animal rights. When I arrived everyone in the meeting was some kind of hunter. That I could have handled, many of my family are animal farmers, fishers or hunters. I'm not unrealistic, or unsympathetic... I just wanted to show another point of view.

Eventually I was so exhausted by the meeting, by the verbal abuse the completely crooked thinking (they constantly accused me of things I'd never said) that I turned to leave. One man in particular sneered, and told me I was a bunny hugger, and couldn't cope with another point of view. I could have told him that I'd killed bunnies and hens in my time, that I understand why people eat animals... but I was just so weary. I said, "I'm sorry, I came to exchange ideas, I never expected a verbal gangbang."

I'd been engaged for a three hour debate and discussion, I was forced to leave after forty five minutes. It felt like a complete failure. Apparently after I left, with that last comment, they were shocked, and had a discussion about what went wrong. They chose to send a check to an animal charity I was representing.

The point is, it's so easy to fall into stereotypes... yet people really are able to think about their behaviour, and reach beyond it. Perhaps if I'd stayed and argued, I'd just have hardened their opinions. By leaving when they started to harangue and bully me beyond the point I could endure, they had to wonder what had happened.

Give these guys time... folks can change.