The Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)

I think we've seen all this before (not your comments, but rather the historical sequence of events following after 9/11). And I am reminded of a quote from George Santayana (not that he was the first to voice this, but rather only one of the more recent people to do so), "those who will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

I grew up being called things like "Jew boy", "Christ killer", and "Kike" among other things - some far less printable - and I remember the civil rights movement of the 60s (I was too young to really understand it in the 50s, though I sure as heck understood discrimination aimed at me). I had to run from a lynch mob in Texas in the 80s, so perhaps I have a somewhat more cynical view of the US; there has always been that hateful side of this country, though it seemed as though it was improving until the turn of the century.

Things have improved, lord help us, since when I was a child; that, and the attitudes my daughter has (I think my wife and I managed to raise her to be a sweeter, better person that we were and are) gives me some small hope for the future.