Following is a laundry list of people and countries to hate and fear.
It is as up to date as possible, considering how difficult it is to stay current, as new fears are added almost daily:

* China Plans Cyberwarfare Against US
* Ahmadinejad Wants Iran To Create World Government
* National Healthcare Means Higher Rate of Cancer Deaths
* Sudanese Islamists: Don't Come to the Sudan, US!
* Islamist Web Site in Minnesota Details Plans on Attacking US Bases
* Russia Helps Iran out of a Tough Spot
* Are Our Military Networks Safe?
* Ahmadinejad Continues to Sound Crazier and Crazier
* Hillary Clinton in Bed With Same Chinese as Bill
* Bush to Attack Iran? If Only
* Russia Plans Moonbase by 2032
* Russian-Chinese Alliance Not Likely?

Be certain to fear the above. Please also don't forget to hate those we must fear. Best to destroy them before they destroy us.

And remember, BE MOST FEARFUL of those who lecture you on who to fear.

Terrorists know no borders.

They are hiding everywhere, just like the Commies before them. Probably under someone's bed in just about every country in the world, except maybe Israel.

So, let's just bomb them all. And not give any of them a chance to hurt us again. That way, we won't have to worry about overpopulation, global climate change, or an oil shortage.

Gee, if we no longer have to share the world's resources with anyone else, we can get Hummer production up again in no time. Detroit, you'll be back on top in no time!

We just might have to be careful about the air, though. Pesky stuff, that radioactive fallout.

But come to think of it, that too could work for us. I bet fallout only kill the lefties, fags, and atheists. After all, We The People (of your government), will all be comfortable in our underground, air conditioned bunkers, supplied with a thousand years of Twinkies. Hell, we could have a party.

A president often sets or reflects the tone of the country.

The tone changes the environment, sometimes subtly, sometimes harshly, sometimes almost not at all.

John F. Kennedy represented a tone of hope, and many of us were inspired to believe all things good were possible. His assassination crushed that hope. Cynicism and rebellion followed in its wake.

Our current administration has helped create a condition of paranoia. We are all affected by it. The number of people in uniforms barking out orders has increased. Fear in peoples' eyes, acceptance of violence as a solution to problems, restricting the rights of others -- all these things have increased remarkably.

Living in such an environment changes the way we relate to one another. The overall tone in America today is harsh, fearful, and increasingly polarized.

All the above affect me every day.

What about you?

- Arye Michael Bender -

Fear is a potent motivator.

I've seen it trump intelligence, both military and otherwise, time and again. Governments and media know that by tripping the fear button, they can sell us a politician, or the latest tank-like SUV.

Fascism is in fashion today.

Fear allows fascism to prosper, but it's the prosperity that withers all else. Fearful people trade freedom for fascism all too easily, all too quickly.

During WW2 we said, 'It can't happen here.'

Look around, it has happened here.

If you’ve read my blog you know I am getting acquainted with a new life in Boston, M.A. Today I took the time to change my phone number to a local one and then sent text messages to everyone in my contact list, letting them know my new number. One of my old students replied and, much to my surprise, he said he was also here in Boston. My happiness turned to sadness as he informed that he would soon be shipped out to Baghdad for the second time in less than two years.

The following story is set in a Basic English class that I taught at a university in Puerto Rico, and based on a very painful memory this student shared with me and the rest of his classmates over six months ago. I pray that he’ll return safely.
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...

As Dena turned away from the changing table with Alyssa in her hands, I heard a faint gasp, barely audible, like a whimper. My wondrous daughter's body instantly turned as limp as the cloth she was nestled in, and every bit as pallid.

Dena hesitated as she spoke to me of some normal earthly matter, only vaguely aware of an odd change in the sacred treasure she held, the center of her life. In the corner of my eye I saw her puzzled look as she read some unspeakable struggle in my face, then that same silent scream as she looked down at the object of my flinching stare. Reflexively drawing the shell of our beautiful little friend to her chest, she looked back at me with pleading eyes, as though I had somehow drawn the tender soul away, and could return it if I chose.

A clock started ticking in my head, pounding out the seconds of life's possibility. My child's life, lost in some nightmarish otherwhere, floating out of reach, it's fragile little house as vacant as a tomb.