And it is when people on both sides of this issue, and all sides of such issues, take such a stance that the problem is perpetuated. Unfortunately, kleinrd, in reality, both sides share in the responsbility and only when both sides realize it will much progress be made. Ghandi said "You must be the change you wish to see in the world", and I have others I look up to more so than Ghandi who might say something similar.

To continue to engage in battles of the extremes, and to attempt to justify them in any way, is to push ourselves as a nation further away from a state in which all may be heard and respected and towards a state in which government, and our nation, may cease to exist. Perhaps the greatest strength of our fore-fathers was in working together to achieve the compromise that would keep this nation together.

Hate speech, or any speech that is aimed at terrorizing, threatening, demeaning, or even objectifying any party, is wrong no matter who it comes from, and is considered by some, by definition, to be a terrorist act. Dwelling on the issue, in my opinion, undermines our ability to rise above it and engage in effective political discourse.

What our nation needs, now more than ever, is for people from all sides to engage in thoughtful, rational and constructive debate... debate for the purpose of hearing others as well as being heard, and with the sincere goal of reaching compromise. On issues where compromise may truly be impossible, perhaps the best we can accept is that powers will swing from one side to another, and attempting to stop this pendulum mean risking finding our own opinions on the side never again visited.