Part 2

As a society, if we are to survive the violence that we have grown, one of the most dangerous in the world, ALL of us, no matter what our views on political issues, etc., must state NO MORE VIOLENCE. We must not be willing to tolerate violence to set forth a point of view. Enough!

I have been appalled at the deteriorating level of discourse in society, whether it is talking about how stupid President Bush was, and "isn't it interesting that he gets that deer in the headlights look...maybe he's slightly medicated..." to the current attacks on President Obama as someone who is trying to subvert society, that he is not an American, is a Muslim, has a plot for the destruction of our country. We must say to these, as well, ENOUGH! What is served by such blasts? How does society benefit by such comments?

People will continue to hold a variety of views, some that we may personally hold as despicable. That is their right. BUT, that old saying handed down from earlier generations: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything. Encouraging a sense of grievance and anger and hatred does no one any good. It may make the shouter feel better--for a moment or two, but--but it doesn't solve anything. It merely gives permission to act out on these views. Let's not tolerate hate speech among our neighbors. Let's engage them in constructive dialogue...but let's also be willing to let officials know that there may be a problem. (If you are too worried about what the consequences may be if you DO communicate and the person finds out...that in itself may be an indicator it is time to pick up the phone.)

But as a society, we must not be willing to tolerate these acts in our society. Our society can be transformed, but it takes each of us to reach out to those around us, to teach another way to our children, and to look out for targets of violentce, and help to keep each other safe.

Pr Chris

Part 1

In the wake of the attack on the Holocaust Museum, and the murder of Dr Tiller, I have heard commentators trying to distance themselves from these events. In each case, they have tried to say: the shooter was a "lone wolf", and you cannot protect against a lone wolf.

They each may have been "lone wolves" in the sense that they did not actively enlist anyone in their plots. They may not have announced these attacks anywhere.

But in a larger sense, these were not lone wolves at all. They inhabited a world filled with people who fed their hatreds, whether it was of abortion or anti-Semitism, other races, etc. Our society has taken the precious freedom of speech enshrined in the Bill of Rights, and turned it into an instantaneous forum for hatred and advocacy of violence. The normal gatekeepers of our society: editors of papers, news scheduling on the evening news, disapproval of neighbors, etc., have lost much of their ability to restrain expressions of hatred. With the internet, raw hatred and the most despicable comments have instantaneous reception and are fed by others who share these things. In many ways it is a sort of "wink" "wink" of course I don't plan on doing anything--but isn't it interesting that are X number of steps into the Museum, and there is no metal detector within 5 feet of the door. "Isn't it interesting..." is the innuendo of choice. The internet and some radio programs have given permission for people to act on their basest angers and hatreds.

Pr Chris

This nut-job was definitely not a member of the "greatest generation"!!!! And once again, people of any age can pose a threat. Someone, somewhere should have recognized the problems with this individual and put him on a watch list!!!

Well, Artist, he hated blacks, too, if that's of concern. There's actually a very limited number of people these types *don't* hate.

yes another sad day.. a man who hated Jews shot and killed a black man. i myself see no thought process here... just one man who was most likely very miserable choosing to share his misery with another with a gun. All human beings have choices. I don't think we want to get around that. some make very poor tragic ones. maybe someday God will bring peace to the earth or maybe the crazy hate filled people will choose to shoot the liars, cheats and thieves, and evil people instead of the security guard and the innocent bystanders which we normally see. I want to make it clear i do not condone violence to solve problems with the exception of true self defense. I am taking the argument to the nonsensical extreme any one could offer as a solution rather than simply stop the violence. i think the best solution would be for people to quit shooting, stabbing, choking , poisoning, bludgening, whipping, beating, torturing, stoning, hanging electrocuting, or whatever means of doing violence upon others including financially.. It would be impossible to take all the implements away perhaps the solution is with in us instead. Please do not forget the financial violence.... when you force somebody to die because they cannot get medical treatment, or food or shelter, they are just as dead as the person shot. The person who killed them might be what i call social predators. they prey upon the poor and the helpless. They harvest the agony of the poor and try to keep them on thier treadmill. They seek more than they need and insist upon even more. Its like an alcoholic except it's money and power they can never get enough. When our society sees these people as mentally ill and simply takes away thier privalidge to do business, or participate in government because they do not know how to play well with others. The greatest punishment they could have would be to take away their illusion of themselves so every one else could maybe survive. profit is not a dirty word and a well run honest business is a beautiful thing it enriches the owner, the employees and the customer its like magic but the key maybe is honest. i realize i have talked about something else, i apologize... but maybe all people need to treat each other with dignity and honesty but i guess that would be too simple to try. my prayers go out to the victims....

It shouldn't come as a surprise that intelligence is no barrier to bigotry. Social Darwinism was a leading theory among many brilliant 19th and 20th centuries, and Nazi Germany's braintrust included many who were both extremely intelligent professionals and committed racists. Pettiness, cruelty, and scapegoating can be attractive to even the sharpest minds for the most human of reasons; we all feel wronged sometimes, we can all be selfish, and we are all reluctant to admit that our own views can be completely wrong.