To clarify, you may have misunderstood what I meant.  I meant that we shouldn't act like this is something we can redo, or that it was some collossal mistake we have to pick apart.

Discussion is fine, in a historical context.  It's just not a living thing.

The problem with being perceived as "condescending" is that you lose credibility even before the reader can reflect on your thoughts. Your tone was condescending. For me, as soon as I got to that cited paragraph, well.... The problem is difficult, surely.  Yet, when you ask another to engage in dialogue and to feel free to state their position, you really don't get to be offended, alarmed, or upset when a reader takes up the offer and writes what that reader thinks (and feels.) There is an old saying in law: Never ask a question that you don't know the answer to...or that you might not want to hear the answer to.  Seriously...grievances by their nature are emotive and, stating them, and freely talking about them may lead to some progress.  It may or may not.  The key: Don't insult the reader who speaks directly, honestly (and without vulgar or obscene language) in response to your invitation. That is destined to go nowhere fast.