Public Comment

I was struck by two articles in the current issue (10/28/13). First was The Public Eye: The Politics of Hate which details the paranoia as well as forces behind the extreme right's political views and activities. On the other hand we had One Nation, Under Guard: How the Pentagon Trains for Martial Law in America. It presents the extreme left's paranoia. Both of these dystopian, if factually correct views, reflect the division and extremism that seems to be more and more common worldwide.  

Whether it be the extreme right and left, Shia and Sunni extremists, the divisions with the Balkans or any of a number of other polarities that afflict the world. I'm reminded of the old song, "Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it creeps, it starts when you're always afraid, step out of line and they'll take you away." It seems like maybe it's time for all of us to take a few deep breaths and start talking to each other instead of at each other.